Giro d'Italia: Biniam Girmay wins sprint at the end of chaotic stage ten

Biniam Girmay had shown several times to have the legs to contest for the win at the Giro d'Italia, however today he had the best legs in the peloton as he sprinted to the win in Jesi, in another brilliant win for Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux.

There was an extensive battle for the breakaway early in the day, but after a three-man move went up the road early on, the pan-flat and headwind affected made it easy for Alpecin-Fenix and Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux to control and chase the day's escapees. They were Alessandro De Marchi (Israel - Premier Tech), Mattia Bais (Drone Hopper - Androni Giocattoli) and Lawrence Naesen (AG2R Citroën Team).

Read also

Alpecin-Fenix's ambitions "provides security" for Mathieu van der Poel

With the day's profile and conditions it didn't prove too hard for the two teams to reel back in the group, with De Marchi the final survivor caught with 20 kilometers to go. Throughout the second half of the stage there were some small attacks, but none proved dangerous until the peloton got to the final hilltop in Monsano.

The pace was pushed from quite early, with Alpecin-Fenix and INEOS Grenadiers shedding riders from the peloton with an explosive effort. Alessandro Covi attacked near the summit, but Intermarché had several riders in the small group that went over the top and controled the inevitable attacks. Van der Poel himself took several turns, and attacked himself in the run-up to the finale which proved chaotic in order to prevent a group from sneaking away.

In the end the peloton calmed down, and a reduced peloton went towards the finish for a slight uphill finale. Domenico Pozzovivo launched Biniam Girmay who launched his sprint early, Mathieu van der Poel followed the Eritrean and tried to go over him in the final meters but the effort proved too much and Girmay took a dominant debut win in a Grand Tour. Although quite distant, Vincenzo Albanese sprinted to third, whilst the general classification contenders arrived together behind.