Giro d’Italia 2023: Davide Bais lands surprise win from breakaway after GC snoozefest in mountains

12.05.2023 - 16:41 eurosport.com

On a day everyone expected fireworks in the fight for pink, it was left to an unlikely threesome and a 25-year-old Italian to steal the limelight on the snow-capped Gran Sasso.

Davide Bais (Eolo-Kometa) got the better of compatriot Simone Petilli (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty) and Czech tyro Karel Vacek (Team Corratec-Selle Italia) to take the first – and biggest – win of his career, denying his companions maiden career wins in the process.

Bais led the breakaway over all three climbs on the menu to secure the maglia azzurra as well as the stage win. He also won both intermediate sprints during a 218km day in the saddle that he will never forget.

Forget, however, is what most viewers will do – with the anticipated GC battle never materialising and an atmosphere of resigned stalemate taking over the peloton.

mountaineering sprint win Giro Remco Evenepoel Eddie Dunbar Britain Belgium Italy Norway Czech Republic Slovenia

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