Andrea Vendrame emerged victorious in stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia, covering 157 km from Mortegliano to Sappada. He made a decisive break from the leading group, riding solo for the final 30 km and securing a second stage win for his team, Decathlon–AG2R. With deteriorating weather and onset of rain, Vendrame displayed courage by breaking away during the descent, distancing himself from the chasing pack. The 29-year-old, whose previous Giro stage win dates back to 2021, triumphantly crossed the finish line with one arm raised in the air. Pelayo Sanchez clinched second place, nearly a minute behind, while stage 17 winner Georg Steinhauser settled for third. The peloton reached the finish almost 16 minutes after Vendrame.
Vendrame expressed, "I had been targeting this stage since the commencement of the Giro. It was crucial to join the breakaway and I endeavored to conserve energy throughout the day. I launched an attack during the descent, took a risk, noticed the substantial lead, and maintained the pressure. This victory holds special significance for me as it occurred close to my home."
Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates retained the maglia rosa jersey, maintaining a lead of seven minutes and 42 seconds over Daniel Felipe Martinez, despite encountering a puncture. Geraint Thomas occupied the third position and although he surpassed the maglia rosa group, he suffered a crash approximately six kilometers from the finish, necessitating a bike change. The group decelerated to facilitate the Welshman's reintegration.
Pogacar remarked, "The overall conduct during this Giro has been commendable in terms of mutual respect. This was evident today when Geraint Thomas crashed, prompting a collective desire to avoid recklessness. While it was not a favorable development for Thomas, it was a positive display for the sport. Having been aware for over 15 years that crashes can transpire at any moment, vigilance and anticipation of potential mishaps are imperative."
As a team, we experienced a relatively unchallenging day, allowing us to exert control over tomorrow's race from the outset and set a strong pace on the initial climb. Tomorrow presents the final opportunity for climbers to clinch a stage win."
Subject to unforeseen events, Pogacar is poised to effectively secure victory on Saturday through a grueling 184 km mountain stage from Alpago to Bassano del Grappa, preceding Sunday's ceremonial concluding stage in Rome.
