Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) is now just outside the top 10 overall at Giro d'Italia after the first big uphill finish of the race. While the Gran Sasso stage turned into a damp squib, Dunbar had a go at the top of the climb, opening the sprint from the favourites' group and eventually finishing in 9th place
The long road up to the finish, above the snowline, was a major disappointment for cycling fans, mainly because a headwind dissuaded the big names from going to war. Though today's stage promised so much on paper, an early breakaway rode to victory. And behind them nothing happen in the peloton. It may have gotten progressively smaller as the climb unfolded, but it still numbered over 30 riders on the line.
For Dunbar, it's a case of 'job done' so far. He may have lost a little time to his rivals in the opening TT last weekend but he has enjoyed an incident-free ride so far. And though he was swamped in the finishing sprint today, as five bigger names passed him, he collected his second top 10 of the race and is now exactly where he needs to be overall.
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Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) was in the remains of the peloton for most of the final climb before rolling in 73rd at 7:10, or just under four minutes down on the favourites' group. There are some small late climbs tomorrow that could make it a good day for him to go in the breakaway.
After tomorrow's stage - on much more modest terrain than today - comes Sunday's 35km TT. And that means Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) looks set to have a very substantial lead over his rivals after the weekend, having already hammered them in the opening TT last Saturday. All going well, Dunbar will finish in the bunch tomorrow and is then into 'loss limiting' mode on Sunday.
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Today, the headwind on the final climb and the huge advantage gained by the breakaway - over 11 minutes at one point - meant any hopes of fireworks in the finale were put to bed very early.
Davide Bais (Eolo-Kometa), Henok Mulubrhan (Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè), Simone Petilli (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), and Karel Vacek (Corratec-Selle Italia) broke clear early on the stage. While Mulubrhan was dropped, the other three made it all the way, with Bais by far the best in the final surge to the line.
The 25-year-old Italian had never won a UCI-ranked race before today but emerged the unlikely victor on one of the marquee stages of the race. Vacek was 2nd at nine seconds and Petilli placed 3rd at 16 seconds. Then 3:10 after the delighted winner crossed the line with his arms aloft came the sprint from the favourites' group.
While Dunbar opened the gallop, he was passed by six riders. Evenepoel won the sprint for 4th place from Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) and king of the mountains Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ). Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) 7th, with João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) 8th. Dunbar was 9th, and Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan Team) rounded out the top 10.
Race leader Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM) was in the favourites' group today and retained the maglia rosa. Evenepoel is 2nd, at 28 seconds, with Aurélien Paret-Peintre (AG2R Citroën Team) 3rd at 30 seconds. Dunbar is 11th, some 2:15 down.
