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

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. Ad At one point, the breakaway held a gap of over 12 minutes on the pack – and although this came down to three minutes on the final climb to Campo Imperatore, none of the race favourites felt inclined to show their hand until the final few hundred metres.

Giro d'ItaliaWatch as Bais wins from three-man breakaway on Stage 7AN HOUR AGO The world champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) eventually responded to a dig from the British rider Eddie Dunbar (Jayco-AlUla) as the Belgian led the main field home ahead of Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and Frenchman Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) some 3’10” after Bais raised his hands in triumph. Norway’s Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM) finished safely in the pack to complete a third day in the pink jersey, his only trouble coming in the form of a tricky donning of a jacket during the heavy showers which rained down on the riders as they made their way to the foot of the climb