It as a day of highs and lows for Team Sky in the Giro d'Italia. GC leader Kanstantsin Siutsou crashed out of the race but Dario Cataldo rode a fantastic stage and was just metres from taking a stage win.

Dario Cataldo came within metres of a famous stage win at the Giro d’Italia but was edged out on the Oropa summit finish.

The Italian spent the 164-kilometre stage 14 in the breakaway alongside team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen and drove onwards up the final kilometres of the famous climb.

Hitting the cobbled finish, Cataldo sprinted for the line, pushing clear of Jarlinson Pantano (Colombia), but it was a fast-finishing Enrico Battaglin who powered through to take victory. The Bardiani-CSF rider overhauled his compatriot in the final 20 metres to ensure heartbreak for Cataldo despite an impressive ride.

Boasson Hagen produced some sterling turns to drive along the 21-man break and was present at the front to thin out the group right up to the third of three tough climbs on the day.

The stage proved to be a rollercoaster affair for Team Sky after a crash forced leading general classification rider Kanstantsin Siutsou to abandon the race. The Belarusian hit the deck along with a number of other riders with 100km to go as the peloton exited a tight roundabout.

"Kanstantsin has had x-rays which have shown no fractures," said Team Doctor Steve Baynes following the stage.

"He was in pain following the crash and obviously upset not to be able to continue in the race. We'll check over him again this evening."

Thrilling finale

After the stage Sports Director Dario Cioni admitted: "It was a day of highs and lows. It was really close there with Dario. A stage win would have been a really nice result.

"The plan from the morning was to go in the break and Cataldo was one of the riders we wanted to get in there. Edvald also joined him and it was a perfect situation as it meant he had some team support.

"It all looked good until 10 metres to the line. Battaglin really finished well. Certainly Dario was looking more at Pantano but it's just one of those things."

With Siutsou also leaving the race Cioni added: "It looked like a rider crashed in front of Kosta and he hit him and went down. Sebastian (Henao) was next to him and also Philip (Deignan) was involved so we had three riders down in one moment.

"We tried to continue with Kosta but it just wasn't possible. It's a shame as he would likely have moved up today in the GC."