Derek Gee up to 4th on Giro d'Italia GC after monster stage 16: "But there’s still a long way to go"

With 16 stages down at the 2025 Giro d'Italia, Israel - Premier Tech's Derek Gee not only has the podium in his sights, but is still very much within touching distance of the Maglia Rosa. Thanks to a monstrous performance by the Canadian on stage 16, Gee is now up to 4th in the GC, just 1:31 down on race leader Isaac del Toro.

Finishing the stage 5th place, Gee gained time on all his general classification rivals bar Richard Carapaz on the Passo di San Valentino. "I’m really happy," a beaming Gee reflected in his post-stage press release to his team's official website. "This was the first really big test, so I’m glad the legs came through. I couldn’t follow Carapaz’s acceleration, so I just tried to ride my own pace to the top of the climb."

A highlight of Gee's breakthrough performance at the 2023 was the incredible powers of recovery the Canadian showed in the third week to consistently get into breakaway after breakaway and challenge for stage win after stage win. Whilst it's a different aim and a different racing plan this time around for the O Gran Camino winner, similar shows of strength in the third week of this Giro could help fire Gee to a first ever Grand Tour podium finish.

Gee himself though, isn't getting too carried away just yet. Instead, the Israel - Premier Tech leader remains keen to take the Giro d'Italia on a day-by-day basis. "I’m really happy with where I ended up, but there’s still a long way to go,” he concludes with caution. 

“Everyone has been saying for months that the final week of the Giro would be decisive. It was important to be patient and bide our time. We had some bad luck in the early part of the race, but ultimately it’s Derek’s legs that have put him in this position," Israel - Premier Tech sports director Sam Bewley adds. "There are still big mountain stages to come, so hopefully, things continue in this direction.”