![\"Pink](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/z6LsRfBRRzTXqTpr4Wq2DQ.jpg\")
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2026-05-22T13:45:36.055Z<\/p>\n
Bahrain Victorious leading the peloton.<\/p>\n
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(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
2026-05-22T13:43:10.301Z<\/p>\n
Michael Valgren is another quality puncheur in the break, and has previously stated his intent of winning a stage at this Giro. He\u2019s already had a World Tour win on Italian roads this year, at Tirreno-Adriatico, but he\u2019s never won at Grand Tour level in his illustrious career.<\/p>\n
2026-05-22T13:36:21.425Z 10:19 is the gap as Bahrain lead the peloton, four domestiques pulling for Afonso Eul\u00e1lio.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T13:32:37.874Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T13:31:51.608Z<\/p>\n The gap’s grown out to over ten minutes for the first today, and one of the first times this whole Giro.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T13:28:42.553Z<\/p>\n Toon Aerts is a dangerous man in the event of a group finish. The Belgian would have won the stage yesterday had Segaert not managed to slip away in the finale as he sprinted for second-place, and today has got himself in the break once again.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T13:25:02.447Z The gap’s holding steady, at 9:45. There’s still about 40km until the first of the two climbs, though the road is going slightly uphill and will continue so for a while.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T13:21:17.901Z<\/p>\n UAE have been the most successful team in terms of stage wins at this Giro so far, and, having done so much work to help his teammates win previously, today it\u2019s down to Mikkel Bjerg to try and add a fifth. He has one hell of a motor, and will surely try to clip clear at some point and attempt to win solo.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T13:20:26.469Z<\/p>\n One of the breakaway riders, Francesco Busatto, has needed a bike change.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T13:17:02.841Z<\/p>\n So which of the fifteen riders in the break is best equipped to come out on top and take the stage win today?<\/p>\n With classics, Grand Tour stages and a monument on his palmares Jasper Stuyven is perhaps the best record of them, but he has yet to win a stage at the Giro despite having come so close with a second place finish behind Ballerini in Naples earlier this race. On paper he may well be the quickest in a sprint, but will the stage be decided that way or can rider(s) break clear?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-22T13:11:29.098Z Bahrain Victorious are happy to lead the peloton at a steady pace, allowing the gap to grow a little more, to 9:45.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T13:06:40.679Z<\/p>\n Enjoying our live Giro d’Italia race coverage? Subscribe to Cyclingnews for an all-access pass to our unrivalled reporting of WorldTour racing, bike tech and exclusive in-depth features. Plus, access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on-the-go! Find out more.<\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T13:03:30.742Z<\/p>\n This is a pleasantly relaxed day in the pink jersey for Afonso Eul\u00e1lio.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T13:00:02.083Z<\/p>\n Another team notable by their absence in the break is Movistar. They have been one of the chief animators at this race, and have so far been unlucky not to have landed a stage. But none of their roster who were so impressive yesterday in dropping the sprinters on the final climbs have managed to get up the road successfully today.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:58:42.792Z 9:20 is the break’s lead now.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:53:44.502Z<\/p>\n One team that will be frustrated at missing out on the break will be Lidl-Trek. They’re still without a stage win at this Giro, and today’s late climbs looked like they could have been a perfect launchpad for their man Ciccone. After last year’s superb race in which they seemed to light up every stage, they’re now starting to run out of time to get anything out of this race.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:47:53.225Z Still the gap grows. It’s now up to nine minutes. That puts Kilech to within sight of the top 20 on GC.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:45:09.501Z<\/p>\n Damiano Caruso is one of the Bahrain riders tasked with looking after Afonso Eul\u00e1lio in the Maglia Rosa. He said yesterday that he still intends to retire at the end of the season, but hopes to ride the Tour de France one last time before then.<\/p>\n \u2018At one point you have to say stop\u2019 \u2013 Damiano Caruso hopes for a final Tour de France ride as he confirms plans to retire this year<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:43:52.505Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:36:25.297Z This is one of the biggest gaps we’ve seen all Giro. It’s now gone up to over eight minutes.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:32:11.074Z<\/p>\n There’s a long flat section for the riders to enjoy, but in such a big group, at some point hostilities will ignite in the lead group as they begin the battle of wits and stength to try and plot a way to win defeat the other 14 and win the stage.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:26:56.936Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:21:32.273Z The peloton has allowed the breakaway a huge lead. They’re now 7 minutes up the road, and surely won’t be caught.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:20:53.981Z<\/p>\n Eul\u00e1lio’s happy again now, and is back in the bunch.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:20:32.446Z<\/p>\n Eul\u00e1lio is unhappy with something. He’s with his team car having a talk, sorting an issue with his shoe<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:14:35.072Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:11:01.573Z<\/p>\n Bahrain-Victorious have taken over the pace-setting in the peloton and are riding tempo.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:09:57.639Z The gap to the peloton and the fifteen leaders continues to grow. It’s now up to 5:20.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:08:28.062Z<\/p>\n NSN have stopped chasing, and the gap to the break has consequently ballooned up to almost five minutes. This is looking very promising for this break’s chances of surviving to the finish.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:06:52.155Z<\/p>\n Josh Kench is the highest ranked rider on GC in the break, and he’s down in 27th overall at 20:50. So there’s no need for the GC teams to chase.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:04:31.472Z<\/p>\n Eleven teams are represented in this break, which means that twelve teams have missed the move. Although it is a big group full of strong riders, it isn’t guaranteed to make it to the finish, if there are enough teams willing to help NSN to bring it back.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:02:01.131Z<\/p>\n The fifteen riders in full:<\/p>\n Jasper Stuyven (Soudal-QuickStep), Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astana), Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Michael Valgren (EF Education-Easypost), Andreas Leknessund, Markus Hoelgaard (both Uno-X Mobility), Toon Aerts (Lotto Intermarch\u00e9), Larry Warbasse (Tudor), Johan Jacobs, Axel Huens, Josh Kench (all Groupama-FDJ), Francesco Busatto (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Mark Donovan (Pinarello Q36.5), Mirco Maestri, Diego Pablo Sevilla (both Polti VisitMalta)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-22T12:01:40.213Z<\/p>\n The groups have at last come together, so we now have our full break of the day.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:58:36.248Z<\/p>\n Meanwhile the chasing quartet can now see the leaders and are only 15 seconds behind. They’ll make the catch soon.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:58:00.935Z<\/p>\n Mullen might be trying to ride hard, but he’s not bringing the leaders any closer. They have 3:30 on the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:54:37.572Z<\/p>\n Leemreize was on a hiding to nothing, and has been caught.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:53:53.948Z<\/p>\n The peloton hasn’t sat up, though. Team NSN are setting a pace with Mullen, having missed the move.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:53:18.387Z<\/p>\n The chase group has 30 seconds to make up on the leaders, but are a whole three minutes up on the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:50:36.557Z<\/p>\n Now we wait to see if the chasing four can join them.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:50:17.923Z<\/p>\n The chasing five have caught the leading six.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:49:34.433Z<\/p>\n The 6 riders leading the race.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:48:41.315Z<\/p>\n So the peloton has sat up now, but how long will it take for these two chase groups to join the leaders?<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:46:44.387Z These chase groups are having a hard time bridging up to the lead group. The first chase group is still 30 seconds behind and the second chase group 50 seconds behind, while the peloton is at over three minutes now.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:44:58.202Z<\/p>\n Another group formed unseen behind the two lead groups and ahead of Gijs Leemreize, containing Aaerts, Kench, Huens and Hoelgaard.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:41:53.832Z<\/p>\n This does appear to be it though. The gaps are growing, with the leaders 1:40 ahead, and the chase group 1:10 ahead.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:41:06.352Z<\/p>\n There are still some riders unhappy, and Gijs Leemreize jumps out of the peloton to chase.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:39:29.037Z<\/p>\n This might be it now though, the pace is down in the peloton, which is now bunching together.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:38:52.875Z<\/p>\n Ganna and Turner have been caught, but the peloton had to go deep to do so, and is now all stretched out.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:35:57.065Z<\/p>\n Despite the increasing gap, Ganna isn’t giving up! He’s just attacked out of the peloton with Turner.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:35:09.722Z The 7-man lead group is now a 6-man lead group, as Rojas has been dropped out of it. They lead the chase group of 5 by 25 seconds, and neaarly have a minute on the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:33:49.191Z<\/p>\n Now Sean Flynn tries an attack. There seems to be a desire in the peloton though for the riders already up the road to form the break, and for no other riders to go clear and join them.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:31:21.703Z<\/p>\n Mick van Dijke tried an attack out the peloton but wasn’t allowed to go clear, now Corbin Strong is.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:29:48.301Z<\/p>\n The Bjerg group is 20 seconds behind the leading seven, and 15 seconds ahead of the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:29:13.193Z<\/p>\n Correction – Bjerg, Stuyven and Bettiol are with Maestri and Busatto in a group behind the leading seven. The big group of 20 behind have been caught by the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:27:55.184Z<\/p>\n Eul\u00e1lio is backin the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:27:10.484Z<\/p>\n Bjerg, Stuyven and Bettiol are among those in this group.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:26:37.293Z<\/p>\n Those groups have come together, so there are now about 20 riders together trying to chase the 7 leaders.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:24:44.801Z<\/p>\n Not one but two different chase groups have formed behind the leading seven.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:23:07.687Z<\/p>\n Ganna attacks out of the peloton again. The Italian is really up for it today, on a stage that visits his home town.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:22:00.956Z<\/p>\n Flat tyre for Afonso Eul\u00e1lio. The pink jersey has needed to change bikes.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:21:31.807Z The seven leaders have some work to do to establish themselves as the break of the day, with their lead still only a slender 10 seconds.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:19:39.970Z<\/p>\n The Ganna group has been caught.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:19:19.181Z<\/p>\n Jacobs, Donovan and Sevilla are the other three riders in the lead group of seven.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:17:00.837Z<\/p>\n Now a chase group has formed, an Ganna is present in it.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:15:21.046Z<\/p>\n As well as Leknessund, Warbasse, Valgren and Rojas are there, plus three others.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:14:33.459Z<\/p>\n Their lead’s up to 10 seconds now.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:12:46.918Z<\/p>\n Seven new riders form a group, including Leknessund, and have a few seconds of a lead.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:11:47.070Z Milan had a few riders with him, but they’ve been brought back.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:10:24.575Z<\/p>\n Milan is the latest tot try a move, and for once doesn’t have Magnier glued to his wheel.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:07:51.747Z<\/p>\n Bjerg is looking especially keen, and is doing some big pulls to try and go clear.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:06:14.615Z<\/p>\n Lots of attacks right from the flag but nobody has managed to get a gap yet.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:04:19.273Z And they’re off!<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T11:03:53.880Z<\/p>\n It’s a narrow road as they reach KM 0, so not much room to make an attack.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T10:59:17.134Z<\/p>\n Just 2km now until the riders see the flag for the official start.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T10:57:50.234Z<\/p>\n Enjoying our live Giro d’Italia race coverage? Subscribe to Cyclingnews for an all-access pass to our unrivalled reporting of WorldTour racing, bike tech and exclusive in-depth features. Plus, access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on-the-go! Find out more.<\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T10:51:25.156Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T10:45:09.540Z<\/p>\n Alessandria is the location for the stage start, and the riders have set off from the unofficial start.<\/p>\n 2026-05-22T10:44:02.241Z<\/p>\n For anyone wishing to put time into Jonas Vingegaard, they might have missed their best opportunity. Yesterday, the Dane revealed that he had been suffering from illness – but also that he now feels recovered.<\/p>\n
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