Stage 19 of the 2016 Giro d’Italia lived up to its status as a queen stage. The 151-kilometer route between Feltre and Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè) featured six categorized climbs, nearly 5,000 meters of elevation gain, and the legendary Passo Giau, the Cima Coppi of this edition, before the grueling finale in the Dolomites. In this setting, American Sepp Kuss secured a historic victory, adding his name to the list of riders who have won stages in all three Grand Tours.
The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider proved strongest on the final climb to Piani di Pezzè, winning in a time of 4:28:33, ahead of Derek Gee-West, who finished second by 13 seconds, and Giulio Ciccone, who came in third by 36 seconds. It was a stage for true climbers, a relentless grind, with empty legs and measured attacks, where the top prize ended up in the hands of one of the most prestigious domestiques in world cycling.
The day was eventful from very early on, and among the riders who sought to change the script was Einer Rubio. The Boyacá native from Movistar Team once again joined the day’s breakaway and, once again, made it clear that he hasn’t given up on fighting for a stage win in this Giro.
In an extremely tough stage, Rubio stayed with the best breakaway riders for much of the race and ended up delivering another combative, brave, and ambitious performance in the high mountains, even getting into verbal sparring first with Gee and then with Ciccone.
The Colombian ultimately finished in ninth position, 1:19 behind the winner, a result that perhaps doesn’t fully reflect his true role in the race, but which does confirm his determination to make his mark on the big stages of this edition.
In a Giro dominated by the GC contenders and Visma’s control, Einer continued to rely on breakaways as his path to glory, and on the toughest stage, he was once again in the mix.
The Passo Giau, with its seemingly endless ramps and status as the Giro’s highest point, was one of the most intense moments. There, the race was further whittled down, and it became clear that the battle for the stage win and the mountains classification were following separate paths. Giulio Ciccone crested the Cima Coppi first, securing important points for the mountains jersey, and then held on as long as he could before succumbing to Kuss’s attack.
In the general classification, everything remained under control for Jonas Vingegaard. The Dane didn’t let anxiety get the better of him, riding with the composure of a solid leader and managing his advantage intelligently, also aware that his teammate Kuss was ahead fighting for the stage win. Visma’s team leader crossed the finish line in fifth place, 39 seconds behind, showing no signs of weakness and without suffering any real scares on a day when many expected to see him under more pressure.
With just two days remaining until the finish in Rome, Vingegaard maintains the pink jersey with authority and is already counting down the hours to complete his collection of Grand Tour victories. The Dane, who had already proven to be the strongest climber in this edition, conquered the most feared stage of the final week without conceding a single second to his rivals and left the impression that he has the Giro under control.
Stage 20 this Saturday, between Gemona del Friuli 1976-2026 and Piancavallo, over 200 kilometers, appears to be the last major battle for a podium finish. Today, Australian Jay Hindley knocked Dutchman Tymen Arensman off the third step, but tomorrow the entire Top 10 will surely play their final cards. After surviving the queen stage and seeing one of his best teammates conquer the summit in Alleghe, Jonas Vingegaard is one step away from being crowned champion in the eternal city.
Giro d’Italia (2.UWT)
Results Stage 19 | Feltre – Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè) (151 km)
| 1 | Sepp Kuss | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 4:28:33 |
| 2 | Derek Gee | Lidl – Trek | 0:13 |
| 3 | Giulio Ciccone | Lidl – Trek | 0:36 |
| 4 | Felix Gall | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | 0:39 |
| 5 | Jonas Vingegaard | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 0:39 |
| 6 | Damiano Caruso | Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe | 0:43 |
| 7 | Jai Hindley | Bahrain – Victorious | 1:06 |
| 8 | Davide Piganzoli | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 1:11 |
| 9 | Einer Rubio | Movistar Team | 1:19 |
| 10 | Michael Storer | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | 1:19 |
Ranking General Individual
| 1 | Jonas Vingegaard | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 75:13:16 |
| 2 | Felix Gall | Decathlon CMA CGM Team | 4:03 |
| 3 | Jai Hindley | Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe | 5:04 |
| 4 | Thymen Arensman | Netcompany INEOS | 5:33 |
| 5 | Derek Gee | Lidl – Trek | 6:31 |
| 6 | Afonso Eulálio | Bahrain – Victorious | 7:26 |
| 7 | Michael Storer | Tudor Pro Cycling Team | 7:50 |
| 8 | Davide Piganzoli | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | 8:29 |
| 9 | Damiano Caruso | Bahrain – Victorious | 9:01 |
| 10 | Egan Bernal | Netcompany INEOS | 11:19 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico