Despite the fact the leading duo were rolling through and working well together, the peloton was closing fast and with 41km to go they had successfully made the catch.
Almost as soon as the first ascent of the San Luca climb began, Quentin Pacher and Chris Harper went on the attack. Such was the ferocity of Harper's pace-setting though, Pacher was then soon put into difficulty, leaving the Australian of Team Jayco AlUla solo out front.
Counterattacks from the likes of Simone Velasco, Fausto Masnada and Giovanni Aleotti brought the peloton closer to Harper and with 15km to go his lead was just 8 seconds. UAE Team Emirates were keeping a high pace behind, keeping control over an ever-dwindling peloton.
On the fourth time up the San Luca, Adam Yates accelerated from the bunch, bringing an end to Harper's time out front and forming an elite selection at the head of the race.
Ten riders formed the front group with all the big names such as
Tadej Pogacar, Primoz Roglic, Enric Mas and Richard Carapaz included as they reached the final climb to the finish line.
The first man to make his move was Aleksandr Vlasov, although Adam Yates quickly shut it down. Once Yates was done, things really exploded.
Pogacar powered ahead, Carapaz, Roglic and Mas battling with all their might to stay in contact. As things stalled once again though, Vlasov, Michael Woods and
Simon Yates regained contact.
Seven men at the front with 500m to go as Roglic, launched and no one could react, taking a big victory on a big day for the Slovenian. Pogacar in second and Simon Yates third.