Giro d'Italia stage 19 preview - Will Vingegaard strike again on the Queen Stage?

This is the penultimate mountain stage of the Giro, and perhaps the one most likely to create real gaps. The combination of hard climbs, high altitude and three weeks of accumulated fatigue makes this a stage where weaknesses will be exposed quickly.

Key information:

• Start: 12:45 (CET)
• Estimated Finish: 17:15 (CET)
• Stage type: mountain
• Stage length: 151km
• Elevation gain: 4707m

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The stage begins with 46 kilometres of relatively flat roads, but from that point onwards there is barely a moment to breathe. The first major obstacle is the Passo Duran, a 12 kilometre climb at 8.2 percent, followed by a steep and technical descent.

There is no real recovery before the next ascent. The riders immediately hit Coi, a short but savage climb of 5.7 kilometres at 9.5 percent. After a brief descent, the Forcella Staulanza follows, adding another 6.2 kilometres at 6.9 percent.

A 10 kilometre section of mostly descending terrain then leads into the toughest climb of the day, the Passo Giau. 

At 9.7 kilometres and 9.2 percent, it is already a brutal test on paper. Its summit at 2,226 metres makes it even more demanding. With a steep and technical descent on the other side, the race could be in pieces long before the final climb.

After the descent, the riders take on the Passo Falzarego, an 11.2 kilometre climb at 5.3 percent. It is not as demanding as the Giau, but this late in the stage, even its gentler gradients will begin to bite.

The finale comes on the climb to Piani di Pezzè in Alleghe. It is only 4.6 kilometres long, but at an average of 9.9 percent, it is a vicious way to end a mountain stage.

After all the fatigue that the riders will have in their legs at this point, this climb will feel even more gruesome than it looks. This stage is an absolute monster.

Key points

• Passo Duran | 1st category | 12 km at 8.2 percent | 92.5 km to go
• Coi | 2nd category | 5.7 km at 9.5 percent | 78.5 km to go
• Intermediate sprint | 73 km to go
• Forcella Staulanza | 2nd category | 6.2 km at 6.9 percent | 69 km to go
• Passo Giau | Hors catégorie | 9.8 km at 9.3 percent | 49.5 km to go
• Red Bull km | Bonification sprint | 32.5 km to go
• Passo Falzarego | 2nd category | 11.2 km at 5.3 percent | 29 km to go
• Alleghe | 2nd category | 4.6 km at 9.9 percent | Finish

Given the severity of the stage, a breakaway victory looks difficult. The route invites aggression from the general classification teams, especially those still chasing the podium or trying to protect their place in the top ten.

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, for instance, have every reason to make the race hard. Visma | Lease a Bike could also take control, either to extend Jonas Vingegaard’s lead or to create an opportunity for Davide Piganzoli to move up in the standings.

Whatever the tactical approach, this is the kind of stage that changes a Grand Tour. At altitude, with so many steep climbs stacked together, the strongest riders will not need much encouragement to make the difference.

Visma | Lease a Bike appear to have this Giro under control, with Jonas Vingegaard clearly the strongest rider in the race. Still, nothing is guaranteed in the final mountain stages of a Grand Tour. The question is whether Visma will try to increase his advantage before Saturday’s final climbing test, or use the stage to improve Davide Piganzoli’s position in the general classification.

Piganzoli has been one of the revelations of this Giro and continues to impress in the mountains. Vingegaard has already suggested that he would like to help him move up in the standings, and from the Passo Giau onwards, there is enough terrain to create serious damage.

The most consistent threat behind Vingegaard has been Felix Gall. He has looked like the second strongest climber in the race so far, and with only two major GC stages remaining, he is closing in on a first Grand Tour podium.

Netcompany Ineos still have Thymen Arensman on the podium, but the margins are tight. The Dutchman has climbed well and delivered an excellent time trial, yet Gall is only 24 seconds ahead and Jai Hindley sits just 33 seconds behind. With Egan Bernal improving as the race goes on, Arensman should have valuable support on a stage of this magnitude.

For Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, the focus is now firmly on Hindley after Giulio Pellizzari lost time on stage 16. The Australian has looked strong in the mountains, and this stage gives his team the terrain to put real pressure on the podium contenders.

Sixth overall remains an impressive position for Derek Gee-West, especially after illness before the race and a heavy crash on stage 2. Fifth place is still within reach, with Afonso Eulálio just ahead of him, and a stage this hard could still shift the order behind the podium.

Tudor still have two riders in the GC picture with Michael Storer and Mathys Rondel. Rondel struggled in the heat during the previous mountain stages, which should be less of a factor here. Both riders are suited to a hard race, although the top five looks difficult to reach.

Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) came into the Giro with bigger ambitions. Illness after Blockhaus disrupted his race, and although he still produced a strong time trial, he has not looked at his best in the mountains since. On paper, this terrain suits him, but his current level remains uncertain.

Other riders to watch include Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain-Victorious), Jan Hirt (NSN), Chris Harper, Davide de la Cruz (Pinarello Q36.5), and Wout Poels (Unibet Rose Rockets).

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  Vingegaard

⭐⭐⭐⭐  Gall, Piganzoli

⭐⭐⭐  Arensman, Hindley, Gee-West

⭐⭐  Storer, Bernal, Rondel, O'Connor

⭐  Eulálio, Hirt, Harper, Poels, de la Cruz