Australia's Jay Vine thwarted by puncture in Giro d'Italia's 10th stage as Daan Hoole claims time trial
Vine was one of three Australians to make the top 10 on a day when rain undid the stage win chances of the grand classification big beasts in the 28.6 kilometre time trial from Lucca to Pisa.
That allowed allowed Isaac del Toro to cling on to the maglia rosa despite finishing in 37th place.
Crucially delayed by having to change to a spare bike, Vine (UAE Team Emirates) came in 37 seconds adrift of Hoole, with Lucas Plapp seven seconds and one place behind and Plapp's Jayco-AlUla teammate Michael Hepburn ninth, six seconds further back.
Lidl-Trek's Hoole capitalised on better early conditions to finish in 32.30 minutes, ahead of British duo Josh Tarling (INEOS Grenadiers) and Ethan Hayter (Quickstep).
It was the Dutch national time trial champion's first victory in a grand tour.
"It's unbelievable. I mean it didn't sink in yet," Hoole said.
"I was aiming for this day and I was feeling good all week, but to win, I never thought I would do this.
"Of course, the GC guys, they had rain and that changed a lot, but I'm still happy I could beat Tarling in more or less the same conditions."
Primoz Roglic (Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe), battling to recover from a crash two days ago and secure his second Giro title, fell again on the stage's recon ride, but recovered to make up more than a minute on his main challengers and move up to fifth.
Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) came 22nd, making up a minute on Del Toro and staying second overall.
The best-placed Australians in the GC are Michael Storer (Tudor) at 3 minutes, 14 seconds and Jayco-AlUla's Chris Harper, four seconds further adrift, at 14th and 15th respectively.
The 11th stage will see the contest for the pink jersey heat up as the peloton takes on a mountainous 186km route from Viareggio to Castelnovo Ne' Monti.
AAP
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