Tadej Pogacar completed back-to-back victories at the Giro d’Italia by winning stage eight in Prati di Tivo.
The Slovenian, a two-time Tour de France winner, extended his lead in the race by four seconds after earning his third stage victory in eight days, and his 10th win of the season overall.
In a 152km ride from Spoleto to Prati di Tivo, Pogacar left it until the final 1,500m climb before kicking ahead of his rivals with 200m to go.
The victory means UAE Team Emirates rider Pogacar has a lead of two minutes and 40 seconds with 13 stages remaining.
“I was not expecting it at all today but as a team we rode super well from the beginning and we came with a good time gap to the last climb,” Pogacar said.
“The team did a super job and Rafa [Majka] did an amazing lead-out, so it’s amazing to win again.”
Bora-hansgrohe rider Daniel Martinez came second to pick up six bonus seconds, which pushes him 18 seconds clear of third-placed Geraint Thomas, who came fifth on the stage.
Decathlon’s Ben O’Connor took third, to consolidate his overall place in fourth.
Sunday’s stage nine is a 214km route from Avezzano to Naples.
Stage eight results
1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 4hrs 02mins 16secs
2. Dani Martinez (Col/Bora-hansgrohe) Same time
3. Ben O’Connor (Aus/Decathlon)
4. Antonio Tiberi (Ita/Bahrain-Victorious) +2secs
5. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) Same time
6. Einer Rubio (Col/ Movistar Team)
7. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel/ Team Visma)
8. Thymen Arensman (Ned/ INEOS Grenadiers) +11secs
9. Michael Storer (Aus/ Tudor Pro) +13secs
10. Alex Baudin (Fra/ Decathlon) +21secs
Overall standings
1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 28hrs14mins 42secs
2. Dani Martinez (Col/Bora-hansgrohe) +2:40
3. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +2:58
4. Ben O’Connor (Aus/Decathlon) +3:39
5. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel/Team Visma) +4:02
6. Antonio Tiberi (Ita/Bahrain-Victorious) +4:23
7. Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita/Astana Qazaqstan) +5:15
8. Einer Rubio (Col/ Movistar Team) +5:28
9. Thymen Arensman (Ned/ INEOS Grenadiers) +5:30
10. Jan Hirt (Cze/ Soudal ) +5:53