Giro’26 St9: Vingegaard Strikes Again on Corno alle Scale

Jonas Vingegaard continued to assert his dominance in the 2026 Giro d’Italia by claiming victory on Stage 9, which finished atop the climb of Corno alle Scale. The Danish rider patiently marked Felix Gall’s aggressive attack before delivering a decisive counter-attack in the final kilometre, securing his second stage win of the race. Despite Gall’s valiant effort to shake off Vingegaard, the maglia rosa, Afonso Eulálio, managed to defend his overall lead, maintaining the pink jersey as the race approached its second rest day. The stage featured a tactical battle from the outset, with early breakaway attempts by riders such as Davide Ballerini, Lorenzo Milesi, and Edward Planckaert, before a stronger group of eight riders formed and gained a moderate advantage. The peloton, led by Bahrain Victorious to protect Eulálio, kept the break in check, while Decathlon CMA CGM’s presence at the front signalled their intent to animate the race. Giulio Ciccone reignited the action with a bold attack on the climb of Querciola, briefly threatening to stay away, but the favourites’ group remained vigilant. Among the general classification contenders, Giulio Pellizzari, once considered a major rival to Vingegaard, faltered on the steep slopes of Corno alle Scale, losing contact with the leading group. This moment of weakness allowed Felix Gall to launch a powerful attack with 2.5 kilometres remaining, forcing a selection in the favourites’ group. Only Vingegaard could respond to Gall’s acceleration, and the two riders quickly distanced themselves from the rest. However, Vingegaard’s final surge in the closing kilometre proved unstoppable, leaving Gall unable to respond and sealing the stage win. Speaking after the stage, Vingegaard praised his team’s efforts and expressed satisfaction with the victory, highlighting the competitive spirit of his rivals and the importance of his teammates’ support. Meanwhile, Eulálio’s resilience was evident as he limited his losses to 41 seconds, preserving his lead in the general classification ahead of the upcoming time trial. With the rest day now underway, the race remains finely balanced, setting the stage for further drama in the coming stages of the Giro.