After a Giro d'Italia campaign that saw him fall well out of the GC race with a time deficit of more than 20 minutes throughout the first two weeks, Hugh Carthy showed fighting spirit on Sunday's 15th stage from the Alps to Cogne.

The Briton headed to Italy with hopes of challenging for the top overall spots, finishing eighth in 2019 and third in the 2020 Vuelta a España. But that didn't work out for Kersey, and he had to refocus on stage wins.

After an 80km breakaway on stage 15, the first Alpine stage of the race, Kersey moved to the front in a 27-man breakaway and joined the race for the win as the pack was cut down by two first class mountains in the 177km mid-stage breakaway.

On the climb to Verlogne, he caught up with the lead group and was in contention for the win on the long climb to the finish. However, with 18km to go, he was passed by Giulio Ciccone (Trek-Segafredo), leaving him in fourth place, 3 minutes behind.

"I was disappointed and upset after yesterday, but I think this is the beginning of change. It's a shame that I didn't come one step closer to winning, but I'm happy that things are turning around."

"I wish I was in better shape. ...... 'I think right now the only thing we can do is win a stage. All six of us here are aiming for the stage win. There is not much else to do."

Carthy joined a breakaway with teammates Julius van den Berg and Melhawy Kudus, and the Eritreans pulled hard on the group in Véronieu.

Carty was initially unable to react, but joined Ciccione, Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), and Antonio Pedro (Movistar) at the top of the climb, and on the descent Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) and Martin Tasveld (Team DSM ) joined them.

On the tough early climb to the Cogne, Carty, along with Buitrago and Ciccone, were strong, but not enough to handle the attack that would decide the Italian's stage win.

Carty recalled that "in the end it was every man for himself" as all of his teammates had escaped for long stretches during the climb to Verlogne.

"The first couple of hours after the start it was hard to get into the break. 'I ran with three guys and it wasn't a problem. Everything exploded on the second climb from the end."

"At the beginning of the climb I was at my limit, but I calmed down and was able to come back well at the top. Then on the last climb each and every one of us ran for ourselves."

"Everyone wants to get into the break, it's that simple.

"The race fell apart at the front. Even Valverde was looking for a breakaway today. So that's the way it is."