How it happened: Surprise drama on pancake flat stage 15 of Giro d’Italia 2026

21″ gap and they stall in the break! Bais comes to the front for Maestri.

2026-05-24T15:05:00.234Z

Narváez moving up in the points jersey as Stuyven is the only man left for Magnier with 2km to go. 26″ gap as the break have their first look at each other!

2026-05-24T15:04:16.515Z

Milan’s last man, Consonni, comes to the front!

2026-05-24T15:03:46.666Z

Movistar and Picnic-PostNL finally start pushing hard with 3km to go. 24″ gap. Unibet Rose Rockets get their final leadout men to the front now with Groenewegen in third wheel followed by Pascal Ackermann (Jayco-AlUla).

2026-05-24T15:02:50.036Z

4km to go and the gap is 25″ as the peloton stall in the chase for now.

2026-05-24T15:02:32.149Z

Tudor and Decathlon-CMA CGM finally come to the front along with Movistar, Groupama-FDJ United and Picnic-PostNL but there is a lot of looking around and are losing time again.

Unibet Rose Rockets are giving everything for Groenewegen but the four leaders still have 26 seconds. It is starting to come down much faster now.

2026-05-24T15:00:32.585Z

Picnic-PostNL and Decathlon-CMA CGM are not coming up with their trains, likewise Tudor. They’re gambling it all with 6km to go and 32″ gap!

2026-05-24T14:59:12.081Z

7km to go for the break and they have 41! on the peloton.

2026-05-24T14:58:36.377Z

Decathlon-CMA CGM and Picnic-PostNL now coming up en masse, but it it too little too late? The big sprinters teams have hardly anyone left.

2026-05-24T14:57:02.228Z

Lidl-Trek having to use their GC man Derek Gee-West on the front of the peloton to chase the break who are 40″ clear with 9km to go.

Bais is working very hard for Maestri who is probably the fastest of the two. Bais saw his brother take a Giro win a few years ago, will it be his day today?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-05-24T14:52:40.425Z

Fabio van den Bossche (Soudal-Quickstep) joins Kubiš and Walscheid on the front of the peloton but that time gap is not budging with 13km to go.

2026-05-24T14:51:09.948Z

The gap adjusts! It is now 54″ for the breakaway. With Kubiš still leading the way with Walscheid.

2026-05-24T14:50:30.130Z

As the peloton power across the finish line and take the bell the gap says 38″ for the four riders out front. This is going to be touch and go for the sprinters who are losing their teammates all the time.

2026-05-24T14:49:37.367Z

This stage is on course to be the second fastest Giro d’Italia stage in history with the average speed above 51kph.

The gap ticks under a minute for the breakaway with 16km of racing remaining. The GC times will be taken here so no changes in GC today.

2026-05-24T14:47:05.173Z

Unibet Rose Rockets having to use Slovakian champion Lukáš Kubiš as well as Lidl-Trek having to use Max Walscheid. Gap now at 1’02”.

2026-05-24T14:44:48.898Z

The gap drops to 1’06” with a big chunk getting taken off their time.

Marcellusi could win for Bardiani CSF-7 Sabre for the first time in a decade with their last winner being a certain Ciccone on his Giro debut. Maestri, M. Bais and Dversnes are superb breakaway riders as well, though.

2026-05-24T14:41:36.459Z

Mechanical

Filippo Ganna (Netcompany-Ineos)

A rider who may have wanted to take a flyer today will have to work a bit harder now. He has won the last two times in Milan.

2026-05-24T14:39:16.600Z

Multiple riders swinging off with the break still having 1’28” with 25km to go. Some riders are having to use their leadout men early.

2026-05-24T14:36:28.122Z

Two and a half hours races with the average speed at 51kph! It has been absolutely rapid today.

2026-05-24T14:35:58.219Z

Final lap neutralised

The race confirm that the GC times will be taken the next time the riders cross the finish line with one lap to go.

It looks like there may be a further neutralisation with the final lap being set up for the stage win and points only.

2026-05-24T14:29:18.726Z

Two laps to go and the breakaway is still holding 1’40” on the peloton. They are riding superbly well out front.

2026-05-24T14:25:57.641Z

Final 5km neutralised

The race jury have decided to allow for the final 5km to be neutralised with all GC times kept unchanged. Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) now at the car as well.

2026-05-24T14:23:45.500Z

Reports say that Ben O’Connor has also been to the head car as well.

2026-05-24T14:22:07.530Z

Puncture

Madis Mihkels (EF Education-EasyPost)

They’ve gone for a back wheel change and not a bike change. Odd choice as he’ll have to work harder to get back in.

2026-05-24T14:21:16.159Z

Vingegaard is going back to the head commissaire care complaining about the barriers at the finish. They do appear to be kicking out on the finishing straight. He is talking about the potholes as well saying he almost crashed multiple time.

2026-05-24T14:19:47.692Z

Dversnes wins the Red Bull sprint.

2026-05-24T14:18:56.363Z

Vingegaard is right at the back in pink. He is with Campenaerts and looks like he may have an issue.

2026-05-24T14:17:08.135Z

Some splits appearing in the peloton with the pace rocketing now.

2026-05-24T14:15:33.875Z

It wasn’t a good day for Ben O’Connor (Jayco-AlUla) yesterday after the rider from Perth was looking to kick on from his superb time trial…

2026-05-24T14:14:13.921Z

The gap has corrected to 2’14” now with the break just 5km to go until the Red Bull sprint.

EF Education-EasyPost join in at the front of the peloton for Estonian national champion Madis Mihkels as the time gap has grown to 2’34”.

2026-05-24T14:10:23.459Z

Second time across the finish line with three laps to go in Milan.

2026-05-24T14:07:42.409Z

Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) back at the head commissaire car seemingly discussing how safe the circuit is. He doesn’t seem to be very happy with the safety on the circuit in Milan.

2026-05-24T14:06:22.563Z

Mechanical for Enric Mas (Movistar).

2026-05-24T14:00:06.282Z

Multiple GC teams are now starting to move up a bit more now we are on the circuit, but it looks pretty straightforward on relatively wide roads.

The break still hold a gap of 2’00” on the peloton.

2026-05-24T13:55:28.096Z

These laps give all the sprinters and their leadout men a chance to have a good look at the finale before the finish.

2026-05-24T13:52:59.099Z

First passage of the finish line. Huge crowds out in Milan.

2026-05-24T13:43:22.676Z

The gap to the break has dropped to 2’00” as the riders enter the circuit in Milan with huge crowds.

2026-05-24T13:33:39.177Z

The riders are close to crossing the halfway point on the stage.

2026-05-24T13:28:42.754Z

Roughly about two hours of racing left of racing today considering the pace they’re going at.

2026-05-24T13:22:45.447Z

It is a very special moment for Vingegaard to wear pink. He is very likely to now wear it all the way to Rome from now…

Just over an hour down, average speed at just over 49kph and the breakaway holding 2’30” on the peloton.

2026-05-24T13:08:53.161Z

Bike change

Josh Kench (Groupama-FDJ United)

2026-05-24T13:08:24.897Z

Points classification after intermediate sprint

1. Narváez (UAD) 131pts
2. Magnier (SOQ) 131pts
3. Milan (LTK) 76pts
4. Stuyven (SOQ) 71pts
5. Silva (XAT) 70pts

1. Marcellusi (BCF) 12pts
2. M. Bais (PTM) 8pts
3. Dversnes (UXM) 5pts
4. Maestri (PTM) 3pts
5. Magnier (SOQ) 1pt

2026-05-24T13:05:39.741Z

Magnier takes that one point and levels up the scores in the points classification.

2026-05-24T13:04:51.410Z

UAE Team Emirates-XRG are going for the one remaining point for Narváez but Magnier is on his wheel.

2026-05-24T13:04:18.481Z

Marcellusi takes the intermediate sprint in Pavia.

2026-05-24T13:00:32.556Z

The break of Dversnes, Maestri, Bais and Marcellusi have 3km to go until the intermediate sprint in Pavia. You may recognise the name Pavia as it has been hosting the start of Milan-San Remo for the last few years.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-05-24T12:56:40.347Z

The average speed is over 50kph so far. They are riding along at a very good pace.

2026-05-24T12:56:15.276Z

Ghebreigzabhier isn’t riding on the front all alone, though. Unibet Rose Rockets and Soudal-Quickstep also joining in the chase.

2026-05-24T12:47:50.013Z

Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Lidl-Trek) is the man leading the way in the peloton.

2026-05-24T12:47:19.163Z

Movistar boss, Eusebio Unzué, is not best pleased with the form of Enric Mas at this race…

>>> ‘Far off the level we hoped for’ – Movistar boss Eusebio Unzué pulls no punches over Enric Mas’ Giro d’Italia team leader struggles but hopeful for final week breaks

2026-05-24T12:44:33.773Z

Vingegaard may be out of reach, but the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe duo of Hindley and Pellizzari are fighting to challenge for the poiums…

It is a very steady pace in the peloton now as the four riders out front look to increase the gap.

2026-05-24T12:27:36.952Z

Jerseys:

Pink – Vingegaard (TVL)
Purple – Narváez (UAD)
Blue – Vingegaard (TVL)*
White – Eulálio (TBV)

*Worn by – Van der Lee (EFE)

The sprinters teams start to work with Soudal-Quickstep, Lidl-Trek and Unibet Rose Rockets all coming to the front after 20 minutes of racing to start setting the pace for their main men with 2’04” up to the four rider break.

2026-05-24T12:21:06.331Z

Alpecin-Premier Tech no longer have their big name sprinter in Kaden Groves after he abandoned suffering from his injuries from the crash on stage 2. However, they do have a sprinter, Jenson Plowright. The Australian criterium champion will be very familiar with the style of racing at the finish in Milan today.

2026-05-24T12:19:18.184Z

Alpecin-Premier Tech are being blocked in by the sprinters teams. They really want to get into the breakaway with Danish time trialist Johan Price-Pejtersen to make this breakaway have some slim chance, but they can’t get close to going on the attack.

2026-05-24T12:14:17.326Z

More attacks in the peloton with Alpecin-Premier Tech trying. However, he has three Soudal-Quickstep riders and an NSN rider on his wheel as Enric Mas (Movistar) closes it down.

2026-05-24T12:10:36.623Z

Bardiani CSF-7 Sabre and Alpecin-Premier Tech tried to counter in the peloton but they had the door firmly shut in front of them to stop them moving.

2026-05-24T12:09:59.088Z

Martin Marcellusi (Bardiani CSF-7 Sabre), Mattia Bais (Polti-Visit Malta), Alessandro Tonelli (Polti-Visit Malta) and Fredrik Dversnes (Uno-X Mobility) are clear with 18″ on the peloton.

2026-05-24T12:08:47.220Z

The same teams try to make another break but nothing is doing. The sprinters teams don’t want more than four riders who now get away.

2026-05-24T12:05:22.774Z

Soudal-Quickstep, Lidl-Trek and NSN immediately go to work to bring that back. Too many riders in that one.

Racing begins with attacks coming immediately from Bardiani CSF-7 Sabre, Uno-X Mobility, Alpecin-Premier Tech and Polti-Visit Malta.

2026-05-24T12:02:13.688Z

Just 1km of neutral left.

2026-05-24T11:57:29.816Z

The race is actually late starting at the moment. They are 3km away from the flag being waved.

2026-05-24T11:51:29.781Z

The riders have rolled out and are on their way to the race start proper.

2026-05-24T11:48:46.456Z

Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) is fully decked out in pink today for his very first day in the leaders jersey…

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-05-24T11:40:48.362Z

The riders are due to start the neutralised zone any minute now.

2026-05-24T11:31:12.953Z

Will today’s finish in Milan be perfect for Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) to take his first win of the race?

2026-05-24T11:27:17.738Z

Here is the above view of what the stage looks like today with four laps of the finishing circuit in Milan.

(Image credit: RCS Sport)

2026-05-24T11:22:28.252Z

Rider presentation is well underway in Voghera with this man, Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets) will be desperate to go for the win today, he has already gone so close but only has two real chances left in this race…

2026-05-24T10:51:21.577Z

It is going to be another hot day for the riders with the temperatures set to reach over 30°c. Staying cool will be vital today.

2026-05-24T10:49:10.582Z

Onto today and you couldn’t find a more different stage profile to yesterday’s stage than today’s. It is completely pancake flat with a few laps around the city of Milan after the halfway point.

(Image credit: RCS Sport)

2026-05-24T10:45:31.519Z

Before looking at the final stage of week two, let’s take a look back at what happened yesterday in the first really major mountain test of the race…

2026-05-24T10:44:07.997Z

Bongiorno and welcome to live updates of the 15th stage at this year’s Giro d’Italia.

Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) took over the points classification yesterday thanks to him taking maximum points at the intermediate sprint. He leads Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) by one point heading into today’s sprint stage, so the Frenchman will likely take it back today, but it is all to play for in the final week…