Pellizzari takes commanding summit win at Tour of the Alps

The 22-year-old rider from Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe prevailed from a reduced group after a selective finale on the final climb. He finished ahead of Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) and Mattia Gaffuri (Team Picnic PostNL), securing his first professional win on Italian soil.

An early breakaway of nine riders animated much of the stage, including Gaffuri and Davide Bais (Team Polti VisitMalta). The group held a slender advantage heading onto the final ascent to Val Martello, where the race began to fracture.

Inside the final five kilometres, Bais and Gaffuri distanced their breakaway companions, but the peloton, led first by Tudor Pro Cycling Team for defending champion Michael Storer and later by Ineos Grenadiers, steadily closed the gap.

Gaffuri pressed on alone after dropping Bais, but his advantage remained fragile at around 30 seconds. Behind, attacks began to fly. Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), Storer and Pellizzari’s teammate Lorenzo Finn were among those to go clear, forcing a reshuffle in the chasing group.

Pellizzari, momentarily caught behind, reacted quickly and bridged across before launching a decisive move. He surged clear of the chasers and set his sights on Gaffuri, making the catch with just over two kilometres remaining.

A select group, including Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), rejoined in the closing stages, setting up a sprint between climbers. A late acceleration from Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe) briefly stretched the group under the flamme rouge, but the stage ultimately came down to a final kick.

Pellizzari proved the strongest, launching inside the final 200 metres to secure a commanding win and take control of the race.

Tomorrow presents a contrasting test for the riders, opening with the 22 kilometre ascent of Passo Castrin, the race’s highest point, before easing into a more rolling finale. A late uphill sprint offers bonus seconds ahead of the descent to Arco, with the profile favouring attackers and breakaway riders.