Alex Dowsett secured Israel Start-Up Nation their first stage win at the Giro d'Italia with a sensational ride to Vieste on Saturday.

The Englishman pulled clear of the breakaway group and called upon his time-trial experience to sustain a clear lead to the finish line.

Dowsett, who broke track cycling's world hour record back in 2015, had endured a "nightmare" start to the day when he tweeted his disgust at having mistakenly brushed his teeth before remembering he had not finished his morning coffee, adding: "I really hope the day picks up."

His timing could not have been better out on the 200-kilometre ride from Giovinazzo to Vieste, as he attacked the front after a six-rider breakaway with around 16km to go.

Dowsett stretched his lead to close to 30 seconds at the bell and the gap was at a massive 75 seconds by the time he crossed the line for his second Giro stage win and the first for his team.

Salvatore Puccio took second ahead of Matthew Holmes and Joseph Rosskopf after a short sprint for the line.

The peloton had long since turned attention towards Sunday's stage, with the general classification standings largely unaffected by what was going on further ahead.

Joao Almeida, who finished 17th, retains a 43-second lead at the top of the GC over Pello Bilbao.

STAGE RESULT

1. Alex Dowsett (Israel Start-Up Nation) 04:50:09
2. Salvatore Puccio (Team INEOS) +01:15
3. Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) same time
4. Joseph Rosskopf (CCC Team) same time
5. Mathias Brandle (Israel Cycling Academy) + 02:10

CLASSIFICATION STANDINGS

General Classification 
1. Joao Almeida (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) 29:52:34
2. Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-McLaren) +00:43
3. Wilco Kelderman (Team Sunweb) +00:48

Points Classification 
1. Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) 163
2. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) 107
3. Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) 87

King of the Mountains 
1. Filippo Ganna (Team INEOS) 41
2. Jonathan Caicedo (EF Pro Cycling) 40
3. Matthew Holmes (Lotto Soudal) 20

WHAT'S NEXT?

Sunday's stage nine is a more arduous 208km from San Salvo to Roccaraso, which includes the steep climb to Passo Lanciano before the long ascent to the finish, as the riders move away from the coast and into the Apennine mountains.