Alberto Bettiol secured victory in Stage 13 of the Giro d’Italia held in Verbania, Italy, on Friday, while Afonso Eulálio successfully maintained his overall lead in the race.
The XDS Astana cyclist led a breakaway group of 15 riders, finishing ahead of second-place Andreas Leknessund and Jasper Stuyven in third position.
Eulálio’s Continued Dominance
Afonso Eulálio, riding for Bahrain Victorious, finished the stage with the same time as his nearest competitor, Jonas Vingegaard from Team Visma – Lease a Bike, preserving a 33-second advantage on the overall leaderboard.
Stage Highlights
This stage, primarily flat, included two lower-classified climbs toward the end of the 189-kilometer (117-mile) route from Alessandria to Verbania.
Bettiol’s victory by 26 seconds marked his first win in two years and his ninth career stage win, with his last triumph occurring at the National Road Championship in June 2024. This victory also represented the third stage win for his team during the current Giro.
Bettiol’s Reflections on the Win
In a post-race statement, Bettiol expressed, “It doesn’t matter whether my last victory came two years ago or even longer. If you win like this, waiting two years doesn’t feel heavy.” He added, “I knew every corner, every kilometer of the finale – I know this climb really well. I had ridden it a couple of months ago on my motorbike and had watched the descent video several times.”
He also noted the importance of the final kilometer, stating, “I knew the final kilometer had to be taken flat out and that there would be excellent climbers here, but I was confident my condition was good. I’m incredibly happy to have finally taken a win with this team.”
Upcoming Events
The 109th edition of the men’s Giro is set to conclude on May 31 in Rome. Additionally, the women’s Giro will take place from May 30 to June 7, with Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini as the defending champion.