Alberto Dainese (DSM) became the first Italian winner in this year’s Giro d’Italia when he edged the sprint to take stage 11 in Reggio Emilia on Wednesday.
Dainese, 24, who had never previously won a stage in the Giro, beat the Colombian Fernando Gaviria in the dash for the finish. Another Italian Simone Consonni took third.
On the podium, the Italian was treated to the traditional giant bottle of prosecco, like his predecessors.
But significantly, the magnum had been uncorked as a precaution against a repeat of the accident that befell Biniam Girmay on Wednesday when he was injured in the left eye by the cork and subsequently ruled out of the race.