Refresh
2025-05-31T14:47:38.291Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T14:46:47.158Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T14:45:01.725Z
Simon Yates is on the podium receiving his pink jersey – the first time he has worn it since losing it on the Finestre in 2018.
2025-05-31T14:39:44.726Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T14:36:02.853Z
The only other changes in the top ten aside from Yates leapfrogging up to first is Pellizzari and Bernal swapping places in 6th and 7th, and McNulty and Storer the same in 9th and 10th.
2025-05-31T14:34:39.529Z
2025-05-31T14:33:29.420Z
Yates lead on GC is a huge 3:56 on Del Toro in second.What was shaping up to be one of the closest editions of the Giro in recent times in instead one of the biggest – but not the less exciting for it.
2025-05-31T14:32:01.420Z
What a jaw-dropping stage that was, in what has been a consistently jaw-dropping Giro – surely one of the best Grand Tours in living memory?
2025-05-31T14:29:35.231Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T14:28:52.990Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T14:26:59.542Z
Now Van Aert finishes, just behind the GC group. Yet again, he has played a huge role in helping a teammate win a Grand Tour.
2025-05-31T14:26:11.836Z
That means Del Toro is now 2nd on GC, and Carapaz 3rd.
2025-05-31T14:25:41.913Z
Del Toro sprints out of the group, as they cross the finish.
2025-05-31T14:25:07.703Z
They’re nearing the finish now, at last.
2025-05-31T14:24:54.944Z
McNulty is controlling the group.
2025-05-31T14:24:06.502Z
The pink jersey has thinned out – it contrains just Del Toro, Carapaz, Gee, Caruso, Pellizzari and McNulty.
2025-05-31T14:23:05.958Z
Other riders have finished – Garofoli in 4th, Rochas in 5th. But no sign of the pink jersey group, who are miles behind.
2025-05-31T14:21:26.634Z
Yates is in tears as he hugs team staff at the finish, surronded by the press.
2025-05-31T14:20:19.617Z
Yates crosses the finish line, to take third on the stage – and first in the overall!
2025-05-31T14:19:56.689Z
Verre is ahead of him and will seal second place, but all eyes are on Yates.
2025-05-31T14:19:29.093Z
This is the biggest moment of his career.
2025-05-31T14:19:18.392Z
Here comes Simon Yates, he’s near the finish.
2025-05-31T14:18:57.983Z
That’s Jayco’s second at this Giro, following Luke Plapp’s earlier success.
2025-05-31T14:18:37.592Z
HARPER WINS THE STAGE
2025-05-31T14:17:55.313Z
Harper wipes away some tears as he enters the final few hundred metres.
2025-05-31T14:17:05.971Z
Harper’s into the final and nearing the finish.
2025-05-31T14:15:40.163Z
Carapaz has to be careful – if he loses 1:44 to Gee, he’ll lose his podium spot to him.
2025-05-31T14:14:36.400Z
Gee has gone with him.
2025-05-31T14:14:28.660Z
Action in the pink jersey group, as Caruso attacks.
2025-05-31T14:14:08.694Z
Only 2km left for Harper. Amid all this GC drama, his achievement in winning such a hard stage should not be overlooked.
2025-05-31T14:13:31.881Z
As for Carapaz, he tried time and time again to drop Del Toro, but didn’t have the legs. He was willing to risk his second-place on GC in order to try and win it, by coaxing Del Toro to do the work, and does indeed look set to lose it, and settle for third-place instead.
2025-05-31T14:12:07.174Z
As brilliant as this has been by Yates, UAE Team Emirates-XRG have really dropped the ball. Their first mistake was in not having a satellite man up the road, as Visma did with Van Aert.And it’s hard to know what they’re thinking was in instructing Del Toro not to pace when Yates’ lead was growing to a dangerous amount.
2025-05-31T14:09:48.641Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T14:08:10.054Z
Incidentally, Caruso is also in the pink jersey group, which means he’ll hold on to 5th on GC. As is Pellizzari, but not Bernal, meaning the Italian stands to rise to 6th.
2025-05-31T14:06:41.406Z
Del Toro now has some teammates with him, Majka and McNulty having bridged up to them. They’re now working for him – but it’s too little too late.
2025-05-31T14:05:41.400Z
5KM TO GO
2025-05-31T14:05:02.047Z
That’s it for Van Aert, who swings off. His turn has indeed swung this Giro towards Yates – chapeau.
2025-05-31T14:04:25.882Z
Del Toro, Carapaz and Gee have been joined by several other riders from behind. It’s Chris Hamilton of PicnicPostNL who’s doing the work, for Max Poole.
2025-05-31T14:02:48.384Z
Del Toro is nearly five minutes behind. It does seem as though he’s thrown in the towel.
2025-05-31T14:02:00.039Z
Still Van Aert leads Yates on the climb. They’ve picked up a few more stragglers from the day’s break.
2025-05-31T14:01:28.353Z
This is a script worthy of Hollywood. Simon Yates has always loved the Giro, and been trying to win it for years. Now, on the very climb he lost the pink jersey in 2018 when seemingly on the brink of victory, he looks set to do so with a remarkable comeback, the inverse of his collapse back then.
2025-05-31T13:59:29.831Z
Del Toro is still leading, but he doesn’t look fully committed.
2025-05-31T13:58:47.013Z
It’s now nearly four minutes. Game over!
2025-05-31T13:57:41.763Z
Gee catches up to Del Toro and Carapaz.
2025-05-31T13:56:29.536Z
This looks like it might be it! The gap to Del Toro and Carapaz and Yates has ballooned, to a whole three minutes!
2025-05-31T13:55:44.867Z
Del Toro is having words with Carapaz, who is shaking his head. These games are going to lose Del Toro the Giro!
2025-05-31T13:55:19.563Z
10KM TO GO
2025-05-31T13:54:40.646Z
Del Toro’s on the radio, and slowed down again.
2025-05-31T13:53:49.683Z
Still Yates’ lead grows, to 2:20.
2025-05-31T13:53:16.680Z
You sense the time has come for Del Toro to fully commit to this chase, and not worry about Carapaz. Yates is his big dander now, not the Ecuadorian, and he has to bring the time gap on him, even if it makes him more vulnerable to an attack from Carapaz.
2025-05-31T13:51:38.032Z
The impetus has gone out of the chase between Del Toro and Carapaz. They have Kielich from the day’s break with them, and currently he’s leading.
2025-05-31T13:49:49.263Z
Van Aert is doing just what he was tasked to do – his work is seeing Yates’ lead grow even more, to 2:06.
2025-05-31T13:48:34.925Z
SESTRIERE
2025-05-31T13:47:46.027Z
Yates’ lead has grown as a result, to 1:55. It’s looking very good for the Brit!
2025-05-31T13:46:30.344Z
Carapaz is refusing to take a turn on this descent, and Del Toro isn’t so happy about it. He himself has eased up the pace – which is a big risk, considering Yates’ advantage.
2025-05-31T13:44:40.658Z
This is only a short descent. They will be climbing again soon, and the shallow earleir gradients look perfect for Van Aert.
2025-05-31T13:43:50.813Z
20KM TO GO
2025-05-31T13:43:20.844Z
Here’s Van Aert, and Yates is on his wheel. Their lead over Del Toro and Carapaz is 1:45.
2025-05-31T13:42:39.761Z
Yates is flying down this descent. He’s already had a little wobble. How much risk is he willing to take?
2025-05-31T13:41:51.595Z
Still no sign of Van Aert as Yates descends.
2025-05-31T13:41:39.208Z
Gee is next to the top, over a minute behind Del Toro and Carapaz.
2025-05-31T13:40:31.034Z
Del Toro leads Carapaz over the top of the climb. They’re still 1:41 behind Yates.
2025-05-31T13:40:00.727Z
Carapaz is on the limit. He nearly got a corner wrong and had to slow down.
2025-05-31T13:38:58.378Z
Yates crests the climbs, with a lead of 1:41.
2025-05-31T13:38:18.171Z
Whatever happens from here, what a tuning ride by Simon Yates on this climb – the same climb where his dreams of winning the pink jersey came undone a whole eight years.
2025-05-31T13:36:31.462Z
Yates lead is 1:40 over Del Toro and Carapaz. That still makes him virtual pink, albeit by only 19 seconds.
2025-05-31T13:35:39.465Z
Now Verre reaches the top, 1:40 behind. The stage is Harper’s to lose.
2025-05-31T13:34:07.673Z
At long last, Harper has reached the top of the climb. He’ll therefore claim this year’s Cima Coppi prize.
2025-05-31T13:33:26.832Z
Gee looks like he might have been dropped for good – he’s now 40 seconds behind Del Toro and Carapaz.
2025-05-31T13:32:32.125Z
Huge crowds greet Harper as he nears the top of the climb.
2025-05-31T13:30:47.336Z
Carapaz’s acceleration has brought Yates’ advantage down to 1:40.
2025-05-31T13:29:57.853Z
It’s becoming hard to see a way for Carapaz to win this Giro from here. Even if he does succeed in eventually dropping Del Toro, he has a lot of ground to make up on Yates, and no teammates waiting up the road to help him.
2025-05-31T13:28:26.361Z
Carapaz accelerates, and Gee is dropped. Del Toro can follow again, though.
2025-05-31T13:28:02.539Z
The pendulim is swinging towards Yates – he’s now 1:58 ahead of Del Toro, Carapaz and Gee.
2025-05-31T13:27:27.865Z
Van Aert is a few minutes ahead of Yates, it’s being reported. His task will be to get to the top of the climb still ahead of him, then wait for Yates to help pace him for the rest of the stage.
2025-05-31T13:24:44.908Z
30KM TO GO
2025-05-31T13:24:08.430Z
2025-05-31T13:22:38.379Z
Carapaz follows Gee’s wheel, but Del Toro takes a little longer to respond. Is he starting to struggle?
2025-05-31T13:22:00.633Z
Gee has caught them, and passed them straight away.
2025-05-31T13:21:39.752Z
Del Toro hasn’t managed to make any inroads since starting to work. The defecit to Yates is up to 1:32.
2025-05-31T13:21:02.674Z
Del Toro appeared to have played a tactical blinder up until now, at least in terms of neutralising Carapaz. But he has made a risk by allowing Yates such a big lead.
2025-05-31T13:20:08.183Z
Gee is dropped, but Carapaz is on his wheel.
2025-05-31T13:19:46.778Z
Del Toro is responding, and taken to the front for the first time.
2025-05-31T13:19:26.348Z
Yates’ lead is up to 1:25 – he’s now the virtual pink jersey!
2025-05-31T13:18:46.852Z
2025-05-31T13:18:30.958Z
Still it’s Gee doing all the work for Del Toro and Carapaz.
2025-05-31T13:16:52.432Z
At the front, Harper has dropped Verre.
2025-05-31T13:16:41.625Z
One big question now is: where is Wout van Aert? If he is still ahead of Yates by the top of the climb, and can lead him on the descent and final climb to Sestriere, that could be what swings matters in favour of Yates in the pink jersey race.
2025-05-31T13:14:39.987Z
1:08 for Yates. He’s only 3 seconds from being virtual race leader.
2025-05-31T13:13:35.643Z
Yates gap is getting bigger – it’s up to over a minute!
2025-05-31T13:12:51.738Z
Gee has bridged back to Del Toro and Carapaz, and is setting the pace. They took begin the gravel.
2025-05-31T13:12:29.477Z
Yates is onto the gravel sector. He’s about 45 seconds ahead of Carapaz and Del Toro. That puts him on second on the virtual GC – but he still needs to 35 more seconds to take pink from Del Toro.
2025-05-31T13:10:43.667Z
Carapaz and Del Toro have passed Gee again.
2025-05-31T13:10:29.105Z
Del Toro nearly slips! But stays upright, and is back with Carapaz.
2025-05-31T13:10:16.428Z
Now Carapaz attacks.
2025-05-31T13:10:07.029Z
Gee passes them, and still they don’t respond.
2025-05-31T13:09:57.097Z
Once again, Carapaz knocks off the pace.
2025-05-31T13:08:34.697Z
Yates’ lead has grown as a result of that slowdown, up to 40 seconds.
2025-05-31T13:08:11.285Z
Del Toro refuses, however, and Carapaz goes back to leading.
2025-05-31T13:07:11.867Z
Carapaz is calling Del Toro’s bluff! He’s slowed down completely, and is goading Del Toro to lead – it’s his pink jersey that’s under risk from Yates, after all.
2025-05-31T13:06:23.486Z
Verona and Garofoli are on the gravel now, 54 seconds behind.
2025-05-31T13:05:25.412Z
Harper and Verre have reached the gravel sector of the climb. It’s about to get even harder!
2025-05-31T13:04:06.241Z
Yates’ lead is up to 20 seconds on Del Toro and Carapaz.
2025-05-31T13:03:34.143Z
Still Carapaz leads without Del Toro taking a turn. Del Toro has calculated that he can afford Yates to have a small gap, and therefore is happy to let Carapaz do the work. The Mexican is playing a blinder here, keeping his head and cool despite all the pressure.
2025-05-31T13:01:35.656Z
Meanwhile up ahead, Harper and Verre are still together at the front. They’re 40 seconds ahead of Verona and Garofoli.
2025-05-31T13:00:58.845Z
Some riders from the original break are now being caught and passed by the GC men. Mosca even did a brief turn for Yates.
2025-05-31T13:00:07.058Z
Yates is growing his lead again, after that Carapaz acceleration.
2025-05-31T12:58:50.187Z
Carapaz and Del Toro are closing in on Yates again, who’s only a few seconds ahead.
2025-05-31T12:58:26.279Z
This is thrilling racing!
2025-05-31T12:58:18.544Z
…but again Del Toro bridges to him.
2025-05-31T12:58:03.753Z
He’s carrying on though, and has a few bikelengths…
2025-05-31T12:57:43.130Z
He’s dropped Gee, but not Del Toro.
2025-05-31T12:57:28.007Z
Carapaz attacks!
2025-05-31T12:56:51.999Z
Yates’ lead is now at 17 seconds.
2025-05-31T12:56:42.308Z
Gee is doing all the work behind for now, not wanting to give up on the chance for a podium finish. He’s 1:06 behind Yates on GC.
2025-05-31T12:55:58.910Z
He needs 38 seconds to take over Carapaz on GC, and 1:21 to take the pink jersey from Del Toro. That’s not impossible on a climb as hard as this…and he has Wout van Aert to help him later on.
2025-05-31T12:54:50.043Z
Yates is 10 seconds ahead.
2025-05-31T12:54:34.487Z
Gee has joined them, and now he’s leading the chase.
2025-05-31T12:54:19.689Z
And it’s a big gap – the other two don’t want to commit to chasing.
2025-05-31T12:53:53.051Z
Yates has a gap!
2025-05-31T12:53:45.349Z
Yates maes his fourth attack.and this time there’s no immediate reaction.
2025-05-31T12:53:20.582Z
The pace has slowed a bit since that last attack, and now Gee can see them.
2025-05-31T12:52:21.385Z
Yates goes for a third time, and it’s a big one..but again Carapaz bridges up to him, followed by Del Toro.
2025-05-31T12:51:56.101Z
All three are still together.
2025-05-31T12:51:48.154Z
Now Carapaz attacks. They’re taking it in turns to try to work over the pink jersey, but he’s staying calm and controlled for now.
2025-05-31T12:51:19.753Z
Carapaz gets onto his wheel and then Del Toro.
2025-05-31T12:50:58.788Z
Yates attacks again!
2025-05-31T12:50:49.096Z
Carapaz has resumed the pace-setting.
2025-05-31T12:50:35.330Z
Gee has now attacked the chase group and is trying to bridge up to the trio alone.
2025-05-31T12:50:13.399Z
40KM TO GO
2025-05-31T12:49:49.156Z
Carapaz and Del Toro can follow him though.
2025-05-31T12:49:40.210Z
Yates attacks already. He means business!
2025-05-31T12:49:24.532Z
And now Yates is with Carapaz. This makes matters much more complicated for Del Toro – he has two men to mark, not just one.
2025-05-31T12:48:55.134Z
Yates can now see Del Toro and Carapaz.
2025-05-31T12:47:01.916Z
Simon Yates now attacks that chase group.
2025-05-31T12:46:40.511Z
The Simon Yates chase group has about 10 riders in it.
2025-05-31T12:46:23.021Z
Del Toro looks very calm and unruffled so far, but there’s much, much more ft this climb still to come.
2025-05-31T12:45:25.792Z
Del Toro and Carapaz are already 20 seconds ahead of Simon Yates, whose in a chase group.
2025-05-31T12:45:04.147Z
It’s unclear that the plan for EF was for Carapaz to go so early, but the pace was so fast by his EF teammates that a gap opened up between them and Del Toro’s teammate McNulty, forcing Del Toro to close it himself.
2025-05-31T12:43:50.521Z
And now Carapaz goes alone…but Del Toro closes the gap.
2025-05-31T12:43:32.983Z
Carapaz and his teammate have gone clear!
2025-05-31T12:43:12.461Z
The pace is up even more, and gap are appearing at the front already.
2025-05-31T12:42:15.524Z
.As we speak, Rafferty is finished. Carapaz still has three teammates left.
2025-05-31T12:41:26.572Z
In the peloton, Rafferty is giving it his all, and doesn’t look like he’ll be riding at the front much longer.
2025-05-31T12:40:54.413Z
Harper has attacked and gone clear of Rochas, and has now been joined by Verre.
2025-05-31T12:40:08.589Z
Up ahead, Rochas and Harper are about 5 seconds ahead of a chase group containing Janssens, Hamilton, Verre, Pacher and Garofoli.
2025-05-31T12:39:37.757Z
EF lead the peloton onto the Colle delle Finestre. Rafferty takes over, and is already laying the hammer down.
2025-05-31T12:38:06.762Z
Pedersen has dropped back to Verona and sprayed some water on him. Perhaps Verona is struggling in the heat.
2025-05-31T12:37:42.390Z
With Pedersen having stopped, Rochas has attacked. Harper is on his wheel.
2025-05-31T12:37:01.144Z
Even Pedersen’s leader Verona is struggling under this pace. Pedersen has therefore had to knock it off.
2025-05-31T12:35:50.779Z
There are only about 10 riders left in the front group, being led by Pedersen.
2025-05-31T12:34:57.700Z
Pedersen is causing serious damage here. Bilbao has now been dropped, as has Van Aert.
2025-05-31T12:34:28.882Z
Surprisingly, Pello Bilbao is struggling to hold on in the breakaway group. On paper he looked like the best climber present.
2025-05-31T12:32:54.025Z
Mosca was setting the pace in the break, but has ground to a halt. Now Pedersen takes over – Lidl are trying to set up Verona for another stage win.
2025-05-31T12:31:15.566Z
Already De Bondt and Heiduk have been dropped out of the break. They’re up against over an hour of suffering before they reach the top.
2025-05-31T12:29:59.811Z
COLLE DELLE FINESTRE
2025-05-31T12:25:08.751Z
50KM TO GO
2025-05-31T12:23:34.260Z
Wout van Aert is of course also in the break but you expect his role will be to help Simon Yates out later on. He could be especially useful on the shallower final climb to the finish at Sestriere.
2025-05-31T12:21:37.378Z
Only about 10km until the start of Colle delle Finestre. Of the riders in the break, Pello Bilbao, Carlos Verona and Chris Harper stand out as the most accomplished climbers, who will hope to use this mountain as a platform to go on and win the stage.
2025-05-31T12:18:38.046Z
The gap’s gone up to over ten minutes for the first time.
2025-05-31T12:13:45.320Z
60KM TO GO
2025-05-31T12:11:42.898Z
The break has done a great job growing their lead on the previous descent and now the flat. It’s grown to over nine minutes. That could come tumbling down on Colle delle Finestre, but the stronger climbers in the break must fancy their chances of winning the stage from here.
2025-05-31T12:07:43.859Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T12:04:51.692Z
Van Aert and De Bondt sprint for the points at the intermediate sprint, with Van Aert coming out on top.
2025-05-31T12:02:01.460Z
70KM TO GO
2025-05-31T11:55:30.636Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T11:52:08.545Z
80KM TO GO
2025-05-31T11:50:55.691Z
A dodgy moment on the descent as five EF riders got a corner wrong, and had to brake in order not to fall.
2025-05-31T11:47:22.732Z
The peloton reach the top of the climb, 7:50 behind the break.
2025-05-31T11:43:45.443Z
Tarozzi still managed to gain the maximum points, accelerating again to edge Mosca at the line. Here are the updated rankings:
2025-05-31T11:41:56.131Z
There’s a bit of competition for the points at the top of the climb. Tarozzi, who’s 4th in the KOM classification, moved ahead to take the points, but rather than let him have them Mosca accelerated himself.
2025-05-31T11:38:58.828Z
90KM TO GO
2025-05-31T11:38:18.273Z
Pedersen and Verona got themselves back into the lead group, and are now at the front of the break as they near the summit of the climb.
2025-05-31T11:36:04.389Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T11:28:01.453Z
Verona had to stop for a mechanical, and Pedersen has dropped back to pace him into the lead group again.
2025-05-31T11:26:24.085Z
The lead group have done the harder part of the climb, and remain all together.
2025-05-31T11:19:33.742Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T11:17:51.632Z
100KM TO GO
2025-05-31T11:10:19.513Z
COLLE DEL LYS
2025-05-31T11:09:10.536Z
The problem for EF is that nobody else has an incentive to ride hard. And with Carapaz with the team car, the GC riders could afford to let the wheel go.
2025-05-31T11:07:53.540Z
There’s a strange development in the peloton, as the rest of the group let the wheel go to the 3 EF riders leading, and give them a gap. The 3 riders have to sit up and wait for the rest of the peloton to catch them up.
2025-05-31T11:06:24.298Z
The road has been going uphill for some time now, but the gradient is soon to get steeper for the official start of the climb.
2025-05-31T11:04:29.196Z
Carapaz is at the EF team car having a word. What plan have they conducted for this all-important stage?
2025-05-31T10:57:15.081Z
110KM TO GO
2025-05-31T10:49:52.832Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T10:47:37.461Z
There’s a long line of EF riders leading the peloton now, and not just Asgreen. The plan might be to start applying the pressure on the next climb, the category two Colle del Lys, which is coming up in just over 10km.
2025-05-31T10:41:13.910Z
120KM TO GO
2025-05-31T10:37:47.132Z
Janssens has at last rejoined the lead group, following his mechanical earlier.
2025-05-31T10:36:12.679Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T10:33:40.957Z
Kasper Asgreen is the EF rider setting the pace. With nobody in the break a GC threat, there’s no obligation for UAE to do any work – instead, it’s up to EF to take the race to them to set Carapaz up for an assault on the pink jersey.
2025-05-31T10:28:01.575Z
130KM TO GO
2025-05-31T10:24:49.095Z
None of the riders sprinted for the KOM points at the top of the climb, with Tarozzi leading over the top from Marcellusi and Geniets.
2025-05-31T10:23:40.444Z
Jimmy Janssens has needed to stop to change bikes, and is now making his way back up into the break.
2025-05-31T10:20:44.426Z
Davide Bais was with a car receiving some medical treatment, and seems to have gone down in a crash.
2025-05-31T10:18:22.728Z
KOM – CORIO
2025-05-31T10:13:58.366Z
140KM TO GO
2025-05-31T10:13:19.613Z
De Bondt attacks out of the lead group at the intermediate sprint, to take the points uncontested, with Pederen not going for them. He therefore moves ahead of Pedersen in the intermediate sprints classification.
2025-05-31T10:01:51.347Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T09:59:26.038Z
No rider in this 31-man lead group is within an hour of Del Toro on GC, with Chris Harper the highest place in 28th at 1:16:16.
2025-05-31T09:57:50.246Z
150KM TO GO
2025-05-31T09:55:48.059Z
This next climb is nothing compared to what waits for the riders later in the stage – Colle delle Finestre. It’s only featured at the Giro since 2005, but has already attained a legendary status comparable to the race’s oldest climbs, with so many epic stages and stories taking place on its impossibly steep gradients.
2025-05-31T09:52:56.621Z
With the break formed and the peloton content with it, the race has calmed down. We await the first climb, the category four Corio, which is coming up in about 15km.
2025-05-31T09:50:52.911Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T09:46:47.138Z
160KM TO GO
2025-05-31T09:43:39.191Z
And now the chase group has caught the leaders, forming a big new lead group of over 30 riders. We have our break of the day.
2025-05-31T09:42:38.051Z
The peloton has well and truly sat up now. They’ve let the lead group have over three minutes.
2025-05-31T09:40:02.546Z
This chase group has some potential stage winners, who are better-suited to the mountains coming up later – in particular, Pello Bilbao and Chris Harper.
2025-05-31T09:37:58.358Z
The chase group looks like it should join the 13 leaders. They have only 40 seconds left to make up.
2025-05-31T09:37:16.911Z
The peloton does seem happy now, and have sat up. They’re already 1:40 behind this new chase group.
2025-05-31T09:36:20.322Z
A new chase group has also formed, having jumped out the peloton. There are about 15 riders in it, including Wout van Aert.
2025-05-31T09:34:59.252Z
The two lead groups have come together.
2025-05-31T09:32:23.127Z
170KM TO GO
2025-05-31T09:28:25.518Z
There’s a notable lack of climbing specialists in these two lead groups, with only Carlos Verona really standing out. That might mean there are teams and riders who want to keep these breaks in check before making their own moves on the climbs later on, with an eye for the stage win.
2025-05-31T09:22:29.039Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T09:20:29.623Z
180KM TO GO
2025-05-31T09:18:25.577Z
Mosca is no longer taking turns in the front group, with his two teammates Pedersen and Verona in the chase group behind.
2025-05-31T09:17:54.263Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T09:15:20.955Z
That chase group is making up ground, 36 seconds ahead of the peloton and 38 seconds behind the leaders.
2025-05-31T09:14:20.593Z
The Pedersen chase group also contains his teammate Verona, Hayter, Bussato, Barrenetxea and Tarozzi.
2025-05-31T09:13:29.960Z
Del Toro is having a chat with Egan Bernal towards the back of the peloton. Bernal won his first Grand Tour at the age of 22 – if Del Toro succeeds in wrapping up this Giro, he’ll do so at the even younger age of 21.
2025-05-31T09:10:42.136Z
A chasing group of 6 riders have now succeeded in breaking clear of the peloton. Among them is Mads Pedersen in his maglia ciclamino.
2025-05-31T09:09:39.649Z
190KM TO GO
2025-05-31T09:04:06.063Z
Like yesterday, it’s very hot out there, which will make an already gruelling stage even harder.
2025-05-31T09:02:09.623Z
The peloton hasn’t sat up, and there are still riders trying tentative attacks, but the gap has grown out to 50 seconds.
2025-05-31T09:01:02.039Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-05-31T08:57:37.863Z
200KM TO GO
2025-05-31T08:55:09.187Z
Other teams in this group are Cofidis, Alpecin, Lidl and Soudal.
2025-05-31T08:54:01.332Z
It’s actually a 6-man group rather than 5, and is currently being led by Enzo Paleni.
2025-05-31T08:52:31.795Z
Five riders have a small gap, with the ever-aggressive Dries De Bondt among them.
2025-05-31T08:51:53.137Z
The opening 60km of this stage are flat, so it’s not just the climbers who can try and get into the break.
2025-05-31T08:51:09.951Z
OFFICIAL START
2025-05-31T08:50:03.596Z
Be sure to have a read of our preview of the stage.
2025-05-31T08:47:03.804Z
The riders are on the move through the neutralised zone, and will be racing for real soon. Excitement is building!
2025-05-31T08:46:04.671Z
The main man trying to dislodge Del Toro from the top of the classification at this last hurdle is Richard Carapaz. The Ecuadorian has been aggressive for much of this Giro, and has succeeded in gradually chipping away at Del Toro’s lead to the point where he’s only 43 seconds adrift.
2025-05-31T08:40:50.539Z
Having held the pink jersey since the end of the first week, it all comes down to this for Isaac del Toro. He told Cyclingnews that he wants to stay “calm” today, but that’s going to be hard amid such tension. His lead on GC is only slender, but he only has one more day to defend it for.
2025-05-31T08:34:59.324Z
It’s the climactic GC showdown of the 2025 Giro d’Italia, and the stage is set for a thriller. The podium replaces remain so closely poised, with just 43 seconds between first and second, and 38 seconds between second and third – gaps that could be obliterated on a mountain as fearsome as Colle delle Finestre.
2025-05-09T16:06:06.435Z
Hello and welcome to stage 20 of the Giro d’Italia!