Giulio Ciccone was one of the great protagonists of today's stage, exactly ten years after his first Giro d'Italia victory, achieved right over the Emilian Apennines. The Abruzzese rider tried in every way to get into the breakaway, and in the end he managed it, staying alone in the lead on the climb until three kilometers from the finish, when he was caught by Gall and Vingegaard.

«Today it was a bit difficult to pull off the victory, because Decathlon didn't let the breakaway go, they didn't want me to get in it. I was also a bit angry and so, as soon as I saw the opportunity, I managed to bridge up to the breakaway riders and I tried to give everything even though the advantage was always very slim and I knew how it would end up.