Date: Friday May 29
Distance: 151km
Start location: Feltre
Finish location: Alleghe (Piani di Pezzè)
Start time: 11:30 BST / 12:30 CEST / 06:30 EDT
Finish time (approx.): 16:12 BST / 17:12 CEST / 11:12 EDT
After three weeks of carnage crashes, gruelling summit finishes, and stinking heat, we’ve finally made it. Stage 19. The big one. The shark-toothed queen stage of this year’s Giro d'Italia drags the peloton over 5000 metres of climbing through the Dolomites from Feltre to Alleghe, reaching the highest point of this year’s race, Passo Giau, which soars 2,233 metres above sea level. A nervy opening 50 kilometres leads into the first of five brutal climbs: the Passo Duran (12.1 kilometres at 8.2%), Forcella Staulanza (in two parts: 5.8 kilometres at 9.7% and 6.3 kilometres at 6.7%), Passo Giau (9.9 kilometres at 9.3%), Passo Falzarego (10.1 kilometres at 5.6%) and the final climb to the Piani di Pezzè plateau (5 kilometres at 9.6%).
Giro d'Italia 2026 stage 19 profile
Contenders
Jonas Vingegaard is pretty in pink after dominating on the Carì climb of stage 16 to claim his fourth stage win and secure the general classification lead. The Dane has done exactly what was expected of him at this Giro, and the big question now is whether he’s keen to add another mountain finish to his tally. Victories on stages 19 and 20 would take the Visma rider to six stage wins, the same number scored by his eternal rival Tadej Pogačar during his own 2024 pink jersey campaign. At this point, it’s practically set that Vingegaard will don the maglia rosa in Rome, which is significant in the mind games between the two in their bid for yellow – but equalling the Slovenian’s stage wins could further unnerve his competitor.
Vingegaard is the favourite, but Felix Gall is next in line. The Austrian currently has 24 seconds over Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS), and has proved why he is one of the best climbers in the world by losing out only to Vingegaard on every decisive major summit finish so far. Arensman will be looking to leapfrog Gall into second, but it’s unlikely he’ll be able to keep up on these gradients.
If there’s one barometer of just how decisive the Giro’s later stages can be, it’s Jai Hindley’s 2022 Giro win. The Australian comes into his own in the backend of a Grand Tour, and, with only 33 seconds between him and a spot on the podium, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe will be on the offensive.
Last year’s fourth-place finisher Derek Gee-West (Lidl-Trek) also needs to make up time on this stage if he wants to go one better this time around, and the Canadian climbed well on the stage to Carì. Hot on his heels in the GC is Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling), who will be eager to improve on his 10th place finishes of 2024 and 2025.
Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain-Victorious) rode a dogged stage 18 to stay in contention for a top five finish, and shows no signs of letting up. Vingegaard’s lieutenant Davide Piganzoli is fancying his chances at the white jersey – he is currently 2:27 behind Eulálio.
Meanwhile, Ben O’Conner (Team Jayco-AlUla), will do his best to cling on in the final stages after slumping in the GC standings on stage 16.
Outside of the general classification, the Dolomites are for the pure climbers of the peloton to shoot their shot: look out for Einer Rubio (Movistar), Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek), and Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike).
Prediction
We think Jonas Vingegaard will climb to a fifth stage win on this year’s queen stage.
