Giulio Pellizzari dropped by his own team, finishes 18 minutes down as Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe lose numerical advantage in fight for Giro d'Italia podium

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe suffered a significant setback in their pursuit of the Giro d’Italia podium on stage 16, as Giulio Pellizzari was dropped by his own team during the summit finish to Carì. Despite starting the day as a co-leader alongside Jai Hindley and holding sixth place overall, Pellizzari struggled on the final climb and ultimately finished over 18 minutes behind stage winner Jonas Vingegaard. This dramatic loss effectively ended Pellizzari’s general classification ambitions just five days before the race’s conclusion in Rome, marking a sharp decline for the Italian rider who had been seen as a key contender after his Tour of the Alps victory earlier in the season. The stage itself was marked by intense tactical battles, with Visma-Lease a Bike controlling the early part of the race to set up a showdown on the final 11.6km ascent. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe initially took charge at the front to support both Hindley and Pellizzari, but it soon became clear that Pellizzari was struggling. He was visibly distanced from the main group with around 10km to go, falling behind as the pace intensified. His collapse was unexpected given his prior resilience, especially after overcoming stomach issues earlier in the race, and his deficit ballooned rapidly as the climb progressed. Christian Pomer, Red Bull’s sports director, confirmed that the team had hoped to place both Pellizzari and Hindley on the podium and perhaps even challenge Vingegaard for the overall lead. However, Pellizzari’s loss of strength forced the team to shift focus solely onto Hindley, who managed to secure third place on the stage and remains fourth overall. Pellizzari’s fall from grace saw him drop 13 places in the general classification, now sitting nearly 23 minutes behind the race leader. His immediate goals will likely pivot towards stage hunting or supporting Hindley in the remaining mountain stages. With five days remaining, the battle for the podium has narrowed considerably for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Hindley, a former Giro winner, faces a tough challenge to claw back time on Felix Gall and Thymen Arensman, who currently hold second and third places respectively. Pellizzari’s misfortune underscores the unpredictable nature of Grand Tour racing and highlights the physical and strategic demands placed on riders in the race’s final week. The team’s ability to regroup and focus on Hindley’s podium bid will be crucial as the Giro heads into its decisive stages.