Results Giro d'Abruzzo 2026 Stage 3 - Sprinters denied as Filippo D'Aiuto sensationally holds off peloton as lone survivor from early breakaway
CyclingThursday, 17 September 2026 at 15:13
Filippo D'Aiuto has won stage 3 of the Giro d'Abruzzo 2026. As the early breakaway's lone survivor dramatically, a bunch sprint was seemingly on the cards before the 24-year-old Italian sensationally held off the chase in a nerve-biting finale.
Thursday's stage 3 saw the peloton ride from Oricola to San Benedetto dei Marsi over 158 kilometres and a few rolling hills before and three laps of a local circuit that featured a small climb and a reasonably flat finish.
Alessandro Fancellu and Lennart Jasch won the opening two stages as the race features a mix of Pro teams and just one WorldTour team in Netcompany INEOS, making it a big opportunity for many to impress in the season's final phase.
Six riders bet on the breakaway
Several riders set out to do so in the day's main breakaway as six riders lasted at the front throughout the day. Jack Makohon, Failippo D'Ariuto, Omer Ramon, Michele Pascarella, Giacomo Garavaglia and Manuel Oiolo made a six-rider breakaway who built a strong gap throughout the stage.
But with INEOS controlling the pace in the bunch on the local circuit, the gap slowly started to come down, lying at over three minutes with 50 kilometres to go. But that gap shot down in the coming kilometres as it hit 1:30 with less than 35 kilometres to go.
Crosswinds in some sections didn't make it easy for the attackers, D'Aiuto and Oioli capitalised on hesitation within the break to break free and keep the pace high and forge a gap of 30 seconds on the rest of the break as they hit the final lap and just over 25 kilometres to go.
Netcompany INEOS
INEOS and Caja Rural press for bunch sprint
The moved proved the end for those four riders behind as the peloton reeled them in and the gap sunk to just over a minute with 20 kilometres to go. With INEOS working for Dorian Godon, Fernando Gaviria and Caja Rural fancied their chances as they sent a rider to the front to pace the bunch.
D'Aiuto was the strongest as he rode Oioli off his wheel with 13 kilometres to go, going solo over 30 seconds ahead of the bunch. There was certainly worries in the bunch as he held that gap at 37 seconds with less than eight to go.
Inevitably, the bunch continued to chase as D'Aiuto pushed hard, taking to the final three kilometres with 25 seconds to his advantage. Bob Jungels took to the front with two kilometres to go, dropping off his INEOS teammate to the Flamme Rouge with a slender 10 second lead.
But it was too little too late as the Italian kept powering on and had enough in the tank to fend off the chase and deny the sprinters, capping off an emphatic ride to take his second professional victory.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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