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2026 Giro d'Italia stage 19 preview - Peloton reaches new heights with Cima Coppi at 2,233 metres over Passo Giau where GC contenders look to gain time back
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) may have a commanding lead in the race for the maglia rosa, but the first of two back-to-back mountain stages; stage 19 from Feltre to the summit of Alleghe (Piani di Pezzé), will offer one of the last chances for the riders further down the general classification to try and pull time back - or to not lose time - before the Grand Tour ends in Rome on Sunday.
Vingegaard's race for the maglia rosa started with victories on the stages to Blockhaus and Corno delle Scale, and while he still had not taken the jersey from Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain-Victorious), those performances showed his rivals what they could expect in the second and third weeks of racing.
Another winning climb to Pila saw Vingegaard not only take the overall race lead but also put enough time on his rivals to leave no doubt as to who was in control at this Giro d'Italia.
Why stick with three when you can win on four mountaintops? So Vingengaard, while wearing the maglia rosa, once again rode away with a solo win atop the summit finish in Cari. He now has a 4:03 lead on runner-up Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) and 4:27 on third-placed Thymen Arensman (Netcompany Ineos).
His lead safely in hand, the Dane has said he would like to support his teammates in some of their goals: Davide Piganzoli to move up in the young rider competition and Sepp Kuss with a stage victory, both could happen on the climb to Alleghe, and if not there, then perhaps on stage 20 to Piancavallo.
Passo Giau
While stage 19 might not have the most challenging final ascent of this Giro d'Italia, it is tipped as the Queen stage of this edition and will take the peloton on a trek through the Dolomites, where riders face a leg-breaking 5,000 metres of climbing over 155km.
Riders like Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) will be looking to enter a breakaway and every opportunity to gain mid-race points toward the maglia ciclamino competition before the heated battle moves in favour of classification leader Paul Maginer (Soudal-QuickStep) on the finale sprint stage in Rome. But make no mistake, this is a day for the GC contenders.
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There are a daunting six categorised climbs on tap, beginning with the category 1 Passo Duran, a 12.1km at 8.2% with steeper sections at 14%. It is quickly followed by a succession of category 2 Coi, 5.8km, averaging 9.7%, with slopes of 19%. Then, it's the category 2 Forcella Staulanza, which is 6.3km at a much more manageable 6.7%.
The most challenging climb of they day is at the 101.6km mark - the hors category Passo Giau - which 9.9km at a more punishing average gradient of 9.3%. It is designated as this edition's Cima Coppi, the race's highest point, rising to 2,233 metres above sea level.
The peloton will likely be significantly reduced by this point in the race, but those climbers aiming for a stage win could open up gaps ahead of the final two climbs of the day. And as long as they do not threaten Vingegaard's maglia rosa, Visma-Lease a Bike might be content to let them go.
More than likely, the GC contenders will be thinking about how to gain time on each other during either the last 50km of their race or on the steep finishing climb.
Only a minute and a half separates the four contenders that are just behind Vingegaard in the GC standings, so there is a legitimate race for the overall podium set to play out on this stage.
Gall and Arensman do not have second and third place sewn up yet, because just behind them are Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) at 5:00 minutes back, Eulálio at 5:40, then there is Derek Gee-West (Lidl-Trek) at 7:09, Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling) at 7:19, and Piganzoli is at 7:57.
Then there are Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious), who is 8:34 back after riding into the winning breakaway on the previous day to Andalo, and Ben O'Connor (Jayco AlUla), who rounds out the top 10 at 9:20.
Even riders just outside the top 10 have a chance to move up: Mathys Rondel (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Chris Harper (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling) could have a chance to move up if they have a good day on the ascents.
The mid-sections of the stage will be taxing, but once they crest the category 2 Passo Falzarego, a 10.1km with an average gradient of 5.6% and maxing out at 10% in some sections, it is all downhill to the final climb of the day.
The riders will take on a 5km ramp of the Pian di Pezzè, with gradients of up to 15% along narrow roads featuring eight hairpins. With the final kilometre averaging 11%, it will be a true test of strength all the way to the line.
Stage 19 details
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(Image credit: RCS Sport)
(Image credit: RCS Sport)
Start time: 12:30 CET
Finish time: 17:12 CET
The final battle for the maglia rosa will ignite on stage 19, the Dolomites epic from Feltre to Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè), where riders face a monstrous 5,000 metres of climbing over 155 kilometres.
After a nervous opening 46 kilometres, the peloton will tackle the brutal sequence of Passo Duran (max 14%), Coi (max 19%), Forcella Staulanza (max 10%), and Passo Giau (max 14%) with its 29 hairpins, this year’s Cima Coppi at 2,233 metres.
One more climb, Passo Falzarego (max 10%), before the riders face a fast descent to Alleghe, for the final short, vicious ramp to Pian di Pezzè, with gradients of up to 15%. Narrow and winding, the road twists with 8 hairpins and numerous connecting bends, with the final kilometre remaining consistently around 11%.
Mountains
Passo Duran (cat. 1, 12.1km at 8.2%, max. 14%), km. 58.7
Coi (cat. 2, 5.8km at 9.7%, max. 19%), km. 72.9
Forcella Staulanza (cat. 2, 6.3km at 6.7%, max. 10%), km. 82
Passo Giau (cat. HC, 9.9km at 9.3%, max. 14%), km. 101.6 - Cima Coppi
Passo Falzarego (cat. 2, 10.1km at 5.6%, max. 10%), km. 122.2
Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè) (cat. 2, 5km at 9.6%, max. 15%), km. 151
Lyne has been involved in professional cycling for more than 15 years in both news reporting and sports marketing. She founded Podium Insight in 2008, quickly becoming a trusted source for news of the North American professional cycling world. She was the first to successfully use social media to consistently provide timely and live race updates for all fans. She is proud to have covered men's and women's news equally during her tenure at the helm of the site. Her writing has appeared on Cyclingnews and other news sites.
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