"This gentlemen, is a high mountain stage with a long flat drag in the final part of the route, before the closing climb. Nobody is allowed to try something today, unless you feel amazing. I want us to stay sharp until tomorrow. So stay out of trouble please. Either way, more about today, the stage starts from San Candido for the first time in the history of the Giro. The peloton will climb up Passo di Monte Croce Comelico and Cima Sappada on relatively wide and well-paved roads, with a long descent then leading all the way to Tolmezzo. Next comes the Sella Chianzutan categorised summit. Along the descent, the route passes through a few porphyry-paved tunnels, and then levels until Aviano, where the final climb begins. Arrival in Piancavallo, as it happened in 1998, stage won by the late great Pantani. The final 15 km run entirely uphill. The first 10 kilometres go up at very steep gradients - around 9% and topping out at 14%. With 10.9 km to go, the road levels out and even descends a little, then climbs up again (passing through an avalanche gallery) with milder gradients (max. 8%). The final kilometre is quite sinuous, still climbing slightly.
Let's get to the finish safely please. Let's ride!"
Before the climb of Monte Croce Comelico, the break went. The riders eying a chance for a stage win, as the GC contenders might want to save their energy until the last climb.
Over the top of Croce Comelico, Sergey Chernetskiy was the first man over - as the breakaway was still together.
Then the climb of Cima Sappada came around, and the breakaway had buildt a sizeable gap at this point, 16' minutes.
At the summit of Sappada, Ivan Santaromita led the group over. As Bernard had allready won the KOM competition.
The descent went fine for the breakaway, the peleton however, was not so lucky. A large group of riders went down, including Simon Yates. Chaos insude.
Then the most dramatic and important climb of the day was on the menu, in the front, Stef Clement led the group into the first part. As the stage winner was in this group for sure.
After 50 meters of climbing, Clement went for it, attacking hard.
With 10 KM left of the stage, Clement now had a managable gap of 25' seconds.
Several minutes after the break had blown by, the peleton hit the climb of Aviano that leads the riders to the top of Piancavallo. Julian Bernard, being inspired by Pantani, the last winner of this climb, went for it.
Bernards attack was for nothing, as Pozzovivo tried his luck - on his wheel however - everybody.
Further up the road, Clement had been caught by Ben Gastauer - who then went straight on the counter. Now leading the race.
With 5 KM left, Gauster had a gap of 47' seconds. Is he todays winner?
Nibali went on the attack, with Dumoulin on his wheel. Separation time - as Esteban Chaves and Simon Yates was in trouble.
Nibali set a high pace, and the Maglia Rosa and Landa could not keep up.
Ben Gastauer wins the 19th stage in an impressive showing.
With 5 KM left for Nibali, he had put a distance between himself and the duo chasing behind. Drama alert!
With 1 KM left, Nibali had a gap of 23' seconds as Domoulin was pacing himself behind. Every second is gold for Nibali at this point, keeping his head down.
The Maglia Rosa was now in trouble however, as Landa had passed him and also gaining time.
Nibali gains time, as Gastauer wins the stage. A dramatic stage, luckely for us, we got trough safely. Two stages left now, as we have two jerseys, we intend to keep them.
"Today we attack, the last chance to do something before the time trail tomorrow. So here, about the stage. It starts from Pordenone which has already hosted 6 stages in the history of the Giro. Then the first 100 km are on relatively flat roads, at the foot of the Prealps in the province of Treviso, with a categorised summit at Muro di Ca’ del Poggio and an intermediate sprint in Feltre. The route then climbs up Monte Grappa (24 km conquered in 2014 by Nairo Quintana and in 2010 by Ivan Basso), on narrowed roadway. The climb is steep and sharp at first, then the gradient declines, with a few changes in slopes before the categorised summit. A very long (26 km) and technical descent follows, with several hairpins and on moderately wide roads. The route then takes in the last climb in Foza (unprecedented KOM at the Giro, rising steadily at a 7% gradient, with a number of hairpins). The final 15 km are rolling and wavy. The route descends slightly over the last 5 km, up to 400 m before the finish."
The break went early, as everybody expected. It consisted of three riders.
At the foot of the climb of Muro di Ca’ del Poggio, the break had almost two minutes.
There was no fight for points over the top, as Julian Bernard had allready won the competition.
The first part of the race was rather uneventful. At the start of the climb of Monte Grappa the breakaway now had over 2'30" on the field chasing behind.
Now things started to happen, as the speed dropped in the peleton, Julian Bernard must have had the legs - as he made a surge to breakaway from the peleton.
Bernard managed to bridge the gap right before the top, and quickly went straight on the counter.
Over the top, Bernard - like he had been for most of this Giro, was the first man over.
At the foot of Foza, the quartet had over four minutes to the field. Was todays winner in this group?
Then, what everybody had been waiting for. Landa went on the move, trying to make up time on the Maglia Rosa.
Bahrain-Merida brought back Landa, but has he was caught - Uran went on the counter.
Up the field, Bernard had rode away from the rest. At the same time, Nibali made his move.
Tom Dumoulin in trouble! Nibali and Landa had now opend up a gap of 24' seconds.
Over the top, Bernard had over two minutes on Nibali. Could he hold on?
Domoulin and the rest managed to bring Nibali back before the descent. The hunt for Bernard was now on.
With the finishline drawing ever closer, the group behind Bernard stopped working together. Was this the chance Bernard needed?
Julian Bernard all alone, as he claims stage 20 to Asiago. What a Giro this has been for the frenchman.
Tom Dumoulin takes the sprint behind, getting the mental advantage before the time trail tomorrow.
What a stage for us, present in the morning break and the stage for Bernard. This Giro has been amazing for us!
"Good morning everybody! I hope you all enjoyed the get together last night. Personally, i could use some more sleep, but hey! It's the last day - so let's get out there and show ourselfs from our best side. Im to hungover to talk anymore, let's just ride."
Tom Bohli(BMC Racing Team) was the fastest rider after the first four riders had crossed the first time check in Villa Reale.
Then Kris Boeckmans(Lotto - Soudal) came right after, and crushed his time by 21' seconds
Kris Boeckmans(Lotto - Soudal) managed to hold the tempo high as he crossed the line, and was the new leader of the stage
Back in Villa Reale, it looked like Kris Boeckmans(Lotto - Soudal) time was a strong one. Until Manuel Quinziato(BMC Racing Team) rolled over the line 6' seconds faster
Manuel Quinziato(BMC Racing Team) continued to build his gap, and at the finish he now lead the race with a 8' seconds advantage
Now things was starting to heat up, as Jos Van Emden(Team Lotto NL - Jumbo) now was the new leader at the first time check
He rode strong for the rest of the stage, and Jos Van Emden(Team Lotto NL - Jumbo) was the new stage leader. As he managed to go under 37 minutes
Now the pre-race favourites was starting to set fast times. As Vasil Kiryienka(Team Sky) was the new leader in Milano with the time of 35'47"
Simon Yates(Orica - Scott) was in trouble, as he was no where near the front as he passed the first time check
Thibaut Pinot(FDJ) was next as he managed to keep somewhat up with Vasil Kiryienka(Team Sky) as he was only 14' seconds behind
Mikel Landa(Team Sky), one of the four riders in contension for the last step on the podium, rolled over only 10' seconds behind his fellow Team Sky rider Vasil Kiryienka
Right behind him came the only man that might be able to overtake the race leader today and win on his home turf of Italy. Vincenzo Nibali(Bahrain - Merida) set the new best time after the first time check. Now everybody was waiting for the maglia rosa of Tom Dumoulin(Team Sunweb)
Tom Dumoulin(Team Sunweb) crushed the competition in Villa Reale, allready leading by 18' seconds to Vincenzo Nibali(Bahrain - Merida)
Now the stage was starting to come to an end, as Simon Yates(Orica - Scott crossed the line. The young brit could not be happy with his performance today
Thibaut Pinot(FDJ) came after, and he defended his top 10 in the GC
Mikel Landa(Team Sky) finishes the stage, 17' seconds behind the stage leader Vasil Kiryienka(Team Sky)
Vincenzo Nibali(Bahrain - Merida) rode fantastic today, as he crossed the line in Milano, he managed to beat Vasil Kiryienka(Team Sky) by 13' seconds.
Tom Dumoulin(Team Sunweb) takes the stage in Milano aswell as the GC. What a Giro for the Dutch rider.
Great stage win for Julien on stage 20 and the team will look back on the Giro as a pretty successful race by taking home the mountains and points classification's
Vincenzo Nibali
Mikel Landa
Daniel Martin
Tom Dumoulin
Rigoberto Urán
Ben Gastauer
Pieter Serry
Nelson Oliveira
Sergey Chernetskiy
Thibaut Pinot
Simon Yates
Caleb Ewan
Gregor Mühlberger
BMC Racing Team
Bahrain - Merida
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Vasil Kiryienka
Jasha Sütterlin
Lawson Craddock
