Stefano Pirazzi cried tears of joy after winning his first Grand Tour stage in his home race yesterday, but behind him arguments still raged after Tuesday’s controversial Giro d’Italia stage put Nairo Quintana in the pink jersey of race leader.

Nicolas Roche’s Tinkoff-Saxo team have suffered a blow ahead of tomorrow’s Giro d’Italia start in Belfast, with new signing Edward Beltran having been refused visa access by the British Embassy.