Giulio Pellizzari struggles at Giro d'Italia on Corno alle Scale summit finish due to stomach problems

Giulio Pellizzari’s promising start to the 2026 Giro d’Italia took a downturn on the demanding Corno alle Scale summit finish, where he struggled due to stomach issues. The Italian rider, who had been performing strongly in earlier stages, found himself unable to keep pace with the leading general classification contenders during the steepest part of the climb. Despite efforts from his teammate Giovanni Aleotti to support him, Pellizzari lost contact with the front group and ultimately dropped from sixth to ninth overall after finishing 22nd on the stage, 1 minute and 28 seconds behind the winner Jonas Vingegaard. The stage saw a significant acceleration by teams Visma-Lease a Bike and Decathlon CMA CGM on the final ascent, which proved too much for Pellizzari, who visibly struggled in the closing kilometres. Meanwhile, his co-leader Jai Hindley also faced difficulties but managed to limit his losses, finishing closer to the leaders and moving up to fourth overall. Pellizzari’s performance was a disappointment, especially following his impressive showing on the Blockhaus climb just days earlier, where he had nearly matched Vingegaard’s pace. Pellizzari did not speak to the media immediately after the stage, but his team later confirmed on social media that he had been battling illness throughout the day. Despite his condition, the young Italian showed resilience, managing to limit the damage and maintain a top-ten position in the general classification. The team emphasised his determination and the importance of the upcoming rest day for his recovery, suggesting that a return to form remains possible if he can overcome his stomach problems. With Pellizzari now sitting 5 minutes and 15 seconds behind the race leader Afonso Eulálio, and 2 minutes 51 seconds adrift of Vingegaard, the challenge remains steep but not insurmountable. The rest day could prove crucial in allowing him to recuperate and mount a renewed challenge in the latter stages of the Giro. Meanwhile, the battle for overall victory continues to intensify, with Vingegaard maintaining a strong grip on the race and contenders like Hindley and Thymen Arensman closing the gap.