'I just don't want to suffer too much' says maglia rosa as Richard Carapaz and Simon Yates are expected to attack on stage 19 to Champoluc and stage 20 on the Colle delle Finestre
Simon Yates, Isaac Del Toro and Richard Carapaz at the 2025 Giro d'Italia(Image credit: Getty Images)
Isaac del Toro enjoyed a day of 'no stress' and steady riding to Cesano Maderno but knows his maglia rosa and narrow lead will surely come under attack on stage 19, high into the Alps of the Valle d'Aosta, and again on stage 20 that climbs the Colle delle Finestre dirt roads on the way to Sestriere at the Giro d'Italia.
"We're all waiting for Friday and Saturday," Del Toro admitted after finishing in the peloton after the long, hot ride south to the northern outskirts of Milan.
"I honestly don't know what will happen in the final mountain stages. We've just got to be ready. I don't know which will be the hardest stage. I just don't want to suffer too much."
Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) are both dangerous, almost uncontrollable rivals for Del Toro, with Canada's Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) also a threat due to his recent strong and consistent performance on the longer climbs.
This year's Giro has taught us that anything can happen, that anyone can have a bad day or crash, and so suddenly see their GC hopes crumble. Yet an attack or moment of brilliance can also elevate a rider into the fight for the podium and even the maglia rosa.
Incredibly, after 18 stages of racing, of fighting for bonus seconds, of wet stages and multiple crashes, time gains in time trials and sudden time losses and painful abandons, the fight for the podium is still within a minute.
Carapaz is only 41 seconds behind Del Toro, with Yates at 51 seconds. Just the bonus seconds up for grabs during the two mountain stages could cut the gap in half, and a well-timed attack could dethrone Del Toro and upend the GC.
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If Carapaz can produce an attack like the one that gave him the stage victory in Castelnovo ne' Monti on stage 11, he could set up his second Giro victory, six years after taking the final pink jersey in Verona.
Stage 19 is only 166km long but includes no less than 4,950 metres of elevation gain across five big categorised climbs. Only stages 16 and 20 also have a five-star grading by race organisers RCS Sport.
The Croce Serra climb starts after just 3.7km and will surely spark the attacks for the early breakaway. It is 11.3km long at 4.6%, perfect for satellite riders to go up the road to be there for their team leaders later in the day.
A descent and valley road leads to the first category Col Tzecore (16km long, with an average of 7.7% and a steepest part at 15%). It is the first of three climbers over 15km long. It will surely reveal the first weaknesses amongst the GC riders and indicate if UAE Team Emirates-XRG will try to control the race or let a breakaway take the daily honours. Whatever happens, the UAE team, even without Jay Vine and Juan Ayuso, will be vital to Del Toro's maglia defence.
A 25km descent off the Col Tzecore and a short valley ride takes the riders to the foot of the feared Col de Saint-Pantaléon. It is another category climb, 16.5km long with an average gradient of 7.2%. From the top of the Pantaléon, there is another twisting descent towards Saint-Vincent for the grand finale of the stage.
The double whammy of the last 35km includes the 15km Col de Joux and then, after a short descent, the second category Antagnod climb, which lasts 9.5km at an easier 4.5%.
The finish in Champoluc and perhaps Giro d'Italia glory is just a short descent away.
"We are looking forward to two very big days in the mountains," Carapaz said in a rare moment of conversation before stage 18.
Yates and Carapaz have played a tactical waiting game, letting Del Toro hog the spotlight and carry the burden of the maglia rosa. They hope the maglia rosa has become heavy with expectation and pressure.
Yates races bikes like a chess master. He is perhaps waiting for stage 20 to Sestriere, knowing that victory that day could see him take revenge for his cruel defeat in 2018, when Froome attacked him on the Colle delle Finestre to snatch the maglia rosa as Yates struggled with illness.
"All my rivals are really strong and riding smart tactically," Del Toro admitted, aware that the next two days of the Giro could change his career and his life.
"Friday's stage is a hard day. I'd be happy just to be in the front. We don't need to control everything. I can't predict the future, but if I can be with the GC riders, I'll be happy enough."
"My rivals might attack on every climb, that wouldn't be a surprise. I hope to be mentally and physically ready."
Climbs
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Stage 19 profile for 2025 Giro d'Italia(Image credit: RCS Sport)
Stephen is one of the most experienced members of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. Before becoming Editor-at-large, he was Head of News at Cyclingnews. He has previously worked for Shift Active Media, Reuters and Cycling Weekly. He is a member of the Board of the Association Internationale des Journalistes du Cyclisme (AIJC).
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