This Giro d’Italia has seen big names in trouble—and, even more interestingly, we’ve seen how they’ve reacted. Some have risen with the spirit of a fighter, like Egan Bernal—making a return to top form after his serious accident. Others, like Roglič, simply didn’t have the legs and responded in a flat, uninspired way—not up to the level of the champion he is. And then there’s someone very young, who reacted like a real champion and showed everyone how it’s done: the maglia rosa, Del Toro.
The Giro is far from over. And if yesterday the leader looked like he was in deep crisis, today he responded in a way that weighs heavily. Weighs on the legs, yes—but even more so in the minds of his rivals. Crashing can happen to anyone, but getting up right away, with class and personality—that’s something only a true champion can do.
The only one who truly managed to challenge him today was Carapaz. The eternal Carapaz. A rider who, in terms of characteristics, is very similar to the Mexican from UAE: explosive, lethal on short climbs and punchy finishes. Much like the great absentee of this Giro, Pogacar. Meanwhile, Yates, more of a steady rider, paid the price in the final stretch toward Bormio—twisty, nervous, full of curves and accelerations.
But, as mentioned, the Giro is far from over. And Carapaz is not the kind of rider to be intimidated. He’ll attack again—that’s almost a certainty. Also because, despite his show today, Del Toro still has something to prove on the longer climbs. On the Tonale and the Mortirolo, he rode more defensively. And on the horizon looms the Colle delle Finestre—a real climb, one of those that show no mercy.
It’s hard to make predictions, but one thing is certain: everything is still wide open.
Also because the riders have spent a lot. You can tell by their pedaling: standing up on the pedals, constantly pushing, no holding back. If it used to be just Majka or the Yates brothers standing for long stretches, now many are doing it. Starting with Lorenzo Fortunato, who practically never uses his saddle. Sure, it’s partly a matter of style, influenced by the rider’s physique. But it’s also a clear sign: the short and medium climbs are being tackled full gas. Always. And that means only one thing: in the final days, residual energy will matter. Whoever managed their efforts best could hold the key to flipping the race on its head.
