Giro d'Italia | Wout Van Aert wins EPIC stage; Primoz Roglic loses serious time after crash; Isaac del Toro the new pink jersey

Stage 9 of the Giro d'Italia, the 'Mini Strade Bianche', has fully delivered! There were attacks, crashes, punctures, tactics and lots of surprises. Wout van Aert has taken a much needed and impressive win after matching the absolutely incredible Isaac del Toro, who distanced all his GC rivals and has stormed into a surprising race lead. Primoz Roglic has lost significant time after a crash in the gravel sectors.

The most important stage of the race thus far and a day highly anticipated by riders and fans alike for a long time - although saving the day was the priority for most, above winning the stage or time on their rivals in the roads of Strade Bianche.

The breakaway rode off quite early in the day with Kaden Groves, Quinten Hermans, Milan Fretin, Taco van der Hoorn, Luke Lamperti and Dries de Bondt. Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team took responsibility in the peloton early on not letting the gap grow, but action kicked off very fast as soon as the riders entered the first gravel sector.

INEOS Grenadiers and Lidl-Trek entered in front with large numbers, immediately splitting up the peloton to bits, dropping many, but several returned to the GC group shortly afterwards - not Diego Ulissi and Lorenzo Fortunato who were out of position and quickly lost their chances of keeping the lead in XDS Astana's shoulders. 

Chaos began with 51 kilometers to go, as a crash in the GC group took down both Primoz Roglic and Tom Pidcock. Shortly after, both had to switch wheels due to punctures. At the same time, Egan Bernal, Thymen Arensman and Brandon Rivera (INEOS Grenadiers), Wout van Aert and Isaac del Toro set off the front in the technical roads and caught Groves and Hermans who resisted from the front. Juan Ayuso was in a chasing group behind containing most GC men, whilst Roglic, Pidcock and Derek Gee collaborate to limit losses in another group behind.

Arensman would puncture out front, and after some great work, Rivera would eventually crack. In the penultimate climb, now with Mathias Vacek having bridged to the front, Isaac del Toro launched an attack to try and isolate himself. At Colle Pinzuto, the final gravel sector, he did so once again, only with Wout van Aert following him - Egan Bernal would crack. Mathias Vacek waited for the GC group where he and UAE worked for Giulio Ciccone and Juan Ayuso to gain time on Roglic.

The stage would be decided on the famous Via Santa Caterina, where Del Toro took Van Aert to the absolute limit but was unable to drop him, and on the technical streets of Siena van Aert took over to take a victory that will mean the world to the Belgian who has struggled psychologically throughout this entire season whilst Del Toro stormed into the pink jersey.