Ewan punctured and needed a wheel chance in the 20-kilometer long ascent to Portella Mandrazzi, which proved to be a crucial moment in the stage as Mark Cavendish was also dropped. The two teams both tried to return to the peloton but to no success, eventually rolling over the finale together in the grupetto.
"The team did what they could to come back, but it was impossible against all the other teams," he added. Alpecin-Fenix pushed the pace in the ascent, whilst Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux and Israel - Premier Tech kept the pace high so as to prevent their rivals from returning to the front of the peloton. Ewan - alongside the entire
Lotto Soudal team - rolled over the finish almost 12 minutes down, and eyeing already tomorrow's stage as the Giro arrived at mainland Italy.