Overall leader Jonas Vingegaard launched an attack during the punishing final climb to clinch victory in stage 20 of the Giro d’Italia, ensuring that he will win the race provided he reaches the finish line in the final stage in Rome.
The 29-year-old from Denmark, who won the Tour de France twice before winning the Vuelta a Espana last year, is on the verge of securing his fourth grand tour title, as he sits five minutes and 22 seconds ahead of second-placed Felix Gall in the general classification.
Austrian Gall finished second after failing to chase down Vingegaard in the final 11 kilometres, as Australia’s Jai Hindley completed the podium.
Sunday’s final stage in Rome will be a victory parade for Giro debutant Vingegaard, with the general classification no longer in contention.
“Today everything would be decided, so we decided to go all-in for the stage…” said Vingegaard, who has led the overall leader’s pink jersey since stage 14. “To now win five stages here and have a solid lead going into tomorrow is special for me.”
A group of five led by Jonas Geens broke away early, soon to be joined by two chasers, as the peloton hung back during the initial moments of a stage that included a steep 14.5km climb to Piancavallo that the riders needed to complete twice.
Vingegaard, who was more than four minutes ahead of Gall coming into the stage, was happy to ride safely in the peloton for the first two-thirds of the stage between two Visma-Lease a Bike teammates. With just over 100km to go, Fredrik Dversnes, who won stage 15, crashed with Tobias Bayer at a bend right next to a ditch. Both riders continued, with Norwegian Dversnes bleeding down the left leg.
Visma-Lease a Bike riders were at the front of the peloton during the first climb to Piancavallo, with the breakaway group, now down to five, more than three minutes ahead. The gap had shrunk to a minute and 23 seconds by the time the leaders reached the top.
Giulio Ciccone sped to the front of the peloton to be the sixth rider to reach the top, as the 31-year-old Italian consolidated his lead in the mountains classification, making sure he will win the Giro d’Italia’s blue jersey for the second time by finishing the race on Sunday.
During the second and final ascent to Piancavallo, Vingegaard launched a decisive attack with just over 11km to go, and surged to the front of the race as Gall chased him. But Vingegaard comfortably secured the win, finishing a minute and 15 seconds before his rival.
“The plan was to go later on in the climb, but we had to change the plans a bit,” explained Vingegaard. “Tomorrow we will enjoy the day.”
