Julian Arredondo’s overall ambitions may have taken an early hit at this year’s Giro d’Italia, but the way he has bounced back and turned his misfortune into a whole new opportunity has shown the 25-year-old, in his first year at WorldTour level, will be one to watch over the coming years. Caught up in the huge crash on stage six, Arredondo lost 18 minutes to his rivals, just a day after finishing third on the Viggiano.

But where some will have been hurt by their lost opportunity, Arredondo seized his new-found freedom to join the breaks, rack up the King of the Mountains points and build a sizable lead in the king of the mountains competition which has seen him wear the maglia azzurra since his solo dig on stage eight. The pint-sized climbing ace has already showcased his immense ability on the ascents, picking up maximum points atop several climbs. And he went even better on stage 18, blasting up the Panarotta climb to seal a first Giro d’Italia stage win. A blue jersey and stage success are more than a consolation for missing out on mounting an overall challenge.