Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia!
A look at the stage profile today.
And the map of the stage.
And here's all the information on the day's climbs.
Thursday's stage 18 saw the breakaway triumph with Nico Denz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) soloing to a third career GIro victory as the GC men had a day off.
Isaac del Toro continues in the GC lead at the start of today's stage, leading Richard Carapaz by 41 seconds and Simon Yates by 51 seconds.
The first of the day’s five climbs begins only a few kilometres into the stage, so the touchpaper will be lit almost immediately as riders race to get into the day’s break - not just those looking for a stage, but GC teams trying to get satellite riders up the road.
Del Toro was superb two days ago, bouncing back to attack and win the stage having wisely avoided going into the red after being dropped on the Mortirolo. But we’re in the high mountains today, with five big, long climbs, the kind of which have exposed some weakness so far at the Giro. Holding on to his slender lead at the top of the classification is a big ask.
The riders have been counted down by the crowd, and are off from the unofficial start.
Richard Carapaz has looked like the strongest climber on the big mountains so far at this Giro, gaining time over everyone on the mountain top finish at the start of this final week, and exploding the race two days later on the Mortirolo. Could this be the day he gains the 41 seconds he needs to take the pink jersey from Del Toro?
The other rider in play for the pink jersey is Simon Yates. He hasn’t been quite as explosive as Carapaz, or as eye-catching as Del Toro, but has ridden carefully and cleverly enough to keep himself within just 51 seconds of pink. He’s been defensive so far, but wants to win this race, and today and tomorrow are when he can expect him to make his move.
Simon Yates has swapped his bike for another due to a problem with his chain. There are 2km to go until the official start.
OFFICIAL START
There have been no attacks yet. It seems riders are waiting for the road to go uphill, after this short downhill start, to make their moves.
Wout van Aert hasn't waited - he becomes the first rider to make an attack.
CROCE SERRA
Van Aert's been caught and passed on the lower slopes of the climb, with Georg Steinhauser, Nicolas Prodhomme and Jan Tratnik attacking to form a lead group.
Two riders are bridging up to those three leaders, and a chase group of about 20 have formed behind them.
160KM TO GO
Tratnik has dropped out of the lead group and into the large group of chasers.
The four leaders have a gap over the chase group of over ten seconds.
The presence of Steinhauser and Lemmen in the break give Carapaz and Yates respectively satellite riders up the road.
Among the riders in the chase group is McNulty, Bardet, Arensman, Fortunato and Pidcock.
That chase group is splitting, and the peloton is only seconds behind.
Scaroni and Verona have attacked out of the chase group.
The leading quartet are 30 seconds ahead of the peloton, with chasers in between.
The chase group in between the leaders and the peloton has changed some personnel, with Pedersen and Tiberi present. Verona, Scaroni and McNulty are still there.
Cattaneo leads the break over the to of the climb. Nobody sprinter for the KOM points, with none of the riders here in contention for it.
150KM TO GO
It seems the chase group has been caught by the peloton, and we now have a sole pursuer trying to bridge up to the leading four on the descent - Alessandro Tonelli.
140KM TO GO
Tonelli has been brought back by the peloton, which was led by Mads Pedersen on the lower slopes of the descent.
Attacks have come thick and fast since the peloton reached the bottom of the descent, but so far nothing has stuck. The leaders are 40 seconds further up the road.
130KM TO GO
Steinhauser leads the riders over the intermediate sprint, with none of them contesting it.
Behind, Pedersen comes out of the peloton to take fifth at the line. That means the Dane's lead in the points classification is now mathematically impossible for anyone to bridge - all he has to do is make it to Rome and the maglia ciclamino is his.
Still with energy to burn it seems, Pedersen has pressed on after claiming those points with Orluis Aular, and are several seconds ahead of the peloton.
About 7 more riders have joined Pedersen and Aular.
Here is the updated points classification. Pedersen's lead is indeed huge, with more than twice as many points as the next best rider:
We now have a group of about 15 riders out the front of the peloton, with Pedersen not among them having dropped back.
There's another large group behind this 15-man chase group.
This second chase group has about 15 riders in it, asnd is being led by Pedersen.
120KM TO GO
For the first time the peloton are showing signs of calming down, with the pace knocked off. The leaders’ advantage over the peloton has consequently grown to 1:10.
Some riders in the first chase group: Tiberi, Martínez, Arensman, Harper, Bardet, Van Aert.
The two chase groups have come together.
This chase group is now only 15 seconds behind the four leaders, and about a minute ahead of the peloton.
COL TZECORE
The four leads have allowed themselves to be caught by the chase group, to form a new lead group of 33 riders. They are 1:16 ahead of the peloton.
There are plenty of quality climbers in this lead group: Tiberi, Bilbao, Arensman, Gaudu, Bardet, Harper, and stage winners Verona and Scaroni.
Tiberi is the highest placed rider on GC in the lead group, in 15th at 14:48.
The indefatigable Mads Pedersen is in the lead group, and is setting the pace.
Bardet has a bike change. He'll need to work his way back into the lead group.
The peloton hasn’t sat up yet. Meintjes and Tonelli have attacked out of it to try and join the breakaway.
Heavier riders like Affini and Groves have been dropped out of the breakaway group since the climb began.
Visma have two satellite riders in the breakaway group for Simon Yates in Leemen and Van Aert, while EF also have two for Carapaz in Rafferty and Steinhauser.
110KM TO GO
Pedersen has been dropped out of the breakaway group.
Actually, Pedersen is just about hanging on at the back.
Despite being one of the best climbers on paper, Arensman is struggling to hang on at the back of the lead group. He’s been struggling all week and still doesn’t seem to have recovered.
The break is really growing an advantage now. The peloton is nearly 2:30 adrift as they continue the climb.
Pidcock had a bike change, but is back in the peloton now.
Bardet still isn’t happy. He’s stopped to have another bike change.
Wout van Aert is being dropped out of the breakaway group. That's a surprise, as the pace has been steady and the group has mostly remained together these past few kilometres. The Belgian might not be as much use for Yates today as Visma-Lease a Bike hoped.
EF are setting the pace at the front of the breakaway group, with Steinhauser and Rafferty.
Pidcock is being dropped out of the peloton. That's bad news, as there's a very long way to go to the finish, and the pace in the peloton isn't even high yet. Any hopes he had of rising from his current position of 13th into the top ten seem to be about to disappear.
100KM TO GO
Scaroni has jumped out of the lead group as they near the top of the climb. He's presumably seeking the KOM points on behalf of Astana teammate Fortunato.
Scaroni takes the KOM points at the top, solidifying his second-place on the classification - but still a long way away from teammate Fortunato, who is close to mathematically sealing the jersey.
Here’s the updated KOM rankings:
90KM TO GO
There are about 25 currently in the lead group. Some riders dropped are trying to make their way back, including Van Aert.
80KM TO GO
They’re nearing the start of the next climb, Saint-Pantaléon. Lasting 16.5km and averaging 7.2%, it’s another very hard one, and is rated category one.
SAINT-PANTALEON
There are some new teams taking over from UAE at the front of the peloton - Red Bull, and Tudor. They might want to bring the break back for their respective climbers, Pellizzari and Storer.
The pace is up in the break on the climb, and riders are being dropped - Gaudu, Scaroni, Konrad and Cepeda have all gone.
Marcellusi is the rider setting the pace in the break.
70KM TO GO
This is getting interesting. EF Education-EasyPost have joined Red Bull in the pace-setting, with Owain Doull - part one of Carapaz assault on the pink jersey today.
It’s short-lived, however - Doull swings off, and Red Bull take over again with Tratnik.
The break’s lead is plummeting now, down to 2:40. Their chances of survival is diminishing by the moment.
Four riders have gone clear from the rest of the break, Harper leading them.
Eight riders have bridged up to that quartet.
Tiberi, Bilbao, Verona, Meintjes, Steinhauser are some of the riders in that lead group. Bardet was there, but being dropped again.
One factor that appears to be having a significant impact on the racing today is the heat. Temperatures are up to about 30 degrees, and the discomfort is apparent as Bardet tries to cool himself.
Harper attacks out of the lead group.
Tiberi, Prodhomme, Verona, Steinhauser, Meintjes, Lemmen and Arrieta have joined Harper.
Back in the peloton, EF are back on the front with Rafferty, who dropped back from the breakaway.
Verona is the latest to attack the front group, having joined up to them.
Bilbao is back in the lead group and setting the pace.
Bilbao has just 8 riders with him - teammate Tiberi, plus Prodhomme, Steinhauser, Lemmen, Arrieta, Harper, Verona and Meintjes.
Back in the peloton, Rafferty is done, and Red Bull have taken over again.
Now other GC teams have taken over at the front of the peloton - Yates’ Visma and Gee’s IPT.
Steinhauser has been dropped out of the lead group.
Nick Schultz has upped the pace in the peloton. The team are setting something up for Derek Gee, who is in the mix for the podium in fourth overall at 1:57 - and possibly even more.
Poole (11th on GC) has been dropped out of the peloton as a result of this acceleration.
Visma's Kruijswijk is leading the peloton, which is now down to less than 20 riders.
60KM TO GO
Harper's dropped out of the lead group, seemingly suffering from cramp. That's another risk in this heat.
All of the top ten on GC are still in the pink jersey group.
The break is breaking up. Verona, Tiberi, Arrieta and Prodhomme are clear of the rest.
Bilbao, Lemmen and Meintjes are closing in on them again.
Prodhomme attacks from the break, a few hundred metres from the top of the climb.
Prodhomme reaches the top first, followed by Verona on his wheel. Arrieta and Tiberi are a few seconds behind.
Afonso Eulálio has abandoned the race.
The peloton reach the top of the climb, just over 2 minutes from the leaders.
50KM TO GO
Fortunato is now mathematically secure at the top of the KOM rankings! All he has to do now is make it to Rome and the blue jersey is his.
We’re nearing the start of the day’s penultimate climb, Col de Joux. Whereas the final climb is only category three, Col de Joux is comparable hard to the previous two, lasting 15.3km at 6.9%. This, therefore, is where we expect the GC moves to be made. The race is soon to burst into life.
A major factor today in the race for the pink jersey will be who from Del Toro, Carapaz and Yates handles the heat the best. That’s the main variable between today's stage and the previous days in the high mountains.
40KM TO GO
Tiberi and Verona have slipped clear from the rest of the break as they approach the start of the climb.
They've been joined by Prodhomme.
COL DE JOUX
Prodhomme is trying to drop the other two with attacks on the lower slopes, but hasn't succeeded.
The peloton is on the climb, being led by Visma's Kruijswijk.
Bilbao, Lemmen, Arrieta and Meintjes are the four-man chase group behind the leading trio.
EF are contributing with Visma at the front of the peloton, with their sole remaining domestique in the group, Steinhauser.
Marco Brenner has abandoned the race.
Poole had rejoined the peloton on the descent, but is being dropped again, seemingly suffering in the heat.
Steinhauser is done. That leaves Kruijswijk and Kelderman to lead the peloton for Visma.
Kruijswijk is also done. Kelderman takes over.
Back up ahead, Prpdhomme has attacked again, but still can't shed Tiberi and Verona.
Adam Yates is dropped out of the peloton, the first of the GC top ten to do so.
Tiberi is being distenced by Verona and Prodhomme.
30KM TO GO
The peloton is just 1:35 behind the leaders.
Tiberi is back with the 2 leaders.
There are about 16 riders left in the peloton. Still no signs of any attacks just yet.
Kelderman is done, leaving it to Lemmen to do the work. And he's still got gas left in the tank, despite being in the break all day.
Prodhomme attacks yet again, and this time has more of a gap.
Prodhomme has gone clear. He’s 16 seconds ahead of the other two already.
The problem for Prodhomme is, the peloton is now just 1:10 behind him.
Lemmen has finished, and now UAE take over at the front. They sill have McNulty, Majka and Arrieta to protect Del Toro.
Having done so much work on the climb, we can expect an attack from either Carapaz or Yates at some point - provided they have the legs.
Verona has dropped Tiberi, but is a whole minute behind Prodhomme.
Verona and Tiberi are both about to be caught by the peloton.
Just as that catch was being made, Giulio Pellizzari made a tentative attack.
Arrieta is finished, leaving Majka and McNulty as Del Toro's final two domestiques. They're still over 5km from the summit.
There are eleven riders in the peloton - all of the top ten on GC (minus Adam Yates), plus Del Toro’s teammates Majka and McNulty.
Tiberi is also still in the peloton, holding on having been caught.
Prodhomme has 2km left to ride to the summit, and still has a lead of 1:13 over the peloton. He's capitalising on the lack of any GC action so far.
Prodhomme comes ever closer to the top, now just 1km away.
CARAPAZ
Both Yates and Del Toro respond to it.
It wasn't as explosive as an attack as Carapaz's from previous stages.
Gee, Caruso, Tiberi and Majka have joined Del Toro, Yates and Carapaz.
Giulio Pellizzari tries an attack, but Majka covers it and leads the pink jersey group over the top of the climb.
That's mission accomplished so far for UAE and Del Toro. There's one more 9.5km climb to come, but it's much shallower at only 4.7%, and therefore more in Del Toro's comofort zone.
Meanwhile, though Prodhomme's lead came down a bit in that flurry of activity, it still stands at 50 seconds.
This one’s only a short descent - they will be climbing again soon.
Prodhomme’s lead has grown again, back up to one minute. Whether or not he survives to win the stage may depend on whether or not the GC riders attack each other.
All of the GC top ten (apart from Adam Yates) are in the pink jersey group as they descend towards the bottom of the final climb.
ANTAGNOD
Del Toro still has Majka and McNulty leading him as they climb this final ascent of the day.
Still Prodhomme's lead grows, to over 1:30. He's looking good for the stage win at this rate.
10KM TO GO
CARAPAZ ATTACKS
Del Toro follows Carapaz, but Simon Yates doesn't.
Gee leads the chase behind, but there's daylight already between them.
Pellizzari attacks out of the chase group.
There are 20 seconds already between the Carapaz and Del Toro, and the rest.
Now Gee attacks in the chase group.
Gee is dragging the group back to the pink jersey. They're now only 13 seconds behind.
Carapaz is still setting a fierece pace, but hasn't attacked since his first move.
Meanwhile Prodhomme is about to reach the top of the climb, his lead only decreaed a little to 1 minute.
Del Toro is staying glued to Carapaz's wheel, not taking a turn.
Carapaz and Del Toro reach the top, 55 seconds after Prodhomme.
Now comes the chase group featuring Simon Yates and Gee, 30 seconds behind.
Prodhomme is descending with just 3km left to ride, still with a lead of 1 minute. The stage is surely his.
Tiberi is leading the chase, Caruso on his wheel. The Italian has done well to stay in this group, having been in the break all day.
Just 2km left for Prodhomme.
Tiberi's work is bringing back Del Toro and Carapaz, who are now just 20 seconds ahead.
PRODHOMME WINS
Here comes Del Toro and Carapaz, how much time are they going to gain?
They will also sprint for the share of bonus seconds.
Del Toro accelerates past Carapaz to take second-place.
The chase group featuring Simon Yates arrives, 22 seconds later.
Pellizzari crashed going around the final corner, but looks unhurt and gets up quickly. He has lost a few seconds though.
Storer was dropped from that group, and only arrives at the finish now. He loses a handful of seconds.
What a ride from Nicolas Prodhomme to win the stage. Whereas every other rider in the day’s break of over 30 riders was caught before even the final climb, he kept going, and ended up winning by almost a whole minute. Not only is that the biggest win of his career, it’s only the second of any kind.
The only real change in the GC is that Del Toro and Carapaz gain time over everyone else. That means the day’s big loser is Simon Yates, who slips from 51 seconds down to 1:21. It therefore feels more like a two horse race now than a three horse race, but Yates is still very much in it.
Simon Yates doesn’t look happy at the finish. In a post-race interview he said the plan for the stage today was “completely different to what we did,” and that they “need to review” what happened.”
The only change in the GC top ten in terms of position sees Adam Yates drop out of it, and Storer climb to 9th and McNulty to 10th.
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