Stage 7

The road

At the start

Gran Sasso, and a bruised champion

Andreas Leknessund keeps the maglia rosa by 28 seconds from Remco Evenepoel, who came out of two crashes in Salerno bruised and insists the mountains will not trouble him. Today is the longest stage yet: 218 kilometres and 4,119 metres of climbing to the roof of the Apennines at Campo Imperatore, where the last four kilometres stand up. Ineos, called by far the strongest team here, will want to show it.

How it was won

1. 1118 km to go

   The break gets its leash

   A four-man move slips clear with minimal fuss and DSM let it swell past ten minutes, Petilli becoming the virtual maglia rosa on the road to the Gran Sasso.

2. 26 km to go

   Campo Imperatore

   On the stinging final ramps of the Gran Sasso d'Italia, Petilli attacks first as the trio jostle for the biggest prize of their careers.

3. 3At the line

   Gran Sasso summit

   Davide Bais times it to perfection, soaring clear of Vacek and Petilli for a dream first pro victory; into a headwind, the GC men decline to trade a single blow.

The result