Cesare Benedetti led an Italian one-two finish on stage 12 of the Giro d’Italia ©Getty Images

Cesare Benedetti led an Italian one-two finish on stage 12 of the Giro d’Italia as Slovenia’s Jan Polanc moved into first in the general classification.

Bora-Hansgrohe rider Benedetti claimed his first professional win in 3 hours 41min 49sec for the 158 kilometres route from Cuneo to Pinerolo.

Compatriot Damiano Caruso of Bahrain-Merida finished second ahead of Ireland’s Eddie Dunbar of Team Ineos, which was recently rebranded from Team Sky.

Polanc finished 25 seconds behind the top three in sixth spot to wrestle the general classification lead from UAE Team Emirates team-mate Valerio Conte of Italy.

Italians Gianluca Brambilla of Trek-Segafredo and Eros Capecchi of Deceuninck-Quick-Step ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, as riders from the home nation occupied four of the top five places.

Slovenia's Jan Polanc is the new overall leader ©Getty Images
Slovenia's Jan Polanc is the new overall leader ©Getty Images

Polanc's overall time stands at 48:49:40.

Fellow Slovenian Primož Roglič of Team Jumbo-Visma remains in second spot, 4:07 back.

Conti, who finished more than 10 minutes down today, is a further 44 seconds off the pace in third.

The 21-stage race is due to continue tomorrow with a 196km route from Pinerolo to Ceresole Reale.

It is scheduled to conclude with a time trial in Verona on June 2.