ROCCARASO, Italy: Ruben Guerreiro claimed his first victory in a Grand Tour by winning the ninth stage of the Giro dItalia on Sunday, and Portuguese compatriot Joo Almeida held onto the overall leaders pink jersey.
Guerreiro, who rides for the EF Pro Cycling team, beat Jonathan Castroviejo by eight seconds at the end of the mountainous 207-kilometer (129-mile) leg from San Salvo to Roccaraso.
Mikkel Bjerg was third, 58 seconds behind Guerreiro. All three had been part of an original eight-man breakaway group before Guerreiro and Castroviejo attacked on the summit finish, a first-category climb.
Almeida, who rides for the Deceuninck-Quick Step team, is 30 seconds ahead of Dutch rider Wilco Kelderman, who leapfrogged Pello Bilbao into second spot in the overall standings.
It was a difficult stage for the peloton. The route featured two second-category and two first-category climbs on a very wet and cold day.
The Giro has its first rest day on Monday before Tuesdays 10th stage, an undulating 177-kilometer (110-mile) route from Lanciano to Tortoreto.
The race was rescheduled from its usual May slot because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Giro ends on Oct. 25 with an individual time trial in Milan.
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