Italy’s Alberto Bettiol completed only the second Giro d’Italia stage win of his career after storming to victory in Verbania.
Bettiol overhauled closest rival Andreas Leknessund in the climb up stage 13’s Ungiasca and then powered clear on the descent to finish 26 seconds in front of the Norwegian, with Jasper Stuyven of Belgian finishing third.
Portugal’s Afonso Eulalio retains the pink jersey, holding a 33-second lead over favourite Jonas Vingegaard.
“In theory I had already won before the start because I had all my family here, and my second family because my girlfriend and all her family are from Verbania,” Bettiol said.
“Having all of them here – my brother, my father, my mom and all the few people that have always been around me – the victory was all ready for me. Winning like this is something that will stay with me forever.
“I knew every single corner in the last 50km because sometimes I train here. The fact that I knew the climb really helped me and that’s how I won.”
