Giro d’Italia: Luke Plapp powers to stage eight win while Diego Ulissi moves into pink

Luke Plapp of Team Jayco Alula won stage eight of the Giro d’Italia on Saturday with a formidable solo effort on the 197km ride from Giulianova to Castelraimondo while Diego Ulissi became the first Italian in four years to take the pink jersey.

After nearly 20 riders formed a breakaway group with 100km to go, Plapp attacked the Montelago climb and the Australian rode to victory by a handsome margin and claim his first Grand Tour stage win.

Plapp was so far ahead there was no chaser in sight, but the 24-year-old still looked cautiously over his shoulder on the final stretch to the finish, hands on head in disbelief as he crossed the line.

“It’s pretty crazy, I still can’t believe it. I feel like it’s been a long time coming,” he said. “Last year I got so close to the Giro so many times. And for today to happen is so, so special.”

Wilco Kelderman of Visma-Lease a Bike finished second while XDS-Astana’s Ulissi came in third, with both riders finishing 38 seconds behind Plapp. Ulissi’s effort was enough for him to take the overall leader’s pink jersey from Primoz Roglic, with the Italian screaming in delight when he was told the maglia rosa was his.

Ulissi will be the first Italian to wear the pink jersey since Alessandro De Marchi in 2021, ending an 86-stage drought. He leads his teammate Lorenzo Fortunato by 12 seconds while Roglic is 17 seconds behind.

Diego Ulissi dons the maglia rosa after stage eight. Photograph: Jennifer Lorenzini/Reuters

Plapp attacked with 45km to go, kicking into a high gear to leave the field behind and riding solo to the top on the Montelago climb. He stayed in the lead after taking maximum points in the fight for the blue jersey and he had a minute’s lead on the chasers while the peloton was more than six minutes behind with about 20km to go.

He showed no signs of slowing down as he conquered the Gagliole climb and remained more than five minutes ahead of the peloton on the descent. “I knew I couldn’t beat any of them in a sprint so I had to go at some stage pretty early. The way the racing’s been going this year, the long moves have been really, really successful,” he said.

“The first one to make a move always has an advantage. I just thought I’d give it a crack. And, to be honest, I just wanted a bit of a head start on the descent as well.”

Young Briton Max Poole, 22, dropped to sixth overall – 47 seconds down – while Simon Yates sits 10th, 56 seconds off the pace.