A stage masterpiece, yet another in this inebriating stage Tour of Italy. The Viareggio-Terme di Rapolano, with attached dirt roads, rewards the young person Pelayo Sanchez, Spanish from Movistar. The Asturian christens the right breakaway 85km from the finish, pedals with order throughout the day and then wins on the final step, preceding Luke Plapp and especially – Julian Alaphilippe. The Frenchman clearly seemed to be the strongest with 10km to go, but in the last 50m he suffered the Spaniard’s comeback, once again postponing the return to victory (which has been missing since June 2023, ed.). Broken dreams too Luke Plapp, virtual pink jersey for a few kilometers. The Australian pushed very hard to take the lead in the standings, but the infernal pace imposed by the group on the dirt roads (Vidritta, Bagnaia and Pievina) brought everything back to sea level. This is the third career victory for the native of Tellego, the second in 2024 after the Pollença-Port d’Andratx Trophy. In home Pogacar another “rest” day, waiting to unleash the engine in Friday’s super time trial (40.6km, from Foligno to Perugia).
