Highlights: Home hero Bettiol produces almighty attack for Stage 13 triumph
Video credit: TNT Sports
16:45
16:45
ALBERTO BETTIOL MASTERCLASS AS ASTANA SWOOP FOR THIRD WIN
Italy’s Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astana) used his local knowledge to steal a march over his breakaway companions and record an emphatic win in Verbania in Stage 13 of the Giro d’Italia.
If much of the pre-stage hype surrounded the chances of Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS) taking a win in his hometown, it was left to another Italian with close familial ties to the town by Lake Maggiore to leave an indelible mark on a memorable day on the Giro.
Part of a strong 15-man breakaway that established a lead of over 10 minutes across the flat rice fields of Piedmont, Bettiol used the second of two punchy climbs near the finish to lay the foundations of his first win in two years.
Bettiol reeled in lone leader Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) on the steepest double-digits of the Cat.3 climb of Ungiasca before leaving his Norwegian rival for dead with a devastating uphill surge over the summit.
The 32-year-old former Tour of Flanders winner then used his expert descending skills to extend his lead on the descent before taking his first ever win for Astana in the hometown of his girlfriend, who was among a gathering of Bettiol’s family awaiting him at the finish in Verbania.
'A work of art' - Bettiol solos to 'beautiful victory' after blistering attack from breakaway
Video credit: TNT Sports
It was the second Giro stage win of Bettiol’s career and his Astana team’s third of the race after previous triumphs for Guillermo Thomas Silva and Davide Ballerini.
Crossing the line 26 seconds in arrears, Leknessund was forced to settle for second place – his second of the race and the third of his career in the Giro.
Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step) won a four-up sprint for third place at 44 seconds before the remnants of the break crossed the line in dribs and drabs ahead of the peloton, which came home over 13 minutes in arrears.
The big winner of the day in the general classification was New Zealand debutant Josh Kench (Groupama-FDJ United), who rose nine places to eighteenth in the standings. Starting the day over 20 minutes back, Kench is now 8’24” down on race leader Afonso Eulalio (Bahrain Victorious).
With Groupama team-mates Johan Jacobs and Axel Huens working for him in the breakaway, Kench was looking to become the first Kiwi rider to win a stage on the Giro. His initial attack on the final climb saw the 25-year-old go clear with Bettiol, Leknessund and the Dane Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost).
Once Leknessund accelerated, only Bettiol could follow. Riding around 20 metres behind his rival, Bettiol dug deep and bade his time before pulling the trigger with an almighty attack on the maximum 13% ramp ahead of the summit, where he cut through the crowds and all but secured his emotional win.
Bettiol kicks at top of climb to surge past Leknessund – ‘He’s winning it right here!’
Video credit: TNT Sports
Portuguese climber Eulalio takes a 33-second lead over Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) into Saturday’s decisive day in the mountains. With 4,350 metres of climbing packed into just 133km, Stage 14 finishes in the Alpine resort of Pina and could see Vingegaard finally take over the fabled maglia rosa.
16:20
16:20
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 13
No changes in the top 10 with all the pink jersey rivals coming home safely in the pack over 13 minutes down. The big winner in the overall standings today was Josh Kench of Groupama-FDJ, who rose nine places to 18th. The New Zealander is now 8’24” down on the Portuguese race leader and just four minutes off the top 10.
1. Afonso Eulalio (Bahrain-Victorious) 2. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) +0:33 3. Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS) +2:03 4. Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) +2:30 5. Ben O’Connor (Jayco-AlUla) +2:50 6. Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) +3:12 7. Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling) +3:34 8. Derek Gee-West (Lidl-Trek) +3:40 9. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) +3:40 10. Chris Harper (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling) +4:15
16:17
16:17
PELOTON COMES OVER THE LINE 13 MINUTES DOWN
Afonso Eulalio (Bahrain Victorious) will ride at least one more day in pink after finishing the stage safely in the peloton, which crossed the line 13’06” down ahead of tomorrow’s showdown in the mountains.
16:13
16:13
BETTIOL EXPLAINS HIS LOCAL LINK TO VERBANIA
Ah, so he had a local connection after all… that explains a lot! It’s a lovely interview as the 32-year-old opens up about his long wait for a debut win for Astana and explains how he knew the roads inside out…
”In theory, I won today even before the start because I had my whole family here – and my whole second family, because my girlfriend is from Verbania so I consider Verbania my second home. Having all of them – my brother, my father, my mum and all the people who have always been around me – was already a victory.”
Winning like this is something I will remember forever. It doesn’t matter that it was two years since I last won [a race]. If I win like that then I’m ready to win every two years.
”I knew every single corner in the last 50km because sometimes I train here. I saw this climb a couple of months ago and did it on a motorbike, and I watched the downhill before. I knew that the last kilometre of the climb was very strong and I expected some of the climbers in the breakaway to attack, because I was really on the limit on this climb."
But I knew my shape was good and I’m so happy to finally win in this [Astana] jersey. [Astana manager Alexander] Vino[kourov] really wanted me on this team and I have finally paid him back, and my team-mates, who have done a really amazing Giro so far. I’m happy that I am now part of this amazing Giro.
Bettiol 'knew every corner' as he sealed Stage 13 win in 'second home'
Video credit: TNT Sports
16:04
16:04
WATCH THE MOMENT ALBERTO BETTIOL WENT CLEAR
Bettiol kicks at top of climb to surge past Leknessund – ‘He’s winning it right here!’
Video credit: TNT Sports
16:02
16:02
STAGE 13 RESULT – TOP 10
1. Alberto Bettiol (XAT) 2. Andreas Leknessund (UXM) +26 3. Jasper Stuyven (SOQ) +44 4. Michael Valgren (EFE) ” 5. Mark Donovan (PQT) ” 6. Josh Kench (GFC) ” 7. Mikkel Bjerg (UAD) +1:33 8. Francesco Busatto (APT) 1:35 9. Markus Hoelgaard (UXM) ” 10. Diego Sevilla (PTV) ”
15:57
15:57
LEKNESSUND TAKES SECOND AND STUYVEN THIRD
The Norwegian held on for second place at 26 seconds before the Belgian veteran won a four-up sprint for the final spot on the podium today. Phew – what a stage. It was ridden at over 48 km/h.
Poor Andreas Leknessund - that's the third time he's finished runner-up in a stage on the Giro, and his second time in the last week.
15:54
15:54
ALBERTO BETTIOL WINS STAGE 13 IN VERBANIA
The Italian from XDS Astana points to the sky as he celebrates his first win on the Giro d’Italia since 2021. It was clearly all planned because his partner is there waiting for him as he gets off his bike all smiles. What a ride! And that’s a hat-trick for Astana now.
15:52
15:52
FINAL KILOMETRE
Our lone leader will be able to soak it up and celebrate for an entire kilometre because he has 30 seconds to play with and could still win even with two punctures and a broken fork.
15:49
15:49
3KM TO GO: HOME FANS VERY HAPPY
It may not be the Italian they hoped to see, but in the absence of the local favourite Filippo Ganna, Alberto Bettiol will do very nicely. He still has 20 seconds – and there’s still 17 teams on this Giro without a win.
15:47
15:47
5KM TO GO: IT’S BETTIOL’S TO LOSE
Leknessund is making no gains behind, while we still haven’t seen Valgren and Kench. The peloton, meanwhile, is over 12 minutes in arrears.
15:46
15:46
7KM TO GO: BETTIOL IS EMPTYING THE TANK
The Italian is taking no chances on this descent – pedalling out of the corners and using every inch of the road. He lives in nearby Switzerland and often pops over the border to ride these roads around Lake Maggiore. It shows: he knows exactly what he’s doing out there.
”They won’t catch him,” says Robbie McEwen.
15:44
15:44
10KM TO GO: A THIRD WIN FOR ASTANA ON THE CARDS
After Guillermo Thomas Silva and Davide Ballerini, XDS Astana might be taking their third stage win of this Giro very soon – and they also held the pink jersey for a day with their Uruguayan Silva. What a race they’re having.
15:41
15:41
12KM TO GO: WILL ANY OF THE CHASERS FIGHT BACK ON?
Given Bettiol’s descending skills, it’s unlikely. He already has 19 seconds on Leknessund, with the Valgren-Kench duo another 10 seconds back.
15:39
15:39
13KM TO GO: BETTIOL DESTROYS LEKNESSUND
The Italian puts in a huge surge on the final stack of corners, carving through the crowds and powering past Leknessund, who he leaves for dead. So, it’s Bettiol who takes the KOM points and a 10-second gap over the summit ahead of this fast and technical descent.
15:37
15:37
14KM TO GO: BETTIOL ON A MISSION
The Italian is not letting Leknessund go clear, keeping the Norwegian in his sights as they approach the double-digit gradient ahead of the summit. The Italian has supreme descending skills and a superior kick – it’s his stage to lose now.
15:35
15:35
15KM TO GO: LEKNESSUND ATTACKS
The Norwegian makes the first big attack to open up a small gap as Bettiol chases. Valgren and Kench are dropping back. The steepest part of the climb is still coming up.
15:34
15:34
15.5KM TO GO: NOW KENCH GOES!
The Kiwi puts in a big acceleration after Huens peels off – and the only riders who can stick with Kench are Valgren, Bettiol and Leknessund. Behind, Stuyven and Aerts did deep along with Sevilla and Busatto.
15:32
15:32
16KM TO GO: TUENS DOING SOME DAMAGE
The Polti duo of Sevilla and Maestri are suffering, while Bjerg, Aerts and Warbasse also drop back.
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Highlights: Home hero Bettiol produces almighty attack for Stage 13 triumph
Video credit: TNT Sports