Egan Bernal storms to first Grand Tour stage victory at Giro d'Italia

Ineos Grenadiers rider takes over the leader's pink jersey with UAE Team Emirates' Formolo sitting tenth overall

Ineos Grenadiers rider Egan Bernal after winning Stage 9 of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday, May 16. AFP

Egan Bernal after claiming the overall leader's pink jersey. AFP

Colombia's Egan Bernal on his way to victory in Stage 9 of the Giro. AFP

Colombia's Egan Bernal on his way to victory in Stage 9 of the Giro. AFP

Egan Bernal celebrates with his Italian teammate Gianni Moscon. EPA

Team Deceuninck rider Remco Evenepoel after completing Stage 9. AFP

The peloton rides past windturbines at Forca Caruso mountain pass near Collarmele. AFP

The peloton during the 158 km Stage 9 between Castel di Sangro and Campo Felice. AFP

The peloton rides through the town of Villetta Barrea during Stage 9. AFP

The pack rides past the town of Alfedena. AFP

Egan Bernal stormed to victory on Stage 9 of the Giro d'Italia to claim the leader's pink jersey on Sunday.

The Colombian rider ended the stage seven seconds clear of Giulio Ciccone and Aleksandr Vlasov following a fine finish to the 158 kilometre route.

Bernal, who races for Ineos Grenadiers, secured his first victory of the season after Attila Valter lost pace during the final ascent.

Bernal is 15 seconds clear of Remco Evenepoel in second, with British pair Hugh Carthy and Simon Yates sixth and ninth respectively. Ireland's Dan Martin is eighth.

Following his triumph, Bernal, who is returning to his best form following a string of back problems, said: "I cannot believe what just happened, I just won my first stage in a Grand Tour.

"I made a lot of sacrifices to get where I am now. I was thinking I would do well today but I was not sure whether I could have won the stage.

"My teammates had a lot of confidence in me, they told me I could do it. This victory is for them, they really believe in me."

UAE Team Emirates' Davide Formolo sits in tenth place overall, just over a minute behind Bernal.

Earlier on Sunday, the peloton was given a Covid-19 all clear with no positive tests among the riders or staff on the 23 teams.

However one cyclist Tomasz Marczynski of the Belgian Lotto-Soudal team was withdrawn as a precaution because of symptoms similar to the virus.