As the 2025 Giro d’Italia enters its decisive mountain
double-header, Derek Gee is approaching the next two stages with equal parts
optimism and apprehension. The Canadian has been one of the most consistent performers of
the race so far, climbing into contention for a top-five finish, and now faces
the biggest test yet of his Grand Tour credentials.
“Today will definitely be an interesting stage,” Gee said to
Cycling Pro Net ahead of Stage 19. “Tomorrow the climb is so hard that I think
if teams want to do something, today is the last day to do it… once you hit
Finestre then it’s just man against man.”
It’s a fair assessment. Saturday’s Stage 20 is built around
the legendary Colle delle Finestre, a 20-kilometre monster with gravel roads,
relentless gradients, and a reputation for turning GC standings upside down (just
ask Simon Yates). But for now, Gee is focused on the task at hand: surviving
what he suspects could be a tactical and unpredictable penultimate mountain
stage.
Though he's only in his second Giro, the Canadian has
already become known for his superb endurance, and finished in the top ten at
last year’s Tour de France. Asked how well he knows the climbs, Gee was
refreshingly honest. “Not at all,” he admitted, before adding, “Of course, I’ve
done my research, watched videos of it, seen it on Veloviewer, but I’ve never
done them.”
There’s vulnerability in that admission, but also a silver
lining. “There’s positives and negatives,” he said. “The negatives
obviously, you don’t know the climb as well. The positives, you don’t know the
climb as well, so I don’t have to think about how much it’s going to hurt.”
It’s this light-hearted outlook that has endeared Gee to
fans, ever since his heroics at the 2023 Giro, where he finished second on four
stages and lit up the race throughout. This time around, he’s swapped
near-misses for consistent GC riding, quietly climbing the standings and
staying with some of the sport’s most exciting riders, like Isaac del Toro and
Richard Carapaz.
As for how he studies the route? Gee is methodical. “I’m
looking at where the steep gradients are, the layout of the climb, whether it
flattens off or gets harder towards the finish,” he explained. “The descents
especially, whether it’s key to be as high up in the field as possible, whether
you have to make an effort over the top. All that kind of stuff. It adds up.
It’s not usually the decisive factor, but it just adds up over a stage.”
What could complicate things even further is the heat, which
the riders won’t be used too given the rain of the previous few days. With
temperatures climbing in the valleys, some riders could wilt long before the
road rises. “That obviously is just another unknown,” Gee said. “Hopefully it’s
not too bad because we are going up a decent amount of mountains. The valleys
will be scorching, but at least we won’t spend too much time in those.”
He’s also relieved to be leaving behind the terrain that
gave him the most trouble. “I’m definitely looking forward to the longer climbs
more,” he said. “Getting through the punchy stuff was a bit of a relief for me.
Hopefully these last few days suit me a little better.”
Gee knows that nothing is guaranteed. The Giro has already
produced plenty of shocks, with pre-race favourites Primoz Roglic and Juan
Ayuso both having to abandon. Currently, Del Toro, Carapaz and Yates make up
the podium, but can Gee get in the mix?
“It’s been insane since the start,” Gee said. “We’ve seen
both good and bad all race. Anything’s possible.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
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