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Monday, May 26, 2025
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2024 Tour de France | 2024 Giro d'Italia
In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Current racing:
- May 9 - June 1: Giro d'Italia
Upcoming racing:
- May 29 - June 1: Tour of Norway
- June 8: Brussels Cycling Classic
- June 8 - 15: Critérium du Dauphiné
Latest completed racing:
- May 14 - 18: 4 Jours de Dunkerque
- May 18: Rund um Köln
- May 13: Classique Dunkerque
- May 11: Tro-Bro Léon
- May 10: GP du Morbihan
- May 9: Tour du Finistère
- April 27 - May 4: Tour of Turkey
- April 29 - May 4: Tour de Romandie
- May 1: Rund um den Finanzplaz Eschborn-Frankfurt
- April 27: Liège-Bastogne-Liège
- April 24 - 27: Vuelta Asturias
We posted the report from from fourth-place Romain Bardet's Team Picnic-PostNL with the results.
Here's the report from stage winner Carlos Verona's Team Lidl-Trek:
Carlos can often be found sitting for hours on end at the front of the peloton or protecting his teammates. Getting bottles, blocking wind or even just providing morale for the team, Carlos’ work never stops and he does it all with a smile on his face. 24 hours after Ciccone’s GC hopes went up in smoke thanks to a nasty fall on slippery cobbles, the team refocused and came out fighting today. Patrick Konrad and Mathias Vacek made the early breakaway of the day in a bid for glory.
The 219km stage from Fiume Veneto to Asiago—the longest of this year’s Giro—featured some iconic climbs including the legendary Monte Grappa. Verona launched a decisive solo attack on the Passo Dori climb, roughly 44 km from the finish, breaking clear from the group of favourites. Once he got the gap, it was head down and push all the way to the line. Carlos had extra incentive to cross the finish first too, as his wife and children were standing on the other side. Very few people deserve this victory more than him and we can all agree that this is popular victory among the cycling community – one for the good guys. Enjoy your first Grand Tour stage win, Carlos!
Carlos Verona wins Giro stage 15. Sirotti photo
Words from the winner..
"I was very happy for that because I came to this Giro knowing that my role was full support for Pedersen and Ciccone, and I was super happy with that. I was enjoying this finish even more because it was the first one I didn’t have the ambition to win a stage. Then, everything changed yesterday when we lost Cicco and today I thought, ok maybe I don’t want to do it for me, but I have to do it for the Team. Today I was riding with my mind and my legs with them, especially Ciccone because I know how much he worked for this race, how many sacrifices he made. When you are a helper you need to be there to help them, but when they are not there you also need to be there for the team and today I was with all my head for this team."
"I missed the original breakaway by maybe one rider, and I said ‘ah the chance is gone’ but I kept focused, I always like to think that everything happens for a reason, so I hung onto the group of favorites and I saw that we were not more than 10-15 guys and I had the legs to be there. When we came together I thought ‘today is my day, with these legs I have to go for the victory’, and I knew I had to go from far because I’m not really fast, but my diesel engine is there, I’ve prepared for this Giro very well with a lot of confidence from the team and I had to do it for them."
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Here's the Giro stage fifteen report from seventh-place Gianmarco Garofoli's Team Soudal Quick-Step:
Gianmarco Garofoli delivered an impressive top-ten finish for Soudal Quick-Step at the Corsa Rosa, at the end of a gruelling day of racing, which took in three classified climbs – including Monte Grappa – and almost 4000 vertical meters. The result came as a testament of the young Italian’s fighting spirit and bravery, constantly put on display during stage 15, which started with 100 kilometers of flat roads.
This made for an insane start, as dozens of riders did their best to make it into the breakaway, knowing there was a big chance for it to succeed. Paul Magnier was the first Soudal Quick-Step rider to try, but after briefly getting a gap together with other men, the peloton came back. Multiple attacks continued to be made, but it was only 80 kilometers into the stage that a large group comprising Mattia Cattaneo and Gianmarco Garofoli broke away and put three minutes into the bunch.
Monte Grappa, a 25km-long climb where history was written numerous times, spelled the end of the group’s time at the front once the maglia rosa favourites began attacking. Their forcing wiped out the advantage of the escapees with rather ease and turned the stage into a proper GC fight which continued all the way until the descent, where things calmed down. In the valley, another breakaway formed, and Garofoli booked a place there. The Italian showed endless grinta by going in pursuit of Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek) and almost coming across on Dori, the final ascent of the stage.
Despite not making the catch, Garofoli continued to believe in his chance and together with Filippo Zana (Jayco-AlUla), who came from behind, he emptied himself in pursuit of the Spaniard. In the final kilometers, the duo was caught by their former breakaway companions, but the 22-year-old still had one last ounce of energy which he used to finish seventh, just a couple of seconds in front of the GC men, who came at a rapid pace from behind.
Gianmarco Garofoli finishes seventh. Sirotti photo.
“The plan was to try to go in the breakaway and see how things go there, which I managed despite it not being an easy task. I didn’t feel quite well these days, because of the two broken ribs that I have, but I did my best today. On Monte Grappa, I actually felt good, but I struggled on the last ascent, which I found to be more difficult. It was a brutal stage, with a fast tempo from the beginning, and I gave my best. Considering everything, I can be proud of my result”, said Gianmarco after his maiden top ten at the Giro d’Italia.
Here's the Giro report from Simon Yates' Team Visma | Lease a Bike:
On the eve of the final rest day, Team Visma | Lease a Bike once again made strides in the general classification of the Giro d’Italia. In a demanding mountain stage, Simon Yates showed his strength, successfully defending his second place overall. Bart Lemmen spent a large part of the day in the breakaway.
Once again, it took a long and fierce battle before a breakaway could go clear. After several attempts, Lemmen managed to sneak into the move for Team Visma | Lease a Bike. On the Monte Grappa — a gruelling climb of over 25 kilometres — the favourites kept their powder dry for a long time, but with the summit approaching, even they couldn’t hold back any longer.
Yates stayed calm and positioned himself smartly in the group of GC contenders. Everything came back together on the approach to the final climb of the day. Yates tested his legs briefly but quickly realised his rivals were just as sharp. On the plateau, Lemmen — by then dropped from the breakaway — put in a solid effort to support his British leader. The stage was won by early attacker Carlos Verona.
The peloton climbs the Muro di Ca' del Poggio. RCS photo
“The plan was to be in the break”, Lemmen said. “But nothing comes easy in this race. It was another brutal fight. This was an attack with purpose — by being up the road, we had someone to fall back on if the favourites blew the race apart. If not, I could go for the stage win myself. In the end, we decided I would drop back to help Simon. We’ve taken another step forward in the GC. Personally, I had a good day, though at one point I had to switch off my brain and just focus on turning the pedals.”
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Here's the Giro report Egan Bernal's Team INEOS Grenadiers:
An attacking performance from the INEOS Grenadiers saw Egan Bernal and Thymen Arensman elevate themselves to eighth and ninth overall at the Giro d'Italia.
The team hit the front to up the pace on numerous occasions across the 15th stage of the race, making life difficult for their GC rivals on the road to Asiago.
Egan Bernal at the Giro teams presentation ceremony. Sirotti photh
After working their way into the large early break, Ben Turner and then Josh Tarling dropped back to help set the tempo on the Monte Grappa climb. A hard pace created a launchpad for Bernal to jump clear, coaxing out a small lead group over the top.
Arensman was able to bridge to a move which also included the maglia rosa of Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education - EasyPost).
The race came back together on the descent, but once again on the final climb of Dori, the team hit the front. Jonathan Castroviejo and Lucas Hamilton set a firm tempo, with Primoz Roglic (Red Bull - Bora - Hansgrohe) amongst the riders unable to regain contact.
Here's the Giro stage fifteen report fromn GC sixth place Derek Gee's Team Israel-Premier Tech:
Derek Gee moved up to fifth place in the general classification after finishing 12th on stage 15 of the Giro d’Italia, while Marco Frigo rode his heart out on home roads, first in the breakaway, and later in support of Gee.
“It was a super hard day out there today,” Gee said after the finish. “I’m incredibly happy to be sitting fifth, but I also know what’s in store for the third week. There’s still lots of racing left to do.”
Growing up in the area of today’s stage, and knowing the route to perfection, Frigo was naturally extra eager to get up the road and fight for the stage win. After countless attacks and counterattacks, a large group of over 30 riders finally got away, including Frigo and teammate Hugo Houle.
The peloton seemed happy to let the break sail away, but halfway up the Monte Grappa ascent, INEOS upped the pace and suddenly the stage turned into a real GC fight. Always attentive near the front, Gee was quick to follow any dangerous moves from the top favorites.
Derek Gee time-trialing in stage two. Sirotti photo
“The racing kicked off unexpectedly on Monte Grappa, but I was happy with how my legs handled it,” the 27-year-old Canadian explained.
With the gap coming down rapidly, Frigo decided to go solo over the top of Monte Grappa.
“I was racing on my home roads, and I wanted to put on a show for the fans. Days like this don’t happen often in your career, so you have to enjoy it and give it your best to make the fans proud. That’s what was moving me today. I tried my best to give something back to the fans and spectators watching the race,” Frigo said.
“I was hoping it would slow down when the groups behind me came together. Ultimately, a small group of riders bridged across to me, and we ended up playing for the victory. Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek) went away at the bottom of the final climb, and I thought it was best to stay with the group and work together. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out and he sailed away, so chapeau to him.”
Realizing the stage victory was out of reach, Frigo decided to wait for the select group of favorites, including Gee, and immediately went to work to help his Canadian teammate move up in the general classification.
“Knowing I couldn’t win the stage, I was really happy to be able to help Derek reach fifth place in the GC. That’s a great position to be in going into the last week.”
Looking back at the 219 km long stage, Gee was full of praise for his Italian teammate: “The whole team was amazing today, but Marco sitting up to help pull the group into the finish on his home roads was pretty special. He was incredibly strong today.”
On Monday, the riders will enjoy a well-deserved rest day before taking on the final week of the Giro d’Italia.
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Here's the Giro report from David Gaudu's Team Groupama-FDJ:
The Giro peloton was clearly eager to get this second week over with. On Sunday, the fifteenth stage, through the Veneto mountains, was once again contested at a furious pace. After an intense fight at the start, Rémy Rochas and David Gaudu managed to join the breakaway, but the decisive move eventually went after the Monte Grappa. Carlos Verona took the victory, and all the riders will now enjoy the last rest day tomorrow, before a brutal return to business on Tuesday.
A solid menu loomed ahead of the riders this Sunday to conclude the second week of the Giro d’Italia. Heading towards Asiago, where Thibaut Pinot won back in 2017, the peloton not only had 220 kilometres to cover, but also 4,000 metres of elevation gain. What’s more, most of the climbing featured in the second half of the race after 100 kilometres almost completely flat since Fiume Veneto. With no difficulties at the start, the fight for the breakaway proved to be very fierce yet again, and it was finally after 70 kilometres of racing that a group of around 30 riders managed to break away, with Rémy Rochas and David Gaudu among them.
David Gaudu (front, right) at the front as stage three starts. Sirotti photo
“The goal today was definitely to anticipate in order to be there in the final, and the guys did it very well at the start,” emphasized Stéphane Goubert. “Almost all of them tried: Lorenzo, Kevin, Enzo, Quentin, then it was Rémy and David who managed to enter the right move. Unfortunately, they didn’t have enough of a lead at the bottom of Monte Grappa to hope to go far, as it is always the peloton that decides.”
With 120 kilometres to go, the breakaway reached the first major climb of the day (25 km at 5.7%) with a lead of just over three minutes, and the moves started straight away. David Gaudu couldn’t join the party anymore. “He managed to be active at the start, but it was still a bit short today,” Stéphane explained. “The main goal for him is not to go above his limits. It would be pointless and counterproductive. We have to go step by step. He has to manage his efforts. His hand injury is almost healed. He now needs to recover, and once that’s done, gradually improve to hopefully achieve something in the final week. The goal is to finish this Giro in very good shape, and if he can get a result in the process, all the better!”
For his part, Rémy Rochas was able to hang onto the rest of the breakaway, but the fight between the favorites in the back meant the fugitives were caught on the long descent of Monte Grappa.
“After the downhill, everyone needed a breather, including Rémy, and the good move went at that moment,” added Stéphane. “It’s a shame because it would have allowed him to be in the mix a little longer, but the spirit was good.”Carlos Verona ultimately took the day’s victory after a solo 45-kilometre raid, and the entire Groupama-FDJ cycling team finished the day within the time limit, on the eve of a welcome rest day. “All the boys did what they had to do,” concluded Stéphane. “As long as you give it your all and work hard, there can be no regrets. We have to keep going like this. There will be small opportunities in the last week, and we will have to try and seize them.”
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