Girmay became the first black African to win a stage of a Grand Tour when he beat Mathieu van der Poel in a reduced sprint in Jesi, but his celebrations were cut short when he was struck in the eye by a flying cork from a Prosecco bottle on the podium.

The 22-year-old Eritrean spent several hours at a local hospital before being able to enjoy dinner with his Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux teammates, but confirmed on Wednesday his debut Grand Tour was now over.

"Yesterday when I arrived (at the hotel) after the hospital, the bad moment, I enjoyed it a bit with my teammates, the staff, everybody," Girmay said in a video posted by the team.

"I am happy now, I was a bit sad about what happened with the champagne but when I came back they were super happy.

"But today unluckily I didn't start the race because still, my eye, I need some rest to give more power to the eye. I'm just looking forward to the rest of the season.

"Thank you to everybody who supported me and pushed me. I'm OK now. See you soon."

Intermarche team doctor Piet Daneels said earlier Girmay could not see after the accident and had bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye.

The doctor doubts Girmay has suffered permanent eye damage, but the Eritrean added another landmark moment for the sport.

His victory followed five top-five finishes in this Giro.

A hilly finish to the stage from Pescara had left the peloton in pieces with Girmay and van der Poel the only real sprinters left.

After Girmay launched his move 600m out, van der Poel looked as if he would overhaul him, but did not have the legs and and offered a salute as Girmay crossed the line.

"It's unbelievable," Girmay said.

"I thank the team. We started the race well, we controlled it. I don't have any words for my team."

After his podium interview was interrupted several times by wellwishers from the peloton, he added: "When I started the Giro we had the possibility to win and make good results - this is also part of the success of our team, my family and everybody.

"Every day comes new history so I'm really grateful and happy that I did it."

Australians Lucas Hamilton, who briefly led the peloton in the closing 10km, and Jai Hindley, who won the ninth stage, finished in the 27-man pack behind Girmay.

Caleb Ewan, however, was dropped after 75km while the stage was still riding along the Adriatic coast. After a mainly flat opening 100km it headed inland for 95km of hills.

Ewan plugged away, eventually coming in last of the 166-man field, 31 minutes behind Girmay.

Juan Pedro Lopez retained the leader's pink jersey, 12 seconds ahead of Joao Almeida. Hindley is fifth overall, 20 seconds behind. Richie Porte, is the next best-placed Australian in 20th, more than eight minutes adrift.

Wednesday's Stage 11 is an entirely flat 203km leg from Santarcangelo Di Romagna to Reggio Emilia.

Australian Associated Press