Sunday’s stage was the second of four starting in Italy before the Vuelta heads into Spain and although it is early for Vingegaard to go into the lead, he said: “You’re not going to let a stage win pass so when I saw the opportunity, of course I’ll take it.

“It’s been a while since my last victory so I’m super happy with how I felt, how the team did, and also to have the red jersey.”

Vingegaard added: “I went on [Ciccone’s] wheel and, to be honest, before the [final] corner I didn’t think that it would be possible to pass him, but from the corner on it was longer to the finish than I thought so then I could pass him.”

A 157km flat stage from Alba culminated with a climb of almost 10km with an average gradient of more than 5%.

Rain fell on a cool day of 20C, and Pidcock and Vingegaard were among a group of riders that slipped to the tarmac on a roundabout near the bottom of that last ascent.

“I went down pretty hard, but it seems like I didn’t hurt myself too bad,” said Vingegaard.

“I have a bit of bruising, but I think because it was so slippery I was sliding more, so I didn’t get any bad road rash or anything.”

Pidcock added: “I’ve got be happy with how I rode. I think I always need a few days to get into a race. We committed, I didn’t have the legs, but we’ll try again another time.”

On Monday the riders are set for a grinding all-day ascent on a short but winding 138.5km run to Ceres in the midst of the Graian Alps.