Italy's Andrea Vendrame edged Briton Tom Pidcock to the line in a brutal stage three of the Tirreno-Adriatico on a freezing and rain-soaked 239km slog to Umbria on Wednesday.

The Decathlon-AG2R rider Vendrame is the third Italian stage winner after just three of the seven stages.

Andrea Vendrame Reflects On Tough Victory

"It was a long day, complicated at times, it was cold, there were crashes, I am very happy with this victory," Vendrame said after six hours, 28 minutes, and 25 seconds in the saddle.

Pidcock of Q36.5 came second, with Frenchman Romain Gregoire completing the podium.

Filippo Ganna Maintains Overall Lead

Ineos Grenadiers rode as a pack at the front of the peloton most of the day, successfully protecting Filippo Ganna's overall lead.

The 28-year-old pulled on the blue jersey, leading UAE rider Juan Ayuso by 22 seconds at the hilltop finish.

Ganna dominated the opposition with a victory margin of almost half a minute on the opening day’s 11.5km time trial on Monday.

The softly spoken Ganna crossed the line in 10th place Wednesday, at the same time as stage winner Vendrame.

Another Italian, Jonathan Milan, won the second stage on Tuesday but was one of many fallers on ice- and rain-slicked roads, finishing several minutes adrift.

Thursday's 190km fourth stage runs from Norcia to Trasacco before the race moves onto a pair of mountain stages on Friday and Saturday.

These stages should allow talented climber Ayuso to overtake Ganna, with a scheduled sprint finish lying in wait for Sunday's closing run.