2026-05-15T12:18:03.154Z<\/p>\n
As we head into the hills, there are more and more castles. This is a beautiful part of Italy.<\/p>\n
2026-05-15T12:12:48.828Z<\/p>\n
The views are stunning in this part of central Italy, with natural reservoirs, mountains and gree hills.<\/p>\n
2026-05-15T12:08:29.629Z With the road rising gradually, the gap to the break has fallen as the peloton push on.<\/p>\n It is now down to 4:45.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-15T12:06:34.150Z<\/p>\n Riders are pulling rain capes and gilet as a showers hits the race.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T12:02:20.119Z<\/p>\n Do you think the racing has been slow so far?<\/p>\n It’s been steady, with only a five-rider break forming early but the pace has been fast, thanks also to a tail wind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The average speed for the opening three hours is 44.800km\/h.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:56:58.541Z It is fascinating to see how the peloton is lined out.<\/p>\n There are two Bahrain riders on the front, with one Visma rider helping the chase.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The lines are in formation, with Lotto sat behind the chasers, with Visma, Red Bull and Netcompany further back.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:49:44.791Z<\/p>\n The gradient is slowly rising and hurting Milan in the break.<\/p>\n Behind Fran Miholjevi\u0107 is doing a lot of the work for Bahrain<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:45:49.186Z<\/p>\n The riders have already covered more kms than they did in all of yesterday’s stage. Yet today they still have 115km to race, including the 13.6km climb up the Blockhaus.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:42:34.304Z<\/p>\n This is Milan’s sprint. We thought he would sit up but he is still doing turns in the break.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc9c Went in the breakaway with one idea in mind, and Jonathan Milan has got the 12 points for Ciclamino! \ud83d\udcfa Follow the #Giroditalia on TV, and on socials, wherever you are \ud83c\udf10 pic.twitter.com\/AUUjku8WBtMay 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:40:43.822Z<\/p>\n This is the long ride to the foot of the Blockhaus.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: RCS Sport)<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:39:35.023Z The riders are on a long, straight road as they near Isernia. The climbs will begin soon.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:33:50.034Z<\/p>\n These are the five attackers: Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Diego Sevilla (Team Polti VisitMalta), Jardi Christiaan van der Lee (EF Education-EasyPost), Tim Naberman (Team Picnic PostNL Raisin), Nickolas Zukowsky (Pinarello Q36.5)<\/p>\n They lead the peloton by 5:30.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:32:43.061Z<\/p>\n Sprint!<\/p>\n Milan stomps on the pedals and wins the intermediate sprint.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He scores 12 points and so pulls a few points back on Paul Magnier. Milan spent 120km out front to score the points, so worked hard for them.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:29:47.205Z<\/p>\n Jonas Vingegaard is tucked on the wheel in the peloton but blows a kiss to the TV camera to send a message to his family at home.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:28:20.983Z<\/p>\n It’s time for the intermediate sprint.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:27:56.470Z The riders pass through a feed zone and grab bidons and musettes. It vital today, with the 244km distance, to eat a lot. Carbs are the fuel for the final part of the race.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:26:02.759Z<\/p>\n A lot happened yesterday but this was one of the worst and saddest moment. Fortunately the Italian police quickly took action.<\/p>\n Crazy scenes at Giro d’Italia as lunging spectator menaces peloton – Video<\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: RAI TV) 2026-05-15T11:12:13.289Z The riders have already covered 100km of the stage, accumulating fatigue in their legs before the second half of the stage in the hills and mountains of Abruzzo.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:05:21.849Z<\/p>\n Who will challenge Jonas Vingegaard at this year’s Giro d’Italia? <\/p>\n Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our coverage of the Corsa Rosa. Enjoy unrivalled reporting from our team of journalists on the ground, including breaking news, analysis, and more, from every stage as it happens, plus access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! <\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Find out more<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T11:04:12.966Z<\/p>\n Jonathan Milan is still working in the attack.<\/p>\n The intermediate sprint is just 20km away. He is likely to win the sprint to take 12 precious points and then will surely sit up and return to the peloton.<\/p>\n Milan was not happy yesterday after the crash ended his sprint hopes but he is back in the saddle today.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-15T10:53:57.860Z The kilometres are slowly ticking down on the road to the Blockhaus. The roads are smooth and dry so far.<\/p>\n However there are reports of some showers on thew Blockhaus. It’s important to remember the finish is at 1665 metres.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-15T10:48:48.953Z This is another a shot of the peloton. They lead the peloton by 5:30.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T10:43:46.714Z<\/p>\n The race is into the hills of central Italy, south of Cassino. Fortunately ther riders follow a valley road towards Isernia and have a stiff tailwind.<\/p>\n We can see it in the flag flying on the hilltops.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-15T10:38:49.185Z<\/p>\n Jonas Vingegaard returns to the peloton after a natural break. He seems relaxed so far.<\/p>\n Visma have placed one rider up front to help Bahrain control the break.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Is that a sign that Vingegaard wants to win the stage? It could be.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T10:33:12.488Z Our photographers are on the road and have this shot of the early break that includes Jonathan Milan.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T10:28:33.684Z<\/p>\n As, always, there are pink vibes at the Giro.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T10:23:42.226Z<\/p>\n The riders are leaving the Naples area but the polemica after yesterday’s finish continue.<\/p>\n This was out stage report, capturing all the chaos and the late crash.<\/p>\n Giro d’Italia: Davide Ballerini avoids mass crash, speeds to stage 6 victory in Naples<\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-15T10:12:36.976Z<\/p>\n The crowds are huge today.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T10:08:27.010Z It may seem strange but the riders are back on the coast. The 244km stage includes a loop around the Lazio area and will pass through the start town of Formia again before heading inland.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T10:03:22.099Z<\/p>\n James wrote:<\/p>\n Vingegaard is no stranger to making a statement on early mountain stages in previous Grand Tours, taking more than a minute on Tadej Poga\u010dar at the 2023 Tour de France on just the fifth stage, and attacking away from the entire field of last year’s Vuelta to win stage 9 to Valdezcaray.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Visma, who were more concerned about potential illness after a wet and cold fifth stage<\/a> than their new 6:22 deficit to the race leader, maintained that same confidence just a day before Blockhaus.<\/p>\n They obviously won’t be telling anyone their exact plans, but a Vingegaard attack seems inevitable.<\/p>\n Yet Vingegaard expects Eul\u00e1lio to keep the maglia rosa.<\/p>\n “It’s a good gap he has,” said Vingegaard.<\/p>\n “I think he can keep it for a bit of time, because even with tomorrow’s Blockhaus stage, he’s a good rider, so it’s not just like you’re going to take six minutes out of him in one stage. He will keep the jersey for a bit, that’s for sure.”<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:59:18.422Z<\/p>\n James Moultrie spoke to Jonas Vingegaard and the Visma team about the Blockhaus climb.<\/p>\n “Blockhaus is a climb where you cannot hide,” Vingegaard said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “It will for sure be a stage where it will be a fight for the GC guys. Who knows, maybe we fight for the stage win, that would also be nice. But it’s not only up to us, also other teams as well.”<\/p>\n Read the full story here:<\/p>\n ‘Blockhaus is a climb where you cannot hide’ \u2013 Jonas Vingegaard stays ominously calm as first ‘real’ mountaintop finish at Giro d’Italia looms large<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:53:15.262Z Meanwhile the peloton has pegged to gap on the break to 5:00. Three Bahrain riders are leading the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:47:32.769Z<\/p>\n Vingegaard was a little cautious when he spoke pre-stage.<\/p>\n Jonas Vingegaard is ready to show his strength today and gives Anders Mielke some advice for Blockhaus! \ud83d\ude05 pic.twitter.com\/BdsZDaZH1oMay 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:42:14.286Z<\/p>\n The vibes seemed good on the Visma bus before the start.<\/p>\n \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9 #GirodItaliaHigh spirits before a big Giro stage. \ud83d\ude01 pic.twitter.com\/3uGEU7EdZSMay 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:37:31.359Z<\/p>\n Before the start of stage 7, Simone Consonni, Jonathan Milan and Filippo Ganna received honorary doctorate degrees in recognition of their Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.<\/p>\n This is explains this photo.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-15T09:30:30.088Z<\/p>\n The riders are fortunate that there is a tailwind blowing the riders along for most of the stage.<\/p>\n Movistar DS pointed out the wind factor and shared his thoughts on the stage.<\/p>\n \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf9 #GirodItalia – Etapa 7: \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f Matthew White (DS)#RodamosJuntos I @movistar_es I @giroditalia pic.twitter.com\/XqRUjUvGlLMay 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:28:29.864Z The gap is over 5:30 and so the Bahrain-Victorious team has stared to ride to protect Afonso Eul\u00e1lio’s maglia rosa. and accept their role as the race leading team.<\/p>\n It will be interesting to see if other teams, other GC tems such as Visma, Red Bull and Netcompany help with the chase and control.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:26:38.856Z<\/p>\n Paul Magnier dropped back to his Soudal team car, perhaps to discuss tactics.<\/p>\n Milan is in the break, surely to try to score points at the intermediate sprint after 112km.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is a big task but Milan could score 12 points if he wins the sprint. However he is 66 down on the French rider.<\/p>\n Magnier has won two stages and scored points on others. He has a total of 130 points, with Milan on 64.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:23:29.610Z The attackers already have a lead of 5:00 as the peloton rolls along and many riders take a natural break.<\/p>\n The gap could blow up to be huge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:20:04.597Z<\/p>\n The race has crossed a small climb in the opening kilometres and now face 100km on flat country roads, along the coast and then inland as they ride east into central Italy.<\/p>\n The stage passes through the Lazio, Campania and Molise before entering Abruzzo for the finish.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:15:46.902Z<\/p>\n Jai Hindley is also the man of the day. He spoke at the start.<\/p>\n Blockhaus loves Jai Hindley\u2026 and the feeling is mutual. Two Giro stage wins (one in Blockhaus) already for the 2022 Giro d\u2019Italia champion \u267e\ufe0f\ud83e\ude77Il Blockhaus \u00e8 una delle sue salite preferite e di tappe al Giro ne ha gi\u00e0 vinte due (una proprio sul blockhaus). \u00c8 lui l\u2019uomo del\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/byRDS95gamMay 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:15:08.071Z<\/p>\n Alasdair Fotheringham and James Moultrie are on the way to the Blockhaus to cover the stage for Cyclingnews.<\/p>\n It is also Alasdair’s birthday today. He has a huge day of racing to celebrate life and celebrate being on the Giro.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Auguri Aladair! Have a good one.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:12:26.385Z<\/p>\n The peloton is rolling along, letting the break go clear.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:09:49.064Z<\/p>\n The break is not a GC threat. Nickolas Zukowsky (Pinarello Q36.5) is the best placed but is 22:13 down on the maglia rosa.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:08:52.525Z<\/p>\n \ud83d\udfe2 Flag drop and away Milan goes! Il Toro di Buja initiates the breakaway, with \ud83d\udc99 @diegop_sevilla, Tim Naberman, and Jardi Christiaan van der Lee#GirodItalia pic.twitter.com\/kQnZA6etpPMay 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:07:46.823Z The five are working smoothly together. The peloton is spread across the road and so the gap is up to 1:00.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:06:38.385Z<\/p>\n These are the five attackers: Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Diego Sevilla (Team Polti VisitMalta), Jardi Christiaan van der Lee (EF Education-EasyPost), Tim Naberman (Team Picnic PostNL Raisin), Nickolas Zukowsky (Pinarello Q36.5).<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:04:28.307Z<\/p>\n Nickolas Zukowsky (Pinarello Q36.5) is the last to jump across, the last to get a ticket for the break of the day.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:02:20.889Z<\/p>\n A few other riders have joined Milan, with more coming.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:01:39.146Z Here we go! The flag drops and we see an attack. Jonathan Milan is the first to go. He perhaps wants to join a move to contest the intermediate sprint. But it is 110km away.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T09:00:13.307Z<\/p>\n It will be fascinating to see who has the courage and ambition to attack from the start.<\/p>\n The roads are largely flat for 110km. The climbs start after 130km, with 70km of climbing and high plain racing.<\/p>\n There is a 20km descent and then the 13.6km climb to the Blockhaus finish.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: RCS Sport) 2026-05-15T08:56:51.099Z<\/p>\n There are several Visma riders up front, ready to control the early attacks.<\/p>\n They will want to let a small break go clear but will not want to lead the chase.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-15T08:51:59.673Z<\/p>\n The riders face a 4.3km neutralised sector and then the 244km of racing.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T08:50:56.850Z<\/p>\n Here we go! The riders roll slowly out of Formia as the small town celebrates a day as a Giro host.<\/p>\n The local pasticciere have joined forces to make a huge cake in the shape of a wheel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-15T08:48:40.582Z<\/p>\n The maglia rosa Afonso Eul\u00e1lio (Bahrain-Victorious) is also on the front of the grid.<\/p>\n It is a big day for him today. He leads Jonas Vingegaard (Visma) by 6:22 but how much time will he lose if the Dane attacks on the Blockhaus?<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-15T08:43:23.532Z<\/p>\n The riders are lining up on the start line for the roll out. Andiamo!<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T08:42:36.437Z<\/p>\n The opening photo is of Jai Hindley when he won on the Blockhaus in 2022.<\/p>\n Alasdair Fotheringham wrote this special feature on the climb.<\/p>\n What is the Blockhaus? And why does it matter so much in this year\u2019s Giro d\u2019Italia?<\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images Sport) 2026-05-15T08:35:14.932Z<\/p>\n Riders are signing on in Formia. There is tension in the air and fear for the 244km in the saddle.<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T08:34:32.415Z<\/p>\n And this is the Blockhaus climb.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: RCS Sport)<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T08:32:48.077Z<\/p>\n This is the stage map for the 244km ride into and up to the Abruzzo mountains.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: RCS Sport)<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T08:31:42.950Z<\/p>\n This is the stage profile.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: RCS Sport)<\/p>\n 2026-05-15T08:29:10.984Z<\/p>\n This is our stage preview.<\/p>\n 2026 Giro d’Italia stage 7 preview – First major summit finish to test GC contenders on Blockhaus <\/a><\/p>\n \n
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