After an infinite number of second places conquered since the beginning of the season until now, Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia) won an epic if weather-shortened stage at the Giro d’Italia today.

"What can I say?” the Italian rider asked rhetorically when speaking to Rai Sport directly after the stage. “I still cannot believe it. We fought in bad weather all day and up here atop the Monte Jafferau it is very cold. Luckily I had a great team; we tried to control the breakaway, although it was not easy because they were going very fast at the front of the race. In the final 2.5km Vincenzo [Nibali, Astana] attacked and I tried to follow him and to take my turns at the front so we could arrive at the finish line as the first. We were able to do it and then we went off together to the finish line and we fought it out for the stage. In the end, I think he’s fine with my victory. Anyway, to keep the wheel of someone like him, it just means that I'm fine. The Giro? I came here to win a stage and now I live from day to day, I do not want to set up exaggerated goals for myself.”