Conti still in pink as Bilbao wins the stage

S p a n i a r d Pe l l o B i l b a o claimed a first Grand Tour stage victor y as Valerio Conti retained the leader’s pink jersey on stage seven of the Giro d’italia.

A s t a n a r i d e r B i l b a o moved clear f rom what had been a 12- strong breakaway group in the closing stages of the 185- kilomet r e s t age f r om Vasto t o L’aquila, which included two classified climbs.

Bilbao finished five seconds ahead of Tony Gallopin, the AG2R La Mondiale racer edging out Davide Formolo ( Bora- Hansgrohe) to take second place.

Conti and t he peloton eventually finished more than a minute behind, but it was still enough for the Italian to hold on to the

at the head of the general classification standings.