Spanish rider Gorka Izaguirre has profited from a crash on the short but steep concluding climb to win the eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia as Bob Jungels held on to the pink jersey despite a minor accident.
Izaguirre had time to raise his arms and celebrate his first individual grand tour win while Giovanni Visconti crossed second, five seconds behind, and Luis Leon Sanchez finished third, five seconds further back.
Australia's Caleb Ewan was again unable to add to his points tally, remaining fourth on that classification.
Valerio Conti was leading the four-man breakaway at the start of the concluding 1.5km climb but he lost control and crashed to the pavement while negotiating a tight turn. That's when Izaguirre made his decisive attack.
"Visconti was probably the most dangerous rival for the stage victory in the front group," Izaguirre said. "I got an opportunity and I'm glad I didn't miss it."
Izaguirre also won a team time trial with Movistar in the 2014 Spanish Vuelta.
Jungels and the other overall favourites finished 12 seconds behind Izaguirre.
The Luxembourg rider maintained his six-second advantage over Geraint Thomas of Wales. Fellow Briton Adam Yates remained third, 10 seconds back, with most of the overall favorites.
Jungels, who claimed the pink jersey after the fourth stage, crashed on a downhill section with 35km to go and bloodied his left knee.
"It's not a problem," Jungels said. "I just didn't pay attention and I hit the back wheel of my teammate on a low-speed corner."
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