Vendrame of AG2R Citroen Team outsprinted Australian Chris Hamilton of Team DSM to the line, winning the 212-kilometre stage from Siena to Bagno Di Romagna in 5hrs 43mins 48secs.

New Zealander George Bennett of Team Jumbo-Visma was 15 seconds further back in third position after edging Italy’s Gianluca Brambilla of Trek-Segafredo.

Vendrame was the second Italian to win a stage at this year’s Giro D’Italia after Filippo Ganna’s time-trial success on the opening day.

"I'm super happy because I tried in 2019 but I was second and [Esteban] Chavez won that day, and I tried also last year but I was in a bad position," said Vendrame.

"I have been training hard this year and I made a dream come true. I'm really happy.

"We've been working to try to get the blue jersey for [Geoffrey] Bouchard and then in the finish we made it so I could try and get the victory."

Bernal holds a 45-second lead over Russian Aleksandr Vlasov ahead of the 13th stage.

Tomorrow will see athletes ride from Ravenna to Verona on a 198km flat course before a scheduled mountain stage on Saturday (May 22).