PRIMOZ ROGLIC pulled on the pink jersey after stage seven of the Giro d’Italia today but Juan Ayuso underlined his credentials as his main challenger by snatching victory in Tagliacozzo.

Ayuso had the power to break clear from a select group of favourites in the final few hundred metres of the 12-kilometre climb to the finish, with 2021 Giro winner Egan Bernal taking a hugely encouraging third place after an attacking ride three years on from a career-threatening crash.

Roglic was initially missing when Ayuso made his move but recovered to cross the line fourth on the stage, enough to take pink by four seconds from Ayuso at the end of the first major general classification test – with Mads Pedersen surrendering the lead as expected.