Third stage of the Giro d'Italia with departure from Vasto and arrival in Melfi, for a total of 203km . Breakaway by Team Corratec , with the Italian Konychev and the Serbian Stojnic, who acquires a maximum lead of 7'. The stage runs smoothly in the first 170km of flat ground, then, on the first climb of the day, the pass of the Monticchio Lakes (Cat.3), Trek-Segafredo and Team Jayco Alula try the forcing to try and put the sprinters in trouble pure.   In fact, Cavendish, Gaviria, Dekker, Cort, Ackermann and yesterday's winner Milan lose contact.   At -36km Stojnic is retaken, the last fugitive to give up. On the second ascent, the La Croce pass (Cat.4), Matthews' Team Jayco keeps the pace high to keep the detached sprinters from returning and even forces Pedersen to lose about ten seconds at the top of the climb, but the Dane manages to return on the subsequent descent with the help of two companions. At the flying finish line in Rapolla there is the first duel between Evenepoel and Roglic in the pink jersey who manages to beat the Slovenian and wins the 3” bonus. Matthews wins the sprint thanks to a great comeback on Pedersen who finishes in second place, Groves completes the stage podium.

The pink jersey remains firmly on Evenepoel's shoulders, while Pinot becomes leader of the climbers classification after winning both GPMs of the day.

ARRIVAL ORDER:

1 MATTHEWS Michael Team Jayco-AlUla 5:01:41

2        PEDERSEN Mads Trek-Segafredo ,,

3        GROVES Kaden Alpecin-Deceuninck ,,

4        ALBANIAN Vincenzo EOLO-Kometa Cycling Team ,,

5 OLDANI Stefano Alpecin-Deceuninck ,,

6         BYSTRØM Sven Erik Intermarché-Circus-Wanty ,,

7         ROGLIC Primoz Jumbo-Visma ,,

8         VELASCO Simone Astana Qazaqstan Team ,,

9    SKUJINS Toms Trek-Segafredo ,,

10 VENDRAME Andrea AG2R Citroën Team ,,

GENERAL RANKING:

1         Evenepoel Remco Soudal - Quick Step 10:18:07

2         ALMEIDA Joao UAE Team Emirates 0:32

3         ROGLIČ Primož Jumbo-Visma 0:44

4         KUNG Stefan Groupama - FDJ 0:46

5         THOMAS Geraint INEOS Grenadiers 0:58

6         VLASOV Aleksandr BORA - hansgrohe ,,

7         GEOGHEGAN HART Tao INEOS Grenadiers 1:02

8         MATTHEWS Michael Team Jayco AlUla ,,

9         VINE Jay UAE Team Emirates 1:08

10       PEDERSEN Mads Trek - Segafredo 1:18

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency