Ciccone distanced his last comrades 19 kilometers from the finish, on the steep side of the very long climb to Cogne (22.4 km at 4.3%), in Gran Paradiso National Park.

On the line, installed at a height of 1611 meters, the runner from Abruzzo was preceded by almost a minute and a half by young Colombian climber Santiago Buitrago (22 years old).

The hardest part was at the start of the last climb, I told myself I had to go alone, I didn’t want to risk a sprint with a lotItalian explanation.

Spaniard Antonio Pedrero took 3rd place, more than two minutes from the win.

Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (Ineos) keeps the leader’s pink jersey seven days from the end of the Giro.

This is the 3rd round of victory for Ciccone, 27, in the Giro.

Aside from the minor fall in the first kilometers, along with about fifteen other riders, Carapaz was not bothered at this mountain stage, on the eve of the last day of rest near Lake Garda.

The Olympic champion crossed the line in the first peloton, about eight minutes behind the winner.

Everyone wanted to take the breakaway, it went fast, Carapaz said. Tired, very hard careers are developing.

Canadian Alexander Cataford (Israel – Premier Tech) finished the stage in 109th place, with a peloton of 19 riders (+32: 21). The Ottawa cyclist was 97th overall (2:35:05).