MONSELICE, Italy — An explosive blanket finish saw the UAE Team Emirates Italian puncheur Diego Ulissi take his second win of this year’s Giro d’Italia ahead of race leader Joao Almeida (Deceuninck Quick-Step).

The 13th stage started in Cervia and took the riders on a near flat 192.5km course, finishing in Monselice with two punchy climbs coming in the Euganean Hills that blew the race open.

Seven riders managed to break free from the pack early on in the stage, building up a three minute lead on the chasing pack. They were eventually caught during the second climb of the day which also caused a further break leaving Peter Sagan (Bora–hansgrohe) and Ben Swift (Ineos Grenadiers) out in front.

Ulissi launched his sprint with around 600m to go and proved to be the fastest rider just edging out Almeida and Patrick Konrad (Bora–hansgrohe) in an emphatic photo finish.

Ulissi said, "We did a great job on the final climb to break away from the sprinters and arrive in a small group. We knew that if we could keep them away we would have a chance to fight for the sprint.

“I have to thank the whole team who set this up perfectly: first with Conti and then with a great lead out from McNulty who set me up in the final.

“Since we restarted the season I am going really well and I am so happy to have won two stages, which I can add to the my previous six wins here."

The Giro continues on Saturday with the 34km individual time trial from Congeliano to Valdobbiadene and concludes on October 25th in Milan.

Stage 13 Results: 1. Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) 4:22:18; 2. Joao Almeida (Deceuninck–Quick step)”; 3. Patrick Konrad (Bora–hansgrohe) ”;

General Classification after Stage 13: 1. Joao Almeida (Deceuninck–Quickstep) 53:43:58; 2. Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb) 0:40”; 3. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain–McLaren) 0:49”. — SG