"It's not been the easiest race for him": Jai Hindley appreciates Pellizzari's selfless sacrifice on stage 19

Since the battle for overall victory at the 2026 Giro d'Italia seems to be a one-sided competition, the sights of cycling fans turn towards the battle for remaining podium spots which is considerably more open with one big test left of this year's edition. Felix Gall seems comfortably in a second position, although his advantage is only one minute and the Austrian has to remain on guard with Jai Hindley ready to jump at any opportunity presented. And Thymen Arensman in fourth place has not given up yet either.

The nineteenth stage of this Giro ended up decided among escapees, but the general classification witnessed several changes too. The most important one has to be that third-placed Thymen Arensman was replaced by Jai Hindley who found a full minute on his rival on the slopes of Piani di Pezze.

"It was a tough day out. Really epic climbs and really proud of the way the boys rode," Hindley said after the line to Cycling Pro Net. "It was a pretty crazy day also tactically with some GC guys in the group."

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe were able to plant Giulio Pellizzari among the escapees. And the Italian later played a key role in Hindley's move up the ranking: "Our plan was to have Giulio in the break to go for the stage or if not, then try to help me at some point. Really big chapeau to him and how he rode today. It was some ride of him."

Prior to this year's Giro edition, Pellizzari was named by many the main challenger for Jonas Vingegaard in the absence of Joao Almeida or Richard Carapaz. However an illness in the race's second week took its toll on the young Italian who dropped out of the general classification completely after few nightmare days. But on Friday, it was once the again the Pellizzari who impressed at Tour of the Alps.

"It's really not taken for granted what he did today. I know it's not been the easiest race for him also mentally. But really grateful for what he's done and also the rest of the boys. We haven't had the smoothest Giro with quite some illness and whatnot. The guys have been incredible."

Unlike Hindley, Arensman couldn't have possibly been happy with the turn-out of stage 19. The Dutchman's half a minute advantage turned into a deficit, even though Netcompany INEOS spend multiple riders working to keep escapees at bay. And ultimately, that may have kept Derek Gee-West from coming closer to Arensman too.

"!It was pretty tough, for everyone," the Dutchman told Eurosport about this year's "queen stage".

"We had to go full throttle and that is what I did, to cycle uphill as fast as possible. Does disappointment prevail? The finish of this Giro isn't until Rome," he said defiantly. "I will keep fighting. Today (Friday) I did everything I could and I am proud of that. And I am even prouder of my team, because everyone went all out. I did my best."