Valverde is already sixth in the overall standings

After the first summit finish, Alejandro Valverde is now the sixth in the overall classification of the Giro d’Italia, 41 seconds behind the Dutch Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin), who wears the pink jersey after the the first week. The Movistar Team rider finished in tenth place in Roccaraso, where Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) get the triumph.

The stage has been useful for seeing the first attacks among the favorites. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), his teammate Vincenzo Nibali and Tom Dumoulin himself attacked in the final kilometers of a long but not much steep climb. In the end, the differences between the favourites in the fight for the pink jersey have been only a few seconds, thanks to the work of Movistar Team in the toughest part.

On Saturday, the riders will face a stage with arrival in Arezzo, in Tuscany, and a climb a few kilometers away from the finish. The first big test of the Italian round is expected on Sunday, a long time trial of 40 km in Chianti where specialists will try to profit from their advantage.

Photo: Movistar Team