Overall leader Jonas Vingegaard launched an attack during the tough final climb to clinch victory in Saturday’s stage 20 of the Giro d’Italia.
It ensures the 29-year-old from Denmark will win the race as long as he safely finishes Sunday’s final stage in Rome and become just the eighth man to complete the triple crown of road cycling’s three-week showpieces.
The two-time Tour de France winner, who also won last year’s Vuelta a Espana, is making his first appearance in the Giro and has won five stages of the race.
He started the penultimate stage covering 200km from Gemona del Friuli to Piancavallo four minutes three seconds ahead of second-placed Felix Gall of Austria in the general classification.
Vingegaard was happy to ride safely in the peloton for the first two-thirds of the stage between two Visma-Lease a Bike team-mates, before launching his attack in the final 10km.
Gall tried to chase him down during the attack, but the Dane pulled more than a minute ahead going into the final 5km to secure a sensational solo victory, one minute 15 seconds ahead of second-placed Gall with Australian rider Jai Hindley completing the podium.
“We went all-in for the stage,” said Vingegaard. “We decided to go for it – it was the last day in the mountains, so today everything would be decided.
“The boys did an amazing job again today. I had an amazing day also.
“To have won five stages here now and to have a solid lead going into tomorrow is special for me.”
Giro d’Italia stage 20 results
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Team Visma – Lease a Bike) 5hrs 03mins 55secs
2. Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon CMA CGM Team) +1min 15secs
3. Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull – BORA) same time
4. Derek Gee-West (Can/Lidl – Trek) same time
5. Thymen Arensman (Ned/Netcompany INEOS) +1min 19secs
6. Egan Bernal (Col/Netcompany INEOS) +1min 25secs
7. Afonso Eulalio (Por/Bahrain Victorious) +2mins 03secs
8. Damiano Caruso (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) +2mins 13secs
9. Michael Storer (Aus/Tudor Pro Cycling Team) same time
10. Davide Piganzoli (Ita/Team Visma – Lease a Bike) same time
Giro d’Italia general classification results after stage 20
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Team Visma – Lease a Bike) 80hrs 17mins 01secs
2. Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon CMA CGM Team) +5mins 22secs
3. Jai Hindley (Aus/Red Bull – BORA) +6mins 25secs
4. Thymen Arensman (Ned/Netcompany INEOS) +7mins 02secs
5. Derek Gee-West (Can/Lidl – Trek) +7mins 56secs
6. Afonso Eulalio (Por/Bahrain Victorious) +9mins 39secs
7. Michael Storer (Aus/Tudor Pro Cycling Team) +10mins 13secs
8. Davide Piganzoli (Ita/Team Visma – Lease a Bike) +10mins 52secs
9. Damiano Caruso (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) +11mins 24secs
10. Egan Bernal (Col/Netcompany INEOS) +12mins 54secs
