Vingegaard on verge of Giro d’Italia glory after powering to penultimate stage

Jonas Vingegaard each but won nan Giro d’Italia connected Saturday and his attraction will soon move to nan Tour de France arsenic he attempts to go nan ninth antheral cyclist to complete nan Giro-Tour double.

The Dane wrapped up nan first portion successful style, soloing to triumph atop Piancavallo astatine nan extremity of nan 20th and penultimate shape to widen his wide lead to much than 5 minutes from Felix Gall. Jai Hindley remained successful third, 6:25 down Vingegaard.

Sunday’s last shape is simply a mostly processional thrust that starts and ends successful Rome, wherever Vingegaard should officially beryllium crowned, making nan 29-year-old nan eighth antheral rider to triumph each 3 Grand Tours. He won nan Tour de France successful 2022 and 2023 and past twelvemonth clinched his first Spanish Vuelta title.

“I’m a cyclist, I for illustration to win, I want to triumph arsenic galore races arsenic imaginable and we decided to spell for it again today,” Vingegaard said. “Today was nan past time successful nan mountains truthful everything would beryllium decided truthful we decided to spell all-in for nan stage. The boys did astonishing again today, I had an astonishing time besides and to now triumph 5 stages present and to person a coagulated lead going into tomorrow is typical for me.”

Jonas Vingegaard makes his move astatine Piancavallo, pulling distant from pinkish jersey rival Felix Gall. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images

It is nan first clip Vingegaard has participated successful nan Giro and nan Team Visma-Lease a Bike rider has dominated, surviving up to his billing arsenic pre-race favourite. It was different masterclass connected Saturday arsenic he made his move pinch 10.6km remaining of nan last sadistic climb and swiftly — and seemingly easy — hoovered up nan breakaway riders 1 by 1 arsenic he stormed to victory.

Gall edged retired Hindley successful a sprint for second, 1:15 down Vingegaard astatine nan extremity of nan 200km (124mile) way from Gemona del Friuli that ended pinch 2 ascents of nan top-category climb to Piancavallo. It was Vingegaard’s 5th triumph astatine this Giro and he performed his accustomed celebration: kissing nan photograph of his family that is connected nan handlebar of his bicycle, earlier kissing his wedding ringing and raising his arms successful nan aerial arsenic he crossed nan line.