Jan Hirt claims first Grand Tour stage win with victory in Giro

Stage winner, Team Wanty's Czech rider Jan Hirt, rests after crossing the finish line of the 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2022 cycling race, 177 kilometers from Salo' to Aprica, on May 24, 2022. (Photo by Marco ALPOZZI / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MARCO ALPOZZI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Czech rider Jan Hirt claimed a first Grand Tour win with victory over a gruelling mountain stage as Richard Carapaz saw his overall lead of the Giro d'Italia cut down to just three seconds.

Stage 16 was through 202 kilometres from Sala to Aprica with three category one climbs and was viewed as one of the most testing of this year's event.