Greig Leach

With a larger group of escapee then heretofore, it was going to take some effort to get any sprint points (or KOM points for that matter). At the first of two sprints before the climb up the Gran Sasso d'Italia, it was Maxim Belkov (Katusha-Alpecin) who went on the offensive. His move was covered, and bested, by Davide Ballerini (Andronni-Giocattli) in Bussi Sul Tirino. Two others that had been leading the fourteen member group, Simone Andreetta (Bardiani CSF) and Mathias Brandle (Trek-Segafredo) decided not to get involved with the duos shennanigans. However, it should be noted that Andreetta came third across the line. 10 kilometers up the road the duo went at it again, with Belkov trying from further out, again to no avail. And again, Andreetta came third.