'I knew I had to seize the opportunity' – Sepp Kuss conquers Dolomites to win stage 19 of Giro d'Italia as general classification shaken up

Sepp Kuss claimed his first Giro d’Italia stage victory on stage 19, conquering the challenging Dolomites to triumph atop the Piani di Pezzè. The American rider from Visma-Lease a Bike outpaced his breakaway companions in a dramatic finale, capitalising on a late catch of Giulio Ciccone, who had earlier secured the Cima Coppi for the highest point of the race. Kuss’s win adds to his impressive palmarès, which already includes stage victories at the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, completing a grand tour stage win hat-trick. The stage was marked by aggressive racing, with a large breakaway forming early on the Passo Duran and significant moves on the steep Passo Giau climb. Michael Storer’s attack, followed by Derek Gee-West, reshaped the race dynamics, allowing Gee-West to gain time on other general classification (GC) contenders. Ciccone’s efforts earned him maximum mountain points and the blue jersey lead, but it was Kuss’s relentless pursuit in the valley and final climb that secured his victory, despite initially feeling demotivated when Ciccone appeared to have a substantial lead. Jonas Vingegaard, Kuss’s teammate and the race leader, maintained his strong position by matching attacks from rivals Felix Gall and Jai Hindley on the final climb, extending his overall advantage to four minutes. Hindley moved onto the podium, replacing Thymen Arensman, while Gee-West’s performance elevated him into the top five of the GC, displacing former pink jersey holder Afonso Eulálio. The Visma-Lease a Bike team’s dominance was further underlined by their riders winning every mountain-top finish this year, with Kuss’s stage win following four victories by Vingegaard. Kuss reflected on his win by emphasising the importance of seizing opportunities, noting that his primary objective remained supporting Vingegaard’s bid for the pink jersey. The stage’s outcome has shaken up the general classification ahead of the final mountain day, with several riders still within striking distance. Saturday’s concluding mountain stage promises to be decisive in determining the ultimate winner of this year’s Giro d’Italia.