"For the win it's going to be all or nothing for Carapaz and Del Toro" - Johan Bruyneel's view on Finestre stage

Stage 20 will decide the Giro d'Italia 2025 with Isaac del Toro and Richard Carapaz in a handkerchief on a final double climb to Colle delle Finestre (18.3 km at 9%) and Sestrière (16.2 km at 5%). The two enter with only a small margin between each other, and the brutal Alpine ascent in the gravel is likely to be the final opportunity to make the difference.

Johan Bruyneel, on The Move podcast, commented that he believes it could be the toughest day of the entire race, and not just because of everything that's already built up, but because of the nature of the climb that could decide the pink:

"It might be the hardest stage of the Giro because of the nature of Colle delle Finestre, because it's half asphalt, half dirt, the last kilometers are gravel, it's going to be very hard. We don't know yet who is going to win the Giro, something that is is very good.

Only 43 seconds seconds separate the two, and in the last two mountain stages what we've seen was a stalemate, with Del Toro benefitting from strong team support, and then managing to match or even attack the Ecuadorian on the sharp climbs, descents and sprints. Bruyneel believes that behind, the fight will no longer be for victory.

"In my opinion it's a two-man race. I think we can safely say that Simon Yates doesn't have the legs to follow these guys, it's going to be a different climb today, longer, but he doesn't have the explosiveness to respond, it's already happened 2 times that he hasn't been able to. Derek Gee is probably going to be fourth in this Giro, I think Simon is going to be solid for third."

"For the win it's going to be all or nothing for Carapaz and Del Toro. Del Toro held off Carapaz's attacks very well with the strongest team by his side as the rest of the rivals were alone. It's 'The Stage' of the Giro. Most of the climbs of the day are in the last third of the stage, which makes it even more interesting. We'll see," the Belgian confirmed about the two favorites.

And although it sounds clear, the Belgian pundit makes it even more obvious that it is in the Finestre that the difference has to be done if Carapaz can, otherwise it will be virtually impossible to do the same on the final climb.

"Carapaz has to attack, he has to drop Del Toro, he has to get him to crack, which is very possible on a climb like Finestre. The fact that the last part is gravel is basically every man for himself, the speed is less and being on the wheel is no longer an advantage, so everyone will have to fend for themselves."