Richard Carapaz claimed a stunning solo victory on stage 11 of the Giro d’Italia, riding away in the final nine kilometres to secure his fourth career stage win in the prestigious race. Despite the fierce challenge from the overall leader, Isaac del Toro, Carapaz crossed the finish line 10 seconds ahead, while Del Toro managed to hold on to the coveted pink jersey, extending his lead in the general classification.
The demanding 186-kilometre stage took the riders from Viareggio to Castelnovo ne’ Monti, featuring one of the toughest sections of this year’s Giro: the brutal 13.7-kilometre ascent of Alpe San Pellegrino. This mountainous terrain proved to be the decisive battleground where Carapaz, a former Olympic champion and the 2019 Giro winner, demonstrated his climbing prowess. Despite a less-than-ideal performance in the time trial the day before where he finished almost three minutes behind the fastest rider Carapaz saved his energy for the mountains, where he clearly excelled.
The race dynamics shifted dramatically in the closing kilometres. With around 15 kilometres remaining, a breakaway group held a lead close to a minute. Carapaz, however, launched a perfectly timed attack from the peloton, gradually reeling in the escapees. With nine kilometres left, he overtook the breakaway and powered forward alone, maintaining a strong pace that the chasers couldn’t match. In the final kilometre, Carapaz opened a gap of 18 seconds, crossing the line with a confident solo finish.
Isaac del Toro, while unable to match Carapaz’s surge, rode a strong race and managed to finish second in a sprint against his rivals. His performance was enough to keep him firmly in the overall lead, increasing his advantage by six seconds. Behind him, Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek rounded out the podium with a solid third place.
Del Toro’s teammate Juan Ayuso continued to impress as well, finishing second overall in the general classification. Ayuso remains 31 seconds behind Del Toro, showing consistency and strength as the race progresses. Another key contender, Antonio Tiberi of Bahrain Victorious, sits more than a minute back, while Lorenzo Fortunato of XDS-Astana continues to dominate the mountain classification. Fortunato collected maximum points on two of the three categorised climbs during the stage, extending his lead in the blue jersey competition to 102 points.
Carapaz’s victory on stage 11 not only earned him a prestigious win but also propelled him up the general classification from ninth to sixth place. Now sitting just under two minutes behind Del Toro, the Ecuadorean remains a serious threat in the overall race. With a renewed sense of purpose and confidence, Carapaz declared his intent to continue fighting for the Giro title until the final day in Rome.
“This stage was really tough, with many riders struggling on the first climb,” Carapaz said after the finish. “I felt strong and waited for the right moment to attack. I wasn’t disappointed with my time trial yesterday because I know that’s not my specialty. I saved as much energy as possible for today. Winning here is something very special and emotional because it comes after a lot of hard work. I wanted to make my family and friends proud.”
Looking ahead, the race moves on to stage 12, a flat 172-kilometre route from Modena to Viadana. This stage will likely favor the sprinters and could offer teams a chance to regroup after the mountain battles. However, with the general classification contenders closely matched and several challenging stages still to come, the battle for the pink jersey remains wide open.
Carapaz’s performance has injected fresh excitement into the Giro, signaling that the fight for victory is far from over. With experienced riders like Del Toro and Ayuso in the mix, fans can expect intense competition in the coming stages. The mountainous terrain, time trials, and tactical nuances will continue to test the riders’ endurance, strength, and strategic thinking as the race heads toward its climax in the Italian capital.
