The China Mail - Luke Plapp in great escape as Italy's Ulissi take Giro lead

A series of attacks ensued early in the hilly stage, with the main contenders allowing the escape to make it far enough ahead of them for Plapp to withstand the chase and cross the line in first.

The 24-year-old Jayco-Alula rider from Melbourne shook his head in disbelief at the finish after his first major win following an impressive solo effort.

But just 38sec behind Plapp, Wilco Kelderman was second and Ulissi third, and so began Ulissi's nail-biting wait for overnight leader Primoz Roglic to cross the line.

Ulissi was 4min 01sec down at the start and the main contenders for the title were just outside that limit, but the new leader couldn't celebrate until he knew they had missed the time cut.

When they did come into the home straight Friday's stage winner Juan Ayuso attacked and finished just ahead of Roglic and Egan Bernal as well as Simon and Adam Yates.

Ulissi now leads Roglic by 17seconds in the overall classification and will ride out in pink Sunday giving home crowds something to cheer.

There were four categorised climbs between the coastal town of Giulianova, along a rugged 197km route through the Abruzzo region, to the Castelraimondo finish -- halfway up the Italian peninsula.

The likeable Dane Mads Pedersen won three stages and was the star of the race's early going, and the Lidl-Trek powerhouse leads the sprint points standings.

Sunday's stage will run over the white gravel roads of the sparkling wine vineyards outside Siena.

E.Choi--ThChM