Victory for Victor after early crash disrupts Giro

Belgium's Victor Campenaertsclaimedvictoryonstage 15 of the Giro d'italia after an early crash disrupted the event.

The 147-kilometre stage from Grado to Gorizia had to be neutralised within the opening 5km after a pileup in the middle of the field which resulted in Borahansgrohe's

Emanuel Buchmann, who was sixth overall, Jumbo-visma's Jos van Emden and Cofidis rider Natneal Berhane abandoning the race after undergoing treatment.

Several riders in the peloton behind an early break were left with torn jerseys, but after a delay around 20 minutes, he competitors were back in business with Campenaerts among one of two groups easing away from the rest of the field.

By the 122km to go mark, 19 ridershadestablishedaleadof more than three minutes, and that had increased to 9 minutes 37 seconds with 97km remaining.

Campenaerts attacked with around 21km left, with Oscar Riesebeek and Albert Torres latching on to him, although the latter was soon dropped and while Riesebeek pushed the Belgian all the way, it was the Team Qhubeka Assos man who crossed the line first and Germany's Nikias

Arndt followed the Dutchman home.

Ineos' Egan Bernal Gomez leads the general classification, one minute 33 seconds ahead of Bikeexchange's Simon Yates, with Bahrain Victorious' Damiano Caruso in third place.

"I think that I'm in a really good position now. I don't need to attack on every mountain stage," said 2019 Tour de France winner Bernal.

"I just need to be calm and patient."