Caleb Ewan had been running his rivals close in several stages already in this 2019 Giro d’Italia, and the Australian sprinter finally grabbed a valuable victory of his own on stage eight with an impressive finish in Pesaro.
Ewan was devastated to be left out of Mitchelton-Scott’s 2018 Tour de France team as they prioritised their general classification hopes, and left his native team to switch to Lotto-Soudal last summer.
He has been given free rein go for stage victories at the Giro and the talented 24-year-old repaid that faith with a comprehensive win in a short sprint ahead of the Italian Elia Viviani.
The main players for the general classification finished in the pack together with Valerio Conti retaining the pink jersey going into Sunday’s individual time trial from Riccione to San Marino.
Of the favourites for the race, Primoz Roglic remains highest placed in 12th, 35 seconds ahead of Britain’s Simon Yates, who is 15th overall.
