Italy finally had its moment to celebrate at the Giro d’Italia 2026 as Alberto Bettiol delivered a spectacular victory in Stage 13, attacking on the brutal slopes of Ungiasca before producing a fearless descent into Verbania to seal an unforgettable win.
The XDS Astana rider captured his second career Giro stage victory, but this success carried even greater emotional value. Racing on roads close to home, Bettiol transformed a difficult and tactical stage into a personal masterpiece, cheered on by fans lining the roads throughout northern Italy.
The 189-kilometer stage from Alessandria to Verbania appeared destined for a successful breakaway from the very beginning. A large group escaped early and built a huge advantage over the peloton, eventually gaining more than ten minutes on the general classification contenders.
As the race entered the final section, the pace intensified dramatically. The decisive moment came on the steep Ungiasca climb, a short but explosive ascent positioned only a few kilometers from the finish line. Andreas Leknessund launched an aggressive move, attempting to drop the remaining breakaway riders and solo to victory.
Bettiol, however, remained calm and perfectly measured his effort. The Italian gradually closed the gap before attacking near the summit, overtaking the Norwegian and immediately throwing himself into a spectacular downhill run toward Verbania.
From that moment onward, the victory never looked in doubt. Bettiol extended his advantage through every corner, taking risks when needed and maintaining exceptional speed all the way to the finish. He crossed the line alone with enough time to celebrate a memorable and emotional triumph.
Behind him, Leknessund finished second after a brave performance, while Jasper Stuyven secured third place by winning the sprint from the chasing group.
The overall classification remained unchanged among the Giro favorites. Portuguese rider Afonso Eulalio successfully defended the pink jersey, arriving safely with the main contenders more than thirteen minutes behind the stage winner. Jonas Vingegaard and the other GC rivals preferred to save energy ahead of the upcoming mountain battles.
Attention now turns to the highly anticipated Aosta-Pila stage, expected to be one of the first major mountain tests of the 2026 Giro d’Italia. With long climbs and over four thousand meters of elevation gain, the fight for the overall victory could finally explode.
For now though, the day belongs entirely to Alberto Bettiol — a rider who combined courage, intelligence, and local knowledge to give Italian cycling one of its most emotional moments of the season.
Fabio Averna
