Tadej Pogacar pointed to the sky when he crossed the finish line and he finished his post-stage interview by dedicating his victory to 19-year-old Italian rider Samuele Privitera, who has died following an accident during the first stage of the Giro della Valle d’Aosta, an Under-23 event.

The defending champion proved he was a class above the rest with a dominant 12km solo win on the Hautacam climb

On a day when many wondered if he would suffer any ill effects from his crash the day before, the defending champ showed none.