Having been part of an 18-man breakaway, the talented rider from Subiaco made a decisive solo bid for home with eight kilometres left of the brutal, mountainous 203km slog from Bassano del Grappa.
After nearly six hours in the saddle, the 24-year-old ended up atop Madonna di Campiglio 31 seconds clear of his pursuers for the fourth, and easily the biggest, victory of his career - his first ever in a Grand Tour.
It was a fantastic effort coming so soon after his big push to win the 16th stage in San Daniele del Friuli fell just short when he eventually had to settle for the runner's-up spot behind Jan Tratnik - and it left him full of emotion.
