Giro d'Italia stage 19 - Live coverage

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia. The peloton head back into the mountains for another summit finish today!

After yesterday's flat stage, it's another tough day out in the mountains and a return to the GC battle with just three seconds separating Richard Carapaz and Jai Hindley at the top of the standings.

The map for today's stage 19. The race heads into Slovenia today and circles around Udine in Friuli in the far north-east of Italy.

We're around 45 minutes from the start of today's stage at the moment.

There'll be a 6.3km neutral zone to start the stage.

Will we see another battle between these two on the final climb today?

Here's our preview of today's stage, the penultimate mountain test of the Giro.

"Not even misfortune, it seems, can separate Carapaz and Hindley, who have finished in the same time every day since stage 3 on the shores of Lake Balaton during the Giro's Hungarian overture.

"Since then, the race has scaled Mount Etna, crossed the Strait of Messina and traversed the entire length of the Peninsula, but Hindley and Carapaz haven't conceded a bike length to one another in all that time," writes Barry Ryan, reporting from the race for us.

Slovenian sortie a potential tiebreaker for Giro d'Italia – Preview

A look back at yesterday's stage 18. It was supposed to be the last chance for the sprinters to compete for a win but the four-man breakaway of Edoardo Affini, Davide Gabburo, Dries De Bondt, and Magnus Cort had other ideas...

Read our stage 18 race report here

Just under 30 minutes to the start today, meanwhile, and the riders are signing in at Marano Lagunare.

Here's a look at the stage 18 results and the GC standings heading into today's stage.

A few pieces of news from yesterday's stage...

Edoardo Affini took our rider of the day honours for his work driving the breakaway. A look into how the break stayed away and won the stage – with talking, trusting, and a long lead-out. 

Juan Pedro López shed minutes thanks to a "rookie error" but stayed in white. Finally, maglia ciclamino Arnaud Démare has said that his battle again Peter Sagan two years ago was a tougher challenge than this year's Giro points fight.

And a couple of news items on the 'big two' after yesterday's stage, too...

Poker-faced Hindley poised for pink ahead of the final summit finishes at the Giro, while Carapaz is confident but seeking more time gains on stages 19 and 20.

Just over 10 minutes until the riders roll out to start the neutral zone on today's stage now.

Maglia rosa Richard Carapaz heads to the start in Marano Lagunare today.

The peloton roll out at the start to kick off stage 19.

A 6.3km neutral zone should take around 15 minutes to pass through.

The riders still heading through the neutral zone currently.

178km to go

The flag drops and racing is underway!

Attacks fly from the start.

Pascal Eenkhoorn (Jumbo-Visma) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) among the notable names up front early on.

Dries De Bondt now up front pulling Van der Poel along.

174km to go

A fast start. This is the penultimate chance to make the breakaway in this Giro d'Italia, after all.

Still more attacks fly at the front but nothing solid away yet.

170km to go

Just a couple of men hanging a few metres off the front currently.

Almost 70km before any climbing today. It does head uphill much of the way, though the slope is gradual.

Edoardo Affini (Jumbo-Visma) and Davide Ballerini (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) among the men on the attack now.

Koen Bouwman (Jumbo-Visma) there, too.

It's more like a long line at the front rather than a separate group, though.

Mark Cavendish (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) and Thymen Arensman (Team DSM) up front now.

Affini is driving a move with a small gap.

Eenkhoorn, Cort, Valter, Tonelli, Vendrame, Bouwman, Gaviria up there.

163km to go

Schmid, Ballerini, Theuns, Bayer, Tonelli also in there.

DSM pushing at the head of the peloton, 20 seconds behind the move.

Jefferson Cepeda (Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli) the only man to DNS today. 151 men left in the race.

159km to go

16 seconds for the move now. Will they snap the elastic and get away?

DSM are leading the peloton in the chase. A Jumbo-Visma rider waves away the TV moto in front of the peloton to try and stop any drafting benefits.

Israel-Premier Tech, DSM, Lotto Soudal, Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè among those attacking now.

30 seconds up to the lead move.

151km to go

Now some blocking at the head of the peloton by the likes of Jumbo-Visma and QuickStep-AlphaVinyl and the gap goes up to 55 seconds.

12 men out front...

Andrea Vendrame (AG2R Citroën), Tobias Bayer (Aplecin-Fenix), Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost), Clement Davy, Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), Koen Bouwman, Edoardo Affini (Jumbo-Visma), Mauro Schmid, Davide Ballerini (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo), Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates), Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè)

148km to go

2:35 for the breakaway now as the peloton slows right down, the big teams happy with the move.

It's not exactly the strongest breakaway for a mountain stage, really.

A few sprinters, domestiques, all-rounders... Bouwman, Schmid, Valter would be the favourites should this make it to the finish, you'd expect.

No team controlling the peloton at the moment. A very slow roll-along with a few riders from Lotto, AG2R, Jumbo, Trek up front.

144km to go

4:45 for the breakaway now. The gap has shot up very quickly.

Around 35km to go until the break hits the first climb of the day, the third-category climb of Villanova Grotte.

Ineos Grenadiers head to the front of the peloton to take control as the gap hits 5:30.

6:20 now...

134km to go

Ineos Grenadiers are only letting the break's advantage keep rising here. Nine minutes now.

A look at the break, with Ballerini and Affini up front.

128km to go

10:50 for the breakaway now!

When will the gap stop going up?

Now Bora-Hansgrohe move up to the front of the peloton.

The peloton speeds up a little after the team take over the pacemaking.

The breakaway reach the first intermediate sprint of the day in Buja. Gaviria jumps off the front and he's followed by Theuns and Ballerini. A bit of competition on a day that isn't really for them.

Just over 10km to go until the start of the day's first climb.

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Bora-Hansgrohe have brought the break's advantage to 10:45. Still a huge gap.

The Giro passes through Alessandro De Marchi's home region today and he stops at the side of the road to greet some fans and family before getting back in the peloton shortly afterwards.

114km to go

10 minutes for the break now.

The gap is coming down gradually at the moment as Bora-Hansgrohe continue to control the pace in the peloton.

The breakaway are closing in on the first climb of the day, the third-category hill. 9:40 back to the peloton.

106km to go

The breakaway hit the climb. The roads uphill and down don't let up for long from this point onwards.

Still all together in the break as the riders head uphill.

Affini leading the way currently.

A look at the breakaway.

Looks like Ballerini had a brief run-in with a spectator on the side of the road there. Someone wandered too far into the road.

9:20 back to the peloton from the breakaway now.

9-4-2-1 points up for grabs at the top here.

Bouwman leads the way over the top, another nine points to his maglia azzurra haul.

Meanwhile, Richie Porte is out the back of the peloton on this climb! That is very unexpected.

102km to go

Porte must be ill to be losing ground so early.

Bora-Hansgrohe continue at the head of the peloton.

A short descent and then it's back uphill for another third-category climb. It'll be the Passo di Tanamea (8.9km at 5.5%).

Some sprinters drop off the rear of the peloton. Maglia ciclamino Arnaud Démare is among them.

98km to go

Nine minutes up to the breakaway as Bora-Hansgrohe continue to work.

As well as Porte being distanced on the climb, RAI report that Pavel Sivakov crashed earlier in the stage. Not a great day for Ineos Grenadiers so far.

Some news elsewhere as Wout van Aert has confirmed that he will go for the green jersey at this year's Tour de France, meaning his Jumbo-Visma team will be balancing the hunt for two jerseys this July.

92km to go

On the way down the other side and Bora-Hansgrohe continue to control.

8:55 to the break.

Bradley Wiggins reports from the Eurosport bike that the Australian shouted "gastro" to him after being dropped from the peloton, adding that he had thrown up while riding, too. He's clearly suffering from stomach problems today, then.

Splits off the back of the peloton after that climb and descent, but it doesn't look like any major GC names were dropped.

Pozzovivo is reportedly missing from the front group, actually.

86km to go

Meanwhile, the break is heading up the next climb of the day, the Passo di Tanamea.

The break is still all together up front.

Bora-Hansgrohe continue to lead the peloton at 8:30 down.

The peloton has swelled after that descent as dropped riders get back on.

The break gets over the top and of course it's Bouwman who grabs another nine points.

Affini leads the way down the descent and they'll look to push the pace now. It's a long, hilly run downhill and over a few rises too to the bottom of the first-category Kolovrat climb.

80km to go

Richie Porte has abandoned the Giro d'Italia.

That's not a big surprise given the reports of his condition earlier.

Now the riders cross the border into Slovenia.

Richie Porte abandons the Giro d'Italia with illness

Ineos super-domestique was dropped on first climb of stage 19

72km to go

8:30 between the break and the Bora-led peloton at the moment.

Most of the break pulling through to keep the pace up now. Of course, Ballerini, Davy, and Affini are working for their teammates Schmid, Valter, and Bouwman – each of them better climbers.

67km to go

It's still up and downhill here as the break edges towards the climb. Just over 10km to go until they hit Kolovrat.

65km to go

Ballerini and Affini continue to drive it. 8:30 to the peloton.

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Here's a look at Kolovrat. It's a hard climb at 10.3km, 9.2% but the top comes at 43km still to go...

The gap back to the peloton is up to 8:55 now. They're pulling it out here on the run to the climb!

It's been a fast day so far. The riders pass through the town of Kobarid some seven minutes ahead of the fastest time schedule.

54km to go

The break start the climb now.

9:10 now for the break as Ballerini pushes it hard at the bottom of the climb. 

Affini, Bayer, Theuns, Gaviria, Davy drop from the break.

52km to go

Ballerini finishes his push and drops off the back now.

Andrea Vendrame (AG2R Citroën), Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost), Attila Valter (Groupama-FDJ), Koen Bouwman (Jumbo-Visma), Mauro Schmid (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl), Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè) are left up front.

12% slopes for the break currently.

Cort and Vendrame struggling the most in the break.

51km to go

Cort is gone now.

9:25 to the peloton.

Schmid, Bouwman, Tonelli, and Valter left at the front.

Bora-Hansgrohe continue to lead the peloton while Edoardo Zardini (Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli) makes an attack.

Zardini has 25 seconds on the peloton now. Not a very high pace from Bora-Hansgrohe so far.

49km to go

Nine minutes up the road, the remaining breakaway quartet still stick together. 6km to the top.

The break hits the mid-climb flat section for around a kilometre. The remainder of the climb is less steep than that starting 5km, 10% section.

Riders drop out the back of the peloton on the climb. Good climbers like Diego Ulissi and Bauke Mollema among them.

47km to go

The break on the second half of the climb now. Tonelli drops back after Valter pushes the pace.

Big crowds on the climb in Slovenia here.

Zardini still hangs out in front of the peloton, around 20 seconds up.

Zardini passing some riders who have dropped back from the breakaway now.

46km to go

Up front, Tonelli is back with the leaders.

Affini back in the peloton now after his second day of hard work out front.

44km to go

Still four out front. 8:30 back to the peloton.

And Bora-Hansgrohe still lead there. Ineos and Bahrain behind them.

The peloton still 3km from the top as the break hits the final 500 metres of the climb.

Bouwman leads the break over the top of Kolovrat unchallenged. He's confirmed as the maglia azzurra winner, as long as he finishes the race.

43km to go

Hindley with two men up front as teammate Lennard Kämna goes backwards. Ineos have three with Carapaz. There looks to be four Bahrain men with Landa.

Just a couple of kilometres of descent and the break will be back in Italy.

Confirmation of 40 points for Bouwman at the top to take him to 276 points. Schmid took 18, Tonelli 12 and Valter nine.

Eight minutes between break and peloton as the leaders cross the border back into Italy.

Vendrame came back on the descent and immediately tried to jump off the front of the  break!

Meanwhile, the peloton lies at 7:15 down.

Still around 25km of descent and valley roads to go until the riders hit the final climb.

Schmid leading the break down the descent now. Still five up there after Vendrame came back.

30km to go

The break reaches the village Tribil Superiore and a portion of flat road interrupts the descent. They're still five minutes up on the quickest time schedule today.

The finish is set for 45-50 minutes' time as things stand.

There is another intermediate sprint before the final climb, but it's just for 3-2-1 bonus seconds. It's in Cividale del Friuli some 19km away.

Back in the peloton, it's Bora with four, Ineos with four and then Bahrain with five.

25km to go

The riders still fly downhill at speed here. 7:15 from the break to the peloton.

Some technical sections through the woods here. Good to see all the riders staying upright so far.

Vendrame, Schmid, Tonelli, Bouwman, and Valter finish the descent 6:50 up on the peloton. Now a 13km run in the valley.

20km to go

Inside the final 20km now and the breakaway quintet work together and takee their turns.

The break are certain to contest the stage victory today. With Vendrame dropping on the last climb and Tonelli also getting into some trouble, it looks like Bouwman, Schmid, and Valter should be the strongest, though that looked apparent on paper when the break was formed.

Back in the peloton, meanwhile, we're likely to see another showdown between the GC top three – Carapaz, Hindley, and Landa. They've shown themselves to be the best climbers so far in the race, though it's only a short finishing climb and you'd think the peloton would have to be slimmed down early on for them to get away from the rest.

15km to go

Still 6:50 for the breakaway and it's still Bora-Hansgrohe leading the peloton.

The peloton is less than 30 riders at this point, by the way.

Over half of those men are from Bora, Ineos, Bahrain, and Intermarché.

Lorenzo Fortunato (Eolo-Kometa) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) try and attack on the flat but Bora-Hansgrohe chase it down.

12km to go

Speeding towards the final climb, though the peloton has slowed a little. 7:30 up to the breakaway.

The break close in on that intermediate sprint in Cividale del Friuli.

Here's a look at the final climb as the break are almost at the base.

8km to go

Tonelli, Vendrame, and Bouwman lead the way over the intermediate sprint as Ineos Grenadiers take it up at the front of the peloton.

Bora-Hansgrohe had let is slow right down on the flat. The gap to the break is up to 8:20 now.

And now the breakaway quintet hit the climb.

Again, it's a climb of two parts with a short descent in the middle. This time, the second part of the climb is the toughest with gradients in the double digits near the top.

7km to go

No change at the front as Vendrame and Tonelli are still in there.

8:30 back to the breakaway now.

6km to go

Still all together as Bouwman leads the break.

The peloton is 8:45 back.

No attacks in the break yet. They're spreading out across the road every so often with nobody willing to take it up properly.

Ineos Grenadiers still leading the head of the peloton as the group approaches the climb.

5km to go

Still the breakaway riders stick together. 

Now the break finish the first part of the climb and hit the short mid-climb descent.

Ineos Grenadiers pushing the pace in the peloton now.

4km to go

Now it's back uphill for the break. No change in the situation.

Eight minutes back to the peloton.

Ineos with three men ahead of Carapaz. 

Now Tonelli puts in a bit of an acceleration before deciding against it.

3km to go

Not a thriller so far, this stage!

The break have enough time to slow and look around at each other and they sure are taking it.

Bouwman attacks shortly after the 3km banner.

Everybody else sticks with him, though. Valter responds.

Vendrame drops off the back. He's the quickest finisher but the weakest climber.

But he makes his way back on!

2.5km to go

All together again. Schmid on one side of the road watching the rest.

It's all cagey again...

7:30 back to the peloton, which is still led by Ineos.

Tonelli makes a move. Bouwman matches him quickly.

Schmid, Valter, and Vendrame get back too.

2km to go

Valter tries but doesn't get any gaps. Vendrame is distanced again.

Tonelli looks to be in a bit of trouble, too.

Vendrame trying to work his way back but the toughest gradients lie ahead. 10% section at the moment.

And now Vendrame comes back!

The final 600 metres are run on pretty shallow gradients of around 5% after the steep stuff.

1.5km to go

Sivakov and Carapaz push the pace back in the peloton. Buchmann is dropped. Hindley not up front.

All together in the break, still.

López, Pozzovivo, Valverde dropped from the peloton.

Bouwman leads the break. All together still!

1km to go

Some 12% sections coming up now for the break.

Now Schmid on the front ahead of Tonelli.

No attacks yet...

The climbers not even pushing the pace to get rid of Vendrame on these hard slopes.

5:30 back to the peloton, now.

800m to go

Ineos still lead it behind with Sivakov.

A very small 'peloton' here. 

The main favourites still in there.

Carapaz attacks! Hindley and Landa are with him (shock).

Carthy, Nibali, Hirt among those behind.

The GC men just passed the 2km mark.

400m to go

Still all together up front in the break.

Now Landa goes!

Landa gets a gap.

250m to go

Bouwman launches from the back!

Schmid responds

The final corner saw Schmid put Vendrame off the road! They didn't see that corner coming at all...

Bouwman easily takes the win after that.

Second stage win of the Giro d'Italia for Koen Bouwman!

Great to put a sharp left turn in at around 75 metres from the line...

Though Schmid should've known about it...

Meanwhile, Carapaz, Hindley, and Landa are riding together.

More riders come across to the GC men as they hit the final kilometre.

Carapaz and Hindley accelerate but there's no separation.

Now the GC men come to the final corner. Carapaz leads a group of seven or so.

All around the corner just fine.

No change in the GC race as the main favourites all finish together.

The Giro d'Italia parcours was engineered to ensure a battle to the final few days and that's what is going to happen. 

Schmid complains that Bouwman cut him off around the final corner, causing him to put Vendrame and Valter wide as a result.

A shot of Bouwman celebrating victory atop the climb.

The gaps are so large on the GC (aside from first and second) that it looks like that final climb hasn't led to any changes at all...

Mauro Schmid gives his opinion on that final corner.

"My opinion it was not a fair sprint, it was pretty clear, my handlebars are still in front and he nearly crashed in the last corner, he just knows he's slower in the sprint and he just pushed me away. You'll see when you watch the last 100-200 metres. I can do nothing.

"'It was not fair in my opinion. Second place is first loser, so I'm not happy with that. I think I had it in the legs today. Of course, I'm disappointed but I want to say thanks to the team, especially Ballerini he pushed so hard for me the first 100km. With his help he made it possible that we had such a big gap.

"Then after, for me was a hard climb, the second last was a long climb. I knew I just needed to hang on - this last climb is less steep and suits me well. In the end it was quite technical and we looked at each other."

Vendrame not happy with that finish either. He says he's thankful there were no barriers on the outside of that corner.

Here's what Bouwman said after the finish...

"After my first victory I said it would be really nice if I could have another one, but I also said I have to be realistic. It was my first victory as a pro. Now to win two stages in the Giro - I'm just so happy I don't have words.

"I knew there was a corner to the left but I didn't know it was this sharp. I had to brake quite hard and I knew I had to take the inside [of the corner].

"That was actually the goal of today to have the blue jersey at the end of the day. Coming with a stage victory I can't believe it."

A look at Schmid protesting with his arms out behind the celebrating Bouwman.

A look at that final kilometre, which saw the breakaway ride a very cagey climb before exploding in a controversial finish, while the GC favourites matched one another once again.

Here's what the angry Vendrame had to say about that finish...

"I didn't think they played it properly, I don't think that was right. I'm not sure what tactic the others had. I knew there was a corner and I wanted to go outside. That meant I would have had a good run after the final corner but unfortunately they got there first.

"I'm not happy with that. At least there weren't any barriers because at least then I would have hurt myself. I'm still racing at home and we'll see what happens in the last days."

Meanwhile, Hindley remains in second at three seconds down on Carapaz. Here's what he had to say...

"It was a pretty hard day again. The guys rode really well. We tried to look for the opportunities out there but it didn't work out the way we wanted to. Coming into that final climb I knew it was going to be a punchier finish, which probably suits [Carapaz] a lot more than me. I still tried to have a crack and it was a hard finish.

"It wasn't an ideal stage to put the hammer down. We knew the second to last climb was the real steep one and the descent was going to be really technical and tricky and we just wanted to hit it at the front and stay out of trouble.

"It was a pretty strong breakaway and I think we just let the gap go out a bit too far. The initial plan wasn't to go chasing the break but we changed it out on the road. It was a tough day coming up tomorrow but I think it's going to be the big decider.

"[Pink] would be a dream scenario to get some time tomorrow and have a buffer for the TT. It's not going to be easy but I reckon we'll be up for it."

And here's what Carapaz had to say...

"Truth is, it's been a really difficult day today. I'm really disappointed for Richie it's unlucky. But the team is doing a good job and we're dealing with everything the best we can. We're all at a good level and trying to make it into a positive.

"It was a little give and take today but I think we're all pretty much on the same level at the top. It wasn't such a fantastically difficult finale that it was going to break up very much.

"Tomorrow is a good day, it's at altitude, which I like."

Here's our stage 19 report complete with results and photo gallery

And here's a look at the updated GC standings with all the info from stage 19

Elsewhere today there was plenty of other racing going on. Check out results from the second stage of the Boucles de la Mayenne, our report from the opener of the RideLondon Classique, the action from the fourth stage of the Thüringen Tour, and a report from the fourth stage of the Tour of Norway, too.

Meanwhile, here's Bouwman celebrating a stage win at the 2022 Giro d'Italia once again.

And here's Carapaz in pink yet again. He'll be hoping to do this two more times on Saturday and Sunday to secure his second Giro d'Italia title.

We'll have news and reaction from Richard Carapaz, Juan Pedro López, and Jai Hindley today, as well as stage winner Koen Bouwman and the two men involved in that final corner spat – Mauro Schmid and Andrea Vendrame. 

We'll also have a preview of tomorrow's final mountain stage, which visits the Dolomites, taking the peloton over the Passo San Pellegrino, Passo Pordoi, and Passo Fedaia. There's also our rider of the day selection to come, too.

The biggest change anywhere near the top of the GC standings today was Thymen Arensman dropping from 13th overall to 19th after losing 26:30 on the stage.

Meanwhile, in a fight for 10th place, Alejandro Valverde has fallen from 46 seconds down on Hugh Carthy to 1:01 down. Time gaps inside the top 10 remain largely the same, though everything could change on a brutal stage tomorrow...

Here's our reaction from Schmid and Vendrame on that final corner mess.

"In my opinion it was not a fair sprint, it was pretty clear, my handlebars are still in front and he nearly crashed in the last corner," Schmid said, accusing Bouwman after the stage. "He just knows he's slower in the sprint and he just pushed me away. You'll see when you watch the last 100-200m. I could do nothing."

Earlier on today we published an interview with Giro director Mauro Vegni, who – the  day the race visited Slovenia – said that he hopes Tadej Pogačar will take on the race next year.

"He's going for the Tour de France for a third time this year and then will perhaps ride the Vuelta. I hope he shows a little respect for the Giro d'Italia in the future," Vegni told Cyclingnews.

Jai Hindley: It didn't work out the way we wanted on stage 19 of Giro d'Italia

Bora-Hansgrohe's Kolovrat forcing couldn't break race open for Australian

That's all from me on the live coverage of today's Giro d'Italia stage.

Keep an eye out for more news and reaction from stage 19 this evening, including our rider of the day. 

Come back tomorrow and Sunday, too, for more live coverage of the final two stages of the Giro d'Italia!