The peloton covered 244 kilometers on the longest day of this year's edition.
On paper, stage 10 of the Corsa Rosa was a transition one, but it turned out to be quite the opposite, with the peloton firing on all cylinders on the second-category climb of Fonte della Creta, where several men got dropped, including second-placed Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott). Elia Viviani was also among those to lose contact, together with other sprinters, so the Quick-Step Floors team rallied around the Italian and helped the chase, at one point bringing the gap down to 1:10.
But with most of the GC teams forming a coalition to get Chaves out of the top 10 overall, it became mission impossible and the margin ballooned to over six minutes. The strung out bunch continued to press on despite the rain and slippery roads, where some of the GC men punctured. From the reduced group, Nico Denz (AG2R) and Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Merida) punched clear over the top of the last ascent and gained more than a minute on the bunch, which allowed them to fight for victory, claimed by the latter.
Former white jersey Maximilian Schachmann and Eros Capecchi were the two Quick-Step Floors in the maglia rosa group, and the German moved up a position in the general classification, where he now lies in 18th place ahead of the challenging but short stage that will take place on Wednesday between Assisi and Osimo.
Elia Viviani arrived in Gualdo Tadino protected by his teammates and continues to top the points standings; on Wednesday, the 29-year-old Quick-Step Floors rider will wear the cyclamen jersey for the ninth consecutive stage, making him the rider with the most days in a distinctive jersey at the current edition of the Giro d'Italia.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele/ Getty Images
