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.
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