The breakaway has survived on a bizarre stage ten into Forzi at the Giro d’Italia today.

With an easy category four the only minor climb on the menu, the first day of racing after a much needed rest day was expected to be one dominated by the pure sprinters.

Instead, Nicola Boem (Bardiani – CSF Pro Team) raised his arms in celebration from the escape group, Brett Lancaster rolling across the line in the peloton for 19thposition as ORICA-GreenEDGE’s top finisher.

“Being involved in a sprint today was not our priority,” sport director Matt White said.

“But what is surprising is that a couple of teams who would have been interested in the final hesitant to chip in at the end and that’s the reason why the break stayed away.

“For us, there are better suited goals to come and we want to focus our energies on those.”

Tomorrow’s stage 11 is bumpy from start to finish. There are three categorised climbs but many in between, including on the 15.4km finishing circuit in Imola to be completed on three occasions.