'I knew every single corner in the last 50km' – Alberto Bettiol solos from breakaway to Giro d'Italia stage 13 victory

Alberto Bettiol secured a remarkable solo victory on stage 13 of the Giro d’Italia, crossing the finish line in Verbania after breaking away from a 15-rider group. The Italian rider, representing XDS-Astana, launched a decisive attack on the summit of a category-three climb with 13 kilometres remaining and maintained his lead to the finish. The stage, which covered 189 kilometres from Alessandria to the shores of Lake Maggiore, showcased Bettiol’s strength and tactical acumen, earning him a well-deserved win in front of a supportive home crowd. Bettiol attributed his success to intimate local knowledge of the course, having trained extensively in the nearby Swiss town of Lugano and studied the route’s challenging terrain in detail. He explained that familiarity with every corner in the final 50 kilometres, combined with a thorough reconnaissance of the climb and its demanding descent, gave him the confidence to time his attack perfectly. Despite anticipating a stronger move from the climbers, Bettiol’s excellent form and course insight proved decisive in holding off his rivals. Finishing second was Andreas Leknessund of Uno-X Mobility, who was dropped by Bettiol’s acceleration but still managed to secure a solid runner-up spot, 26 seconds behind. Jasper Stuyven of Soudal Quick-Step completed the podium in third place. Bettiol’s triumph marked the third stage win for XDS-Astana in this year’s Giro, following earlier successes by Guillermo Thomas Silva and Davide Ballerini, and ended a five-year wait for the Italian to claim a stage victory on home soil. The general classification remained unchanged after the stage, with Afonso Eulálio of Bahrain Victorious retaining the overall lead ahead of Jonas Vingegaard by 33 seconds. Looking ahead, the peloton faces a challenging 14th stage, a short but punishing 133-kilometre route through the Aosta Valley featuring a summit finish in Pila and over 4,300 metres of climbing. Bettiol’s performance not only adds excitement to the race but also highlights the importance of course knowledge and strategic timing in grand tour success.