Gall tried, but Vingegaard was once again the strongest in the mountains of the Giro

Jonas Vingegaard closed the first full week of the 2026 Giro d'Italia with another mountain display. The Danish rider won stage 9, finishing at Corno alle Scale after overtaking Giulio Ciccone, who had tried to break away from the escape group in the final kilometers. Felix Gall was the only one able to keep pace with the leader of Visma-Lease a Bike in the final stretch, although he ultimately gave way in the last kilometer.

Vingegaard strikes again in the Giro and leaves Eulálio on the edge before the time trial

The victory allows Vingegaard to continue cutting time from Afonso Eulálio before the rest day and, above all, before the long time trial on Tuesday, where the Portuguese will start with a much smaller lead than he had just two days ago. However, he has managed to withstand Vingegaard's attack well and can still dream of keeping the pink jersey for a few more stages.

A dangerous breakaway forced a move

The stage started with a fierce battle to form the breakaway in the more than 150 flat kilometers leading up to the final climb. Giulio Ciccone, already out of contention for the general classification after losing more than six minutes the previous day, took advantage of that situation to seek freedom and ended up in a leading group alongside riders like Einer Rubio, Lorenzo Milesi, Davide Ballerini, Diego Ulissi, and Toon Aerts.

Behind, Decathlon CMA CGM took on much of the chase for hours. The French team saw the stage as a perfect opportunity for Felix Gall and prevented the breakaway from gaining a decisive advantage. Bahrain Victorious also collaborated to protect Eulálio's pink jersey, although the Portuguese showed some moments of weakness on the final slopes.

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Ciccone attacked first, but Vingegaard finished strong

The race exploded in the final chain towards Corno alle Scale. Ciccone and Rubio broke away at the front while the favorites' group began to shrink under the pace set by Visma-Lease a Bike and Decathlon.

With just over three kilometers to go, Giulio Pellizzari finally gave way, and the favorites' group was reduced to the big names in the general classification. It was then that Gall launched the decisive move, and Vingegaard responded effortlessly. Both quickly caught up to Rubio and then to a Ciccone who began to lose speed on the steep upper slopes.

With the Italian neutralized, Vingegaard simply followed Gall's wheel until the last kilometer. The Dane did not take a single decisive pull and waited for the exact moment to attack. When he launched, Gall had no response.

Visma controls the Giro before the time trial

The feeling left by the first week is that Visma-Lease a Bike has complete control of the race in the mountains. The team once again intensified the final climb with Campenaerts, Kuss, and Piganzoli, while Vingegaard finished without appearing to be at his limit.

Felix Gall confirmed that he is currently the strongest rival of the Dane in high mountains, but he continues to lose seconds in every explosive finish. The day was more complicated for Pellizzari, who ended up dropped in the decisive kilometers, and for Eulálio, who barely saved the pink jersey.

The big test will come after the rest day with the 42-kilometer time trial between Viareggio and Massa. On paper, it is the day marked for Vingegaard to definitively seize the lead in the Giro.

Top 10 Stage 9 Giro d'Italia 2026

1. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) – 4:20:21
2. Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) – +12 s
3. Davide Piganzoli (Visma | Lease a Bike) – +34 s
4. Thymen Arensman (Netcompany INEOS) – +34 s
5. Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) – +41 s
6. Derek Gee (Lidl-Trek) – +46 s
7. Mathys Rondel (Tudor Pro Cycling) – +46 s
8. Sepp Kuss (Visma | Lease a Bike) – +46 s
9. Jai Hindley (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) – +50 s
10. Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling) – +50 s