Richie Porte hit with two-minute penalty

Porte suffered a puncture inside the last 10 kilometres and fellow Australian Simon Clarke – who rides for rival team Orica-GreenEdge – gave him his wheel to complete the race.

The Sky rider tweeted his gratitude to Clarke. However, despite being paced by four team-mates, Porte was unable to regain touch of the peloton, which had been led over the line by Nizzolo 18 seconds down on the stage winner.

Porte had been expected to make up ground on overall leader Alberto Contador during the 200km flat stage from Civitanova Marche to Forli but the flat ruined the Australian's day.

However, things were to get worse for Porte. The wheel swap had contravened a UCI ruling for “non-regulation assistance to a rider of another team”.

Both received a two-minute time penalty, which meant Porte dropped to 12th in the GC.