Date: Friday, May 30
Distance: 166km
Start: Biella
Finish: Champoluc
Start Time: 12:20 CEST
Estimated Finish: 17:15 CEST
The Queen Stage Arrives
The 2025 Giro d’Italia saves its deadliest terrain for last, kicking off an alpine double-header that could make or break pink jersey dreams. Stage 19 isn’t just another mountain test—it’s a 166km crucible packed with 4,950m of climbing, the most of any stage this year, compressing punishment into every metre of asphalt from Biella to Champoluc.
Unlike some previous queen stages, this route lacks a singularly iconic summit but makes up for it with relentless, concentrated climbing. After a soft opener on the category 3 Croce Serra, the intensity ramps up with the Col Tzecore, where riders face gradients peaking at 10% over the final 5km. It’s a stage designed to dismantle legs and ambitions alike, with barely a flat section to recover on.
Climb-by-Climb Breakdown
- Col Tzecore: 16km total, brutal final 5km at 10% average gradient.
- Col Saint-Pantaléon: 16.5km at 7.2%, a consistent grind with little respite.
- Col de Joux: 15.1km at 6.9%, the third of three HC-level climbs in succession.
- Antagnod Climb: 9.5km at 4.5%, more forgiving but still a sting in the tail.
Expect early attacks and explosive tactical moves. With no long valley sections, breakaways will struggle to survive unless the GC riders grant them freedom. Don’t be surprised if hostilities ignite more than 100km from the finish—there’s simply no room for passive racing here.
Stage 19 Odds & Favorites
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| Rider | Odds to Win Stage 19 |
|---|---|
| Carapaz, Richard | 3.00 |
| Pellizzari, Giulio | 6.00 |
| Del Toro Romero, Isaac | 10.00 |
| Fortunato, Lorenzo | 11.00 |
| Poels, Wouter | 17.00 |
| Gee, Derek | 19.00 |
| Bardet, Romain | 23.00 |
| Yates, Simon | 26.00 |
| Quintana, Nairo | 29.00 |
| Storer, Michael | 35.00 |
| Rubio Reyes, Einer Augusto | 40.00 |
| Poole, Max | 40.00 |
| Martinez Poveda, Daniel Felipe | 40.00 |
| Verona Quintanilla, Carlos | 40.00 |
| Pidcock, Thomas | 50.00 |
| Stork, Florian | 50.00 |
Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) wears the maglia rosa, but after cracks on Stage 16, his leadership is under siege. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) looks primed to attack, thriving in third-week warfare.
Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) remain wildcard threats, while Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) is surging at just the right time. If his form holds, he could flip the GC script.
Among the Italians, eyes are on Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) to fly the tricolore after Antonio Tiberi’s fade, while Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) is building something special. The youngster has a real shot to follow up his team’s recent stage success and shake up the overall standings.
Breakaway Wildcards
Though the GC fight will dominate, don’t rule out a breakaway masterclass. Veterans like Romain Bardet, Wout Poels, Pello Bilbao, and David Gaudu have the tactical nous to pounce if favourites hesitate.
Lorenzo Fortunato may pivot from KOM hunting to stage ambitions, while Nairo Quintana, Marco Frigo, Filippo Zana, and Carlos Verona are names to watch, particularly Verona, who’s riding high after a dramatic stage 15 victory.
Prediction: Pellizzari to Power Through
All signs point to Giulio Pellizzari riding another wave of momentum for Red Bull. He’s timed his form perfectly and with Roglič out, he’s been given full freedom to attack. We back Pellizzari to win the stage and launch into GC contention. Don’t be surprised if he becomes Italy’s new cycling hero by Sunday.