Caleb Ewan finally gets a stage win at the Giro

Orica-Bike Exchange's Aussie sprinter Caleb Ewan wins a very close stage 7 sprint ahead of Gaviria and Bennett

At 220 kms, stage 7 from Castrovillari to Alberobello was a long day in the saddle for the peloton.

A pretty flat, fast stage with a small climb up to Massafra and a very technical run into the finish with a finishing lap thrown in, at Alberobello.

The break of the day consisted of two riders; Fonzi (Wilier Triestina) and Kozonchuk (Gazprom), who built up a lead of over 4 minutes.

As the peloton started to chase, the two breakaway companions hung on until 25 kms to go, when they shock hands and were overtaken by the peloton.

There were a few nervous moments as everyone wanted to be near the front.

With 7 kms to go, things really started to wind up, as all the sprinters teams came to the front. Sky seemed to want to pull and keep Geraint Thomas out of trouble on th technical descent.

Quicki-Step Floors were seen trying to move to the front wth 3 kms to go, but in was pretty much chaos on the technical, narrow twsieting run into the finish.

Orica-Bike Exchange's Ewan was in perfect position with 300m to go behind his lead out man. Behind Sam Bennett from Bora-Hangrohe and Gaviria were all there.

As Ewan lead out man slowed he came round at the front with 200m to go. 

In the final 100m the riders could see the finishing line and Ewan, Bennett and Gaviria burnt all their matches in a very closely fought sprint.

Looking at the photo finish Ewan had just pipped Gaviria and Bennett on the line, to win his first stage of the Giro.

Ewan was getting pretty frustrated after coming close on previous sprint stages, but tonight him and his team will be able to celebrate without any pressure.

No change in the General Classification as Bob Jungels keeps the Maglia Rosa for another day.

Tomorrow's stage 8 from Molfetta to Peschici is 189km,   the first half of this hilly stage is perfectly flat until Manfredonia, while the second half features real ascents and undulating stretches. The route climbs up Monte Sant’Angelo and then runs along the Gargano coast with several climbs and descents. The stage course cuts across a few major cities, such as Vieste, before reaching the finish in Peschici on the top of the steep, short climb.

Join us tomorrow from 08:00 EST, 13:00 BST, 14:00 CEST for live coverage of stage 8.

2017 Giro d'Italia Stage 7 Top Ten Results

1 Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-Scott 5:35:18 
2 Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step Floors   
3 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe   
4 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal   
5 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo   
6 Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension Data   
7 Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:00:02 
8 Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe   
9 Alexey Tsatevich (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo   
10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida

2017 Giro d'Italia General Classification after Stage 7

1 Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors 33:56:07 
2 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:06 
3 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:00:10 
4 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida   
5 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale   
6 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb   
7 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team   
8 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo   
9 Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team   
10 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team