The Italian Andrea Vendrame won the 19th stage of the Giro d’Italia between Mortegliano and Sappada (157 km) solo. The pink jersey remains firmly on the shoulders of Slovenian Tadej Pogacar.
Vendrame (29 years old) achieved the fifth victory of his career, the second in the Giro after the 12th stage in 2021. It was also the 22nd success of the season for the Decathlon-AG2R team.
The Italian was part of a leading group of 19 riders, once again including Julian Alaphilippe. The Frenchman attacked several times without success and in the end Vendrame took the opportunity to set off alone on a descent with 30km to go. He won with a 54″ lead over the Spaniard Pelayo Sanchez and 1’07” over the German Georg Steinhauser.
The favorites gave the breakaway riders a day off. The pink jersey group crossed the finish line almost 16 minutes behind the winner.
Fall of Thomas
Geraint Thomas fell six kilometers from the finish line. The Welshman, third in the general classification, ended up on the ground without apparent gravity, touching the rear wheel of Antonio Tiberi who was in front of him. The leader of Ineos was forced to change bikes. The other leaders of the group immediately got up to wait for him and he was able to cross the finish line with Pogacar, who in the general classification, with two stages to go, still has an advantage of 7’42” on Daniel Martinez and 8’04” on Thomas.
Tomorrow, the last big mountain stage between Alpago and Bassano del Grappa (184 km). The runners will have to climb Monte Grappa (1’675 m) twice. Sunday, final catwalk in Rome to crown Tadej Pogacar king of the pink race.
