Giro: Buitrago wins toughest stage,Thomas eyes final victory

(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 26 - Colombia's Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) won in a breakaway on the toughest mountain stage of this year's Giro' d'Italia Friday, the 183km 19th stage from Longarone to the steepling uphill finish at Tre Cime di Lavaredo, this year's highest point in the round-Italy cycling race, or the Cima Coppi after the legendary Fausto Coppi.
    On the Coppi summit of this edition, the Colombian preceded the Canadian Derek Gee, while the pink jersey group with leader Geraint Thomas of Wales was a couple of minutes behind.
    Thomas kept the leader's pink jersey and is now odds-on to win the Giro after fighting off an attack from Slovenia's Primož Roglič, who came in three seconds ahead of the Briton - if Thomas can fend off other attacks in Saturday's uphill time trial on another Dolomite peak.
    Thomas will have to fend off a final assault in the mountain time trial Saturday before the final processions around Rome on Sunday.
    The Monte Lussari is the final climb on the route of the 2023 Giro, headlining the time-trial on stage 20. It is an incredibly difficult climb which features a 4.7-kilometer section at 15%, within a 7.3-kilometer final climb. (ANSA).