An interesting battle for the day’s breakaway right after the start in Alessandria was the highlight of the day for a long time. Team Visma | Lease a Bike stayed in control at the front of the peloton alongside Team Bahrain Victorious, the team of pink jersey holder Afonso Eulálio. On the hot afternoon in Italy, the breakaway riders were allowed to build a lead of nearly twelve minutes.

It soon became clear that the fifteen-man breakaway would decide the winner of the thirteenth stage. The fight for victory unfolded on the two categorized climbs deep in the finale. Alberto Bettiol countered an attack by Andreas Leknessund and ultimately finished solo in Verbania. Moments later, Vingegaard and his six teammates all safely reached the finish. The Danish leader remains second overall, 33 seconds behind Eulálio.

“It was an easier day than yesterday”, Vingegaard says afterward. “Most of the stage was flat. We came through the climb at the end without any problems, and we handled that well as a team. I’m very satisfied with today and really looking forward to tomorrow.”

A spectacular day now awaits at the Giro d’Italia. The fourteenth stage features five categorized climbs, including the uphill finish in Pila. “We’re going to do everything we can to take the pink jersey tomorrow. That would obviously be a huge honor. It’s nice that we’ll be climbing again, although it’s definitely going to be a tough day”, the Dane predicts.