PREVIEW | Giro d'Italia 2024 stage 19 - Will Tadej Pogacar want to spoil the fun on expected breakaway day?
Cycling
Stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia is a day in the Alps, but not one that features high mountains. A day for a breakaway most likely, to be fought between climbers and classics specialist, that is if Tadej Pogacar doesn't want to spoil the fun. We preview an exciting day of racing.
Stage 19 is a mixed day. Most likely to the breakaway opportunists, it lacks serious climbing to make difference among the big GC riders. However, the combination of three climbs before the finish in Sappada will ensure that this remains a day for the climbers.
Stage 19: Mortegliano - Sappada, 164 kilometers
However, many will be thankful that the first half of the stage is flat. The pace isn't expected to be crazy over the first hours of the race, allowing the riders to recover a bit from a very hard race. However in the second half of the day things get serious when it comes to deciding the outcome of the day.
The Passo Duron is the toughest climb of the day; 4.4Km at 9.6%... But it ends with 52 kilometers to go. Perhaps too early to go all-in for the stage contenders, both in the head of the race and peloton. It will split the race with no doubt. A quick descent then leads the riders into the Sella Valcalda which is 8.9Km at 3.7%, summitting with 35Km to go. A fast descent and then a gradual rise into the final climb follow.
This will all lead to the Cima Sappada, which is 8.5Km long at 4.7%, a climb of two halves but the final 2.8Km average 8.5%. This can create differences, meaningful ones, and the stage should be decided here. If not, there are still 6 kilometers to the finish - mostly flat - where riders can unite or be caught before what could be a flat sprint.
Cima Sappada: 8.5Km; 4.7%; 6Km to go
The Weather
Map Giro d'Italia 2024 stage 19
Perhaps the rain will not fall early in the day, but it will definitely come sooner or later. Most likely, later... The riders head into the mountains and once again find difficult weather that will make life quite hard in the peloton.
The Favourites
Tadej Pogacar - The daily and same old question. But the answer is no, I do not expect Pogacar to attack at any point or specially UAE working to try and control the breakaway. No rider threatens him, stage wins aplenty and the race lead is more than comfortable. Just a day to tick off for the race leader, who should have no problem with a breakaway taking the glory on the day.
GC Fight - Directly, I do not expect any meaningful differences on the day. Although rain will be present and we are inside the final week, the finale of the stage is not too hard and certainly the climbers will be eyeing stage 20 which does have the potential to make massive differences.
Daniel Martínez leads Geraint Thomas by 20 seconds... I don't expect either to try and do something. Ben O'Connor has 42 seconds on Antonio Tiberi and Bahrain may try something if O'Connor's illness gets worst. He and Thymen Arensman are ready to seize the occasion. DSM and Movistar, teams of Romain Bardet and Einer Rubio who are 7th and 8th at the moment, showed intent on the past two stages to make something happen. This flat start doesn't allow for early moves, but if they can get riders in the breakaway I wouldn't exclude the chance of attacks specially from Bardet who has little to lose in this position.
Simultaneously, the lack of expectation that this day can blow up can be used to try and surprise... Also, this will motivate riders outside the Top10 to try and benefit, make the jump. Michael Storer and Davide Piganzoli specially, the only ones who can realistically get away and also get in there - I wouldn't expect lightweight Lorenzo Fortunato who is also down to just three teammates.
The stage win is likely among those who manage to join the breakaway. A difficult task for lightweight riders to do on such a flat start... They can attack on the first main climb of the day which is very hard, but it's also quite late in the day.
Still we can expect the likes of of some pure climbers to give it a shot, although they realistically hold better chances on Saturday's stage. This does feature Nairo Quintana, Damiano Caruso, Valentin Paret-Peintre... But you never know if you are in that front group.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, we have a few puncheurs or classics riders who will hope the climbs aren't raced full out, or that they can tactically outsmart the rest with well timed attacks. Julian Alaphilippe will certainly try, but we've also got the likes of Aurélien Paret-Peintre, Nicola Conci, Mauri Vansevenant, Jan Tratnik, Pelayo Sánchez, Gijs Leemrize, Marco Frigo, Alessandro De Marchi, Ewen Costiou, Lilian Calmejane and who knows INEOS duo Jhonatan Narváez and Filippo Ganna (or even Magnus Sheffield finally) who may get the freedom to chase the stage win as in the peloton not many fireworks are expected.
We've got a few riders in the 'middle' who may in fact be the best suited to this day. Strong climbers, who are in good form and can do the short climbs quite well. They will still need to make the effort early in the day however and be in the right move... But you can't count out stage 17 Georg Steinhauser or KOM lead chaser Giulio Pellizzari... Or the likes of Attila Valter, Kevin Vermaerke and Amanuel Ghebregzabhier.
Prediction Giro d'italia 2024 stage 19:
*** Jan Tratnik, Jhonatan Narváez, Georg Steinhauser
** Tadej Pogacar, Julian Alaphilippe, Giulio Pellizzari
* Romain Bardet, Michael Storer, Nairo Quintana, Damiano Caruso, Nicola Conci, Pelayo Sánchez, Alessandro de Marchi, Ewen Costiou, Attila Valter
** Tadej Pogacar, Julian Alaphilippe, Giulio Pellizzari
* Romain Bardet, Michael Storer, Nairo Quintana, Damiano Caruso, Nicola Conci, Pelayo Sánchez, Alessandro de Marchi, Ewen Costiou, Attila Valter
Pick: Jan Tratnik
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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Regione Piemonte will host the Grande Partenza of the Giro d'Italia 2024! Opening stage on 4 May with start in Venaria Reale. La Regione Piemonte ospiterà la Grande Partenza 2024! Si parte il 4 maggio da Venaria Reale. 👇Thread 👇 #Giroditalia #GrandePartenza @regionepiemonte
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