Julian Alaphilippe wins for the first time at the Giro d'italia with 125-kilometer long attack

It had been almost a year since Julian Alaphilippe had won a race, but it has happened today! After many attempts at the Giro d'Italia, the Soudal - Quick-Step rider was finally rewarded for his bravery and won stage 12 after an attack launched with over 125 kilometers to go.

A day for the breakaway. But everyone knew this, and so the first flat 50 kilometers of the stage saw quite a lot of attacks of riders trying to form a group. Briefly, a few did, dozens made the attempt, but the roads were too fast to make a difference and so the peloton went into the final hilly 150 kilometers compact.

However as soon as the roads went up, dozens of riders attacked off the front of the peloton. Julian Alaphilippe himself was the first to attack here. Many followed. With 126 kilometers to go Alaphilippe and Mirco Maestri moved off the front of this group, whilst the different breakaway groups connected.

Over 30 riders in this group including GC contenders such as Jan Hirt, Domenico Pozzovivo and Juan Pedro López who looked to take advantage of the breakaway's chances on the day to try and move up the Top10. This led Bahrain - Victorious to chase in the peloton and keep the gap under control.

Nine riders attacked off this group with over 75 kilometers to go with Jhonatan Narváez, Quinten Hermans, Christian Scaroni, Benjamin Thomas, Michael Valgren, Dion Smith, Simon Clarke, Gijs Leemreize and Matteo Trentin. But the group was over a minute behind and did not organize itself to close the gap on the leading duo.

The third group on the road, containing GC riders, was also being brought back by the peloton despite having more than 20 riders. Bahrain kept the pace high even after, trying to seize the crosswinds, but unsuccessfully.

In the final ascent, as expected, Alaphilippe dropped Maestri right at the base. Quinten Hermans and Jhonatan Narváez moved in the chasing group whilst Maestri completely sunk on the road.

Alaphilippe took the stage win, finally completing the hattrick of Grand Tour wins. Jhonatan Narváez sprinted to second whilst Hermans was third on the day.