There were certainly four more retirements - Mikaël Cherel, Harm Vanhoucke, Kaden Groves and Alessandro Covi - bringing to 40 the number of riders who packed up after only twelve stages in this 106th edition overwhelmed by Covid, falls and terrible weather.

But the falls remained limited and the light rain on the 185 km leading the peloton on a senator's pace to the foot of the Alps.

Britain's Geraint Thomas, who arrived with the other favourites more than eight minutes behind the winner, was able, for the first time, to walk quietly in his pink leader's jersey.

"It was much quieter. The team controlled the race well. There was no one dangerous to the general in the breakaway. It was a good day," said the Welshman.

Geraint Thomas on the podium of the Giro on May 18, 2023 on the evening of the 12th stage run between Bra and Rivoli. The Welshman from Ineos had a quiet day. "It was much quieter. The team controlled the race well. There was no one dangerous to the general in the breakaway. It was a good day," he said ©. Luca Bettini / AFP/Archives

The other riders in the Top 10 could also breathe. Like Primoz Roglic, second two seconds behind Thomas and main favorite since the retirement of Remco Evenepoel, who told at the beginning how he was inspired by Rocky, the boxer, to "survive" in this apocalyptic Giro.

"As Rocky said: it's not about how hard you can hit, it's how much you're able to cash in and still move forward," said the 33-year-old Slovenian, hilarious, despite the deep hip gash suffered in a fall the day before.

The proximity of the first major mountain stage that will take the riders on Friday to Crans Montana, Switzerland, undoubtedly contributed to the peaceful and predictable scenario of the day: that of a long-distance breakaway.

About thirty runners left almost from the start, before splitting into small groups.

Denz defeated the "monsters"

At the finish, there were three left, the Latvian Toms Skujins, the Australian Sebastian Berwick and the German Nico Denz (Bora) who beat his two companions of "fuga" in the sprint to pocket, at 29 years old, the best victory of his career, when he should not even be there.

"I was not designated in the team to go in the breakaway, it had to be +Konnie+ (Patrick Konrad) and Bob (Jungels). But Bob didn't feel too well and I got the green light," he said, ecstatic.

"When I arrived in the breakaway, I looked around and I only saw monsters, only cadors," he added. But he hung on like hell, especially on the last climb, to surprise everyone at the finish. "I'm very proud of myself," he said.

The respite given to the peloton is likely to be brief. Because the road will rise strongly on Friday with, on the program, three 1st category climbs, the highest category on the Giro.

The stage will be a little less difficult than expected since the riders, unlike Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800, will not go to the top of the Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard because of too much snow.

Giro 2023: the route of the 106th edition © Laurence SAUBADU / AFP

The peloton will pass 600 meters lower through the tunnel, before attacking the formidable Croix-de-Cœur (15.4 km at 8.8%) and starting the final climb to Crans Montana, also very tough (13.1 km at 7.2%).

The opportunity for a first big explanation between favorites, before the third week which promises to be particularly sporty in the Dolomites.

© 2023 AFP