Astana's Jacob Fuglsang kept the pressure on GC rivals, including Giro d'Italia race leader Joao Almeida (Deceuninck-Quick Step), in the last 500 meters of stage 9 from San Salvo to Roccaraso. He escaped.

EF Pro Cycling's Ruben Guerreiro (over a minute and a half further up) took the stage win, while Sunweb's Wilco Kelderman moved out of contention for the GC win with about 400 meters remaining on the final steep slope.

Only Fuglsang and Kelderman's Sunweb teammate Jai Hindley could follow the Dutchman, and the three were 14 seconds behind overall contenders Vincenzo Nibali (Trek-Segafredo) and Pero Bilbao (Bahrain McLaren), and importantly, 18 seconds ahead of current race leader Almeida. Meanwhile, Jumbo Visma's Steven Kruijswijk was another 3 seconds behind, and Lotto Soudal's Herm Van Hoek was 21 seconds behind Fuglsang and Kelderman, dropping from fourth to seventh overall.

"The team did a really good job, protecting me all day, keeping me around and not missing any moves," Fuglsang said on the team website on Sunday.

"On the last climb, it was up to me, but Fabio [Ferrigne] stayed with me for a long time and worked perfectly for me. The last kilometer had a strong headwind, so there was no chance to try anything in the last few hundred meters."

"I was with the GC contenders, so I gave it my all and was able to move up a bit in the overall standings," Fuglsang continued. It was a good day for me and the team, and I'm happy with the results so far."

The riders can now enjoy the first of two rest days on Monday before the sprinters race on Tuesday's 10th stage, from Lanciano to Tortoreto Lido.

"It's nice to go into a rest day like this and make up some time on GC.

"It's good to get in a rest day like this and make up some time on the GC," Fuglsang said.