Bettiol Solos to Stage 13 Victory in Verbania, Giving XDS Astana Third Giro Win

Alberto Bettiol gave XDS Astana their third Giro d'Italia stage win of 2026 with a solo effort in Verbania on Friday, May 22. The Italian launched from a 15-man breakaway with 13km remaining, caught Norwegian champion Andreas Leknessund on the final Category 3 climb of Ungiasca, and surged away on the steepest ramps to finish 26 seconds clear. Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) led the remnants of the break home in third at 44 seconds. The peloton finished together, leaving Afonso Eulálio's 33-second lead over Jonas Vingegaard untouched heading into Saturday's Alpine stage to Pila. Bettiol said he knew every corner of the final 50 kilometres.

Sources: Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly

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Vingegaard Rebounds from Illness and Warns Rivals Before Alpine Showdown at Pila

Jonas Vingegaard confirmed he battled illness through the Giro d'Italia's second week but issued a sharp warning to rivals on Friday ahead of Saturday's queen stage to Pila. The Visma-Lease a Bike leader told reporters he is almost back to normal after the Dane and several teammates succumbed to a respiratory virus during cold, rain-soaked stages. When asked whether rivals might exploit his form dip, Vingegaard replied: They can try. Sports director Jesper Mørkøv confirmed the team had suffered coughs and sore throats but said all riders were improving. Vingegaard sits 33 seconds behind race leader Afonso Eulálio heading into the critical Alpine stage from Aosta.

Sources: Cyclingnews

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Eulálio Vows to Fight On as Giro Enters Alpine Crucible

Afonso Eulálio has pledged to defend his maglia rosa going into Saturday's pivotal Stage 14 to Pila, dismissing suggestions the young Portuguese rider from Bahrain Victorious will simply cede the pink jersey to Jonas Vingegaard. "We just keep fighting," Eulálio told Cyclingnews after Friday's stage 13 finish in Verbania. The 24-year-old has led the Giro d'Italia since a dramatic Stage 5 breakaway in Bulgaria, but acknowledged that the 16.5km final climb to Pila — averaging 7.1% with ramps above 11% near the summit — represents his most severe test yet. Eulálio holds a 33-second advantage over Vingegaard entering the Aosta Valley, where the race's ultimate hierarchy is expected to crystallise.

Sources: Cyclingnews

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Stage 14 to Pila Sets Up Giro d'Italia's Most Significant Alpine Battle of 2026

Saturday's 133km stage from Aosta to Pila is the most consequential day of this year's Giro d'Italia. The route packs 4,350 metres of climbing into a compact parcours, finishing on a 16.5km ascent averaging 7.1% that steepens above 11% in the final three kilometres. Race leader Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) carries a 33-second lead over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), with Thymen Arensman 2:03 back in third. Vingegaard, who has already won atop Blockhaus and Corno alle Scale, is the favourite for the 1,793-metre summit finish. Pila returns to the Corsa Rosa after a 30-year absence.

Sources: Cyclingnews

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Pellizzari and Hindley Battle Illness as Red Bull-Bora Faces Brutal Stage 14 Test

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe co-leaders Giulio Pellizzari and Jai Hindley arrived in Aosta struggling with illness on the eve of Saturday's queen stage to Pila. Pellizzari told reporters on Friday he is feeling better but still suffering a lot, while Hindley has been similarly hampered by a virus sweeping the peloton throughout the Giro's second week. A team source described Saturday as the big day of truth, acknowledging that 133km and 4,350 metres of climbing could prove a battle of survival rather than ambition. Pellizzari sits sixth overall at 3:12, with both riders aiming to limit losses on the decisive Alpine climb.

Sources: Cyclingnews

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Eulálio Holds Maglia Rosa but Alpine Verdict Looms as Giro Standings Hang in the Balance

The general classification standings entering Saturday's decisive Giro d'Italia stage are finely poised. Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) leads in the pink jersey with a 33-second margin over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) after 13 stages of racing. Thymen Arensman (Netcompany Ineos) sits third at 2:03, Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) fourth at 2:30, and Ben O'Connor (Jayco-AlUla) fifth at 2:50. Vingegaard leads the mountains classification, Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) holds the ciclamino points jersey, and Eulálio doubles as the young rider leader in the maglia bianca. The standings are expected to shift dramatically once the peloton crests Pila's 1,793-metre summit on Saturday afternoon.

Sources: Cyclingnews

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Illness Wave Claims 14 Riders and Saps Energy from Giro d'Italia Peloton in Second Week

A persistent respiratory illness has swept through the 2026 Giro d'Italia peloton, forcing 14 riders out of the race and compromising several GC contenders heading into the Alpine stages. Visma-Lease a Bike's Jonas Vingegaard and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe's Giulio Pellizzari and Jai Hindley have all raced while ill through the second week. Earlier casualties included Jay Vine, who left after a broken elbow and concussion on Stage 2 in Bulgaria, alongside Santiago Buitrago and Ådne Holter. The virus thrived in cold, wet conditions during the race's opening fortnight. Team doctors have been monitoring riders constantly as the Grand Tour's decisive Alpine week gets underway.

Sources: Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly

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Three-Stage Haul Earns XDS Astana Licence to Race Freely Through Giro's Final Week

XDS Astana enter the Giro d'Italia's Alpine stages with strong momentum after Alberto Bettiol's win in Verbania gave the team their third stage victory of the Corsa Rosa. Arriving with a pure stage-hunting mandate and no GC contender to protect, the Kazakh squad capitalised with wins through Thomas Silva (Stage 2), Davide Ballerini (Stage 6), and now Bettiol. Speaking after Friday's Verbania finish, Bettiol said the team now feels entitled to do crazy things in the race's final days, with each victory compounding team morale and tactical freedom. XDS Astana's willingness to commit riders early to breakaways has repeatedly paid off and caught rivals off guard.

Sources: Cyclingnews

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