Great victory for Carlos Verona on the day that Primoz Roglic complicates the general classification of the Giro d'Italia

The first authentically mountainous stage of the Giro d'Italia did not disappoint, with INEOS Grenadiers betting on the winner with Egan Bernal and EF Education-EasyPost doing the same for its leader Richard Carapaz in a show of incorformity that leaves total uncertainty as to what might happen in the last and final week of this Giro d'Italia 2025.

Egan Bernal and Richard Carapaz reveal Primoz Roglic's weakness in the Giro d'Italia

Marathon stage in the Giro d'Italia, 219 kilometers between Fiume Veneto and Asiago, on the doorstep of the Dolomites in a stage that, without being a great combination of climbs, combined a flat initial part, through the plains of Veneto with the always tough Monte Grappa and a tricky finish with the climb to Dori, a very gradual climb but, this time, ascended with almost 200 kilometers in the legs and a final plateau of 27 kilometers to make this first contact with the high mountains even more hellish.

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A day that, however, due to its configuration without a clear point where the favorites could launch their offensive, led to a huge breakaway of more than 30 cyclists, of high level, with names like Vacek, Bilbao, Formolo, Ulissi, Fortunato, Arrieta, Plapp, Cataneo, Cepeda... that augured a new calm day among the favorites.

Small skirmishes among the leaders during the ascent to Monte Grappa although none capable of making a difference and in the peloton, UAE Team Emirates-XRG controlled at will until, halfway up the climb, Juan Ayuso suffered a mechanical breakdown and had to go back to the car to change bikes. The rider from Alicante was returning to the front when INEOS Grenadiers took the lead as a group and began to set a pace intended to cause damage.

A strong pace that led to the inevitable attack by Egan Bernal, to which Isaac del Toro responded with insulting ease and behind him, Richard Carapaz did not hesitate to continue the movement of the rider from Zipaquirá. Aresman also managed to join in, rounding off INEOS' move, and Derek Gee, who had super legs today.

However, despite the understanding, everything would be unified in the descent as they managed to catch the escapees and, from behind, the pace of UAE Team Emirates-XRG managed to restore calm to the peloton.

With everything unified, as if it were the start of the stage, new attempts to create a breakaway were made until a group with Pello Bilbao, Scaroni, Prodhomme, Garofoli, Fioreli, Carlos Verona was consolidated. They began to make a gap and increased the difference to almost 3 minutes.

Thus began the climb to Dori, 16 kilometers but very gradual which, under normal conditions, should not offer any difficulty. However, the wear and tear of such a tough day and the atypical distance of the stage would still provide an exciting finish. Right from the start of the climb, Carlos Verona, with freedom after Giulio Ciccone did not start due to the fall the day before, launched a strong attack.

The rider from Madrid began to create a gap and after him, Garofoli tried to catch up but the Lidl-Trek rider still had something left to increase the gap and avoid company. Filippo Zana also tried to catch up with Garofoli but, although he managed to reach him, they were unable to catch Carlos Verona.

Meanwhile, from the back, also from the start of the climb, INEOS Grenadiers once again set a hard pace to prepare for Egan Bernal's attack. An offensive that came 5 kilometers from the top but this time he couldn't break the group. However, Isaac del Toro had already gone out to close the gap.

But the move left Primoz Roglic at the back of the group, a clear sign that the Slovenian was not doing well. This situation was confirmed when Richard Carapaz launched his attack. It didn't succeed either but Egan Bernal continued the pace, the Ecuadorian took a breath to attack again and this time, although most of the group held on to his wheel, Primoz Roglic faltered and began to open an ultimately insurmountable gap.

Carlos Verona crowned with just 10 seconds over his pursuers while Primoz Roglic lost around 40 seconds. From there, Verona ahead consolidated his lead on the way to victory while Roglic's bleeding gradually increased.

Carlos Verona still had to sweat but, finally, the Lidl-Trek rider managed to reach the finish line victorious in what is only his second victory as a professional, after the one achieved during his time at Movistar in the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2022. Both triumphs of tremendous level for a cyclist who, despite turning professional very young, soon realized that his role was to help others, a role that he has dignified to the point of becoming excellent and that has prevented him from shining more on his own despite the class he possesses.

The group of favorites arrived and the clocks started ticking to stop at 1 minute 30 seconds, practically ruling out Primoz Roglic for the general classification as he accumulated almost 4 minutes of delay compared to Isaac del Toro. On the contrary, Egan Bernal and Richard Carapaz gain ground, with tremendous ambition facing a week of terrain ideal for their characteristics.

Stage 15 Classification

1. Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek) 5h15'41''
2. Florian Stork (Tudor) +22''
3. Christian Scaroni (XDS-Astana) +23''
4. Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL) +23''
5. Nicolar Prodhomme (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +23''
6. Filippo Zana (Jayco-AlUla) +23''
7. Giancarlo Garofoli (Soudal-QuickStep) +26''
8. Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) +29''
9. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) +29''
10. Max Poole (Picnic-PostNL) +29''

General Classification

1. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 55h54'05''
2. Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1'20''
3. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +1'26''
4. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) +2'07''
5. Derek Gee (Israel-PremierTech) +2'54''
6. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) +2'55''
7. Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious ) +3'02''
8. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) +3'38''
9. Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers) +3'45''
10. Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +3'53''