The pace was high from the start. Therefore it took a while before a leading group was formed. From the Forca di Gualdo the peloton thinned out further. Only Christoph Pfingsten and Pascal Eenkhoorn managed to stay in the peloton until the last climb. After that the GC riders increased the pace and the remaining breakaway riders were caught.

“Christoph and Pascal lasted a long time in the big group, but on the last climb that group broke up and they could not keep up any longer. The conditions were good, although for the first time we had rain in the mountains”, sports director Addy Engels said.

Looking forward to tomorrow, Engels estimated that it will be another difficult day. “The arrival will be uphill and we don’t really have anyone with us for that. It is important for us to survive so that we can focus on the days to come. Of course we will try to participate in a breakaway if the situation arises.”