Bernal bags top 10 as team enliven stage 13

Egan Bernal sprinted to 10th place on the uphill finale to stage 13 at the Giro d'Italia, on a day which saw the INEOS Grenadiers pushing the tempo.

The Colombian jumped up to ninth place overall following a strong finish in Vicenza, after the team opened up the racing early with 50 kilometres to go.

A big acceleration on the approach to the fourth category San Giovanni in Monte climb saw the team stringing out the peloton, with huge turns from the likes of Kim Heiduk, Ben Turner and Josh Tarling.

Bernal and Thymen Arensman were present in a select group, with the Dutchman hitting the front briefly before the action gradually came back together.

Arensman was able to limit his losses well on the punchy finale of the Monte Berico, dropping 18 seconds. He now sits 13th overall.

The stage win went to Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), with Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) retaining the maglia rosa heading into the weekend.

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Egan Bernal: “It was a super hard, demanding stage. I’m tired, but happy

“Other than racing for the result, I’m racing for myself and aiming to feel good on my bike. When I make it to the bus after stages, I don’t look at the standings. Enjoying cycling is what I care about the most, and I enjoyed today’s race indeed. The team supports me - and there is not much else I can ask for in life.

“Our plan was to try and break the race open, and then see if somebody else wanted to make a move - yet we were many kilometres from the finish. In any case, these efforts will have an impact on everybody's legs further down the road.

“I believe I’m capable of fighting for the ‘maglia rosa’. It’s always the same at the Giro: everybody sprints for a bonus worth two, four seconds maybe… and then, come the final week, the GC will be a matter of minutes. We will be patient.”