Andrea Vendrame of Decathlon AG2R La Difesa wins the nineteenth stage of the Giro d’Italia from Mortegliano to Sappada, in 3 hours 51 minutes and 5 seconds. Second Pelayo Sanchez and third Georg Steinhauser, both winners of a stage in this Corsa Rosa. The rider from Conegliano built his success with the downhill attack, about 30 km from the finish line. Fifth Italian victory in this Corsa Rosa, after the three of Jonathan Milan and that of Filippo Ganna. Today’s hamlet is 157 kilometers long and has a difference in altitude of 2,850 metres. After yesterday’s stage which saw Tim Merlier beat the Italian Milan in the sprint, with the pink jersey still on the shoulders of the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, today another Italian stands out. Ready go. Ten riders immediately broke away: Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers), Simone Velasco (Astana Qazaqstan), Ryan Mullen (Bora-hansgrohe), Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon AG2R La Difesa), Andrea Piccolo (EF Education-EasyPost), Daan Hoole (Lidl -Trek), Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar), Giovanni Lonardi (Team Polti Kometa), Edoardo Affini and Attila Valter (Team Visma | Lease a Bike). A few kilometers and the group returns together, creating the conditions for a new escape. There are 6 of them trying: Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers), Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Andrea Vendrame (Decathlon AG2R La Difesa), Pelayo Sanchez (Movistar), Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-QuickStep) and Luke Plapp ( Jayco AlUla). Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-QuickStep) passes first at the finish line in Peonis. 65 kilometers from the finish line the group of fugitives continues to grow, becoming 19 of them Manuele Tarozzi who passes first at the Intergiro in Paularo. At 41 kilometers it is Julian Alaphilippe who breaks away from the group and passes ahead of everyone even at the second flying finish line of the day (Cercivento). Only two remain behind the Frenchman: Narvaez and Steinhauser, the latter passing first for the Sella Valcalda Mountain Grand Prix. At 26 kilometers the fugitives split into two groups with Vendrame taking command of the first, extending his lead which became significant, allowing him to win the Cima Sappada Mountain Grand Prix. One kilometer away, Vendrame sees the finish line materialize and achieves his second personal success at the Giro after that in Bagno di Romagna three years ago. Second Pelayo Sanchez and third Georg Steinhauser, both winners of a stage in this Corsa Rosa. In the general classification nothing changes with Pogacar with the final victory in his pocket. Tomorrow penultimate stage: Alpago-Bassano del Grappa of 184 kilometers with the last 3 kilometers in the city with straights and some connecting curves. Slight descent until the turn at 500 m which then leads to the final straight of 350 meters on asphalt. The last stage is incredible: the runners will have to travel by plane from Bassano del Grappa to Rome for the final catwalk.
