With 264km in the legs, Luka Mezgec was unable to deliver a strong sprint on the up-hill finish. Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) emerged from the sprinting pack and won stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia.

The longest stage in this year’s Giro d’Italia will not be remembered as the most exciting one. An early attack by four riders formed the day’s break, as none of them were a threat for the overall.

Team Tinkoff-Saxo controlled the chase and after a long day in the front the leaders were caught with 21km to go.

Into the final kilometer the chances for Mezgec looked good as Tobias Ludvigsson and Simon Geschke covered him, but unfortunately the day turned out to be too long for him. Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) won the hectic sprint on the ascending final kilometer in Fiuggi. Ludvigsson, Geschke and Mezgec came in at 26th, 32th, and 38th respectively.

Coach Addy Engels said: “It was a day of waiting for action at the final hilly sections. We have tried to save energy for the sprint but the finish was too difficult for Luka after such a long stage.”