Giro d'Italia 2025 Stage 19 recap - Nicolas Prohomme holds on for big win as Isaac del Toro extends lead over Richard Carapaz by two seconds

Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) came through the penultimate mountain test of the Giro d’Italia with flying colours, soaring to second place ahead of his pink jersey rival Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) as Frenchman Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) bravely held on to win Stage 19 in Champoluc.

Just three weeks after notching the first win of his career in the Tour of the Alps, 28-year-old Prodhomme came of age in the brutal 166km stage through the sweltering Val d’Aosta in the Italian Alps – the last-man standing from an initial four-man move that grew in numbers before being picked off, one by one, by the GC riders behind.

After trying his luck on the penultimate climb of the Col de Joux, Carapaz put in another attack on the final climb to Antagnod to distance all his top 10 rivals except the man in pink. Del Toro followed in the Ecuadorian’s wheel over the summit – and then pipped Carapaz in the sprint for second place, to extend his lead in the general classification to 43 seconds ahead of Saturday’s showdown to Sestriere.

Britain’s Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished in a select chase group 24 seconds back to retain his third place in the standings but dropped to 1:21 in arrears on the eve of the race’s return to the Colle delle Finestre, where he imploded while wearing pink in 2018.

Canada’s Derek Gee (Israel-PremierTech) was tailed off on the final descent into Champoluc and fell to 2:32 behind in fourth place overall.

But the day belonged to that man Prodhomme, who refused to throw in the towel after riding clear of fellow escapees Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) and Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek) on the Col de Joux with 28km remaining, before benefitting from the GC stalemate behind to secure the biggest win of his career.

Asked what the plan was for today, Simon Yates said: "Completely different to what we did, so I’ll have to review that with the team."

Asked to elaborate, he added: "No, I don’t want to say anything."

Pressed on whether tomorrow’s longer climb of the Colle delle Finestre would suit him better than the other GC favourites, a disgruntled Yates said: "I don’t know. It’s also gravel halfway up, so… I prefer not to do that either. But we’ll see how the legs are. The legs were good today so hopefully the same tomorrow and I can try something."

Brandon McNulty enters the top 10 at the expense of his team-mate Adam Yates while Michael Storer rises one place despite losing time on the last descent. It’s still a four-horse race but both Derek Gee and Simon Yates will need something special tomorrow to move into pink.

1 Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
2. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) +43
3. Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1:21
4. Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) +2:32
5. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) +3:36
6. Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) +5:13
7. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) +5:46
8. Einer Rubio (Movistar) +6:39
9. Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling) +9:11
10. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +9:33

So, Storer loses almost a minute and Gee a handful of seconds after that descent…

1 Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale)
2. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +58
3. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) "
4. Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) +1:22
5. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) "
6. Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) "
7. Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike) "
8. Rafal Majka (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) "
9. Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) "
10. Einer Rubio (Movistar) "
11. Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) +1:27
12. Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) "
13. Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling) +2:17

A nightmare finish for Giulio Pellizzari, who crashes on the final bend as the chasers powered to the line around 30 seconds down. He’s okay and gets back up and on his bike, but that’s not ideal for the Red Bull leader.

And it’s another nightmare descent for Michael Storer, who comes home a further 50-odd seconds back after being tailed off – just as he was on the Mortirolo downhill.

And the Mexican will extend his lead by a couple of seconds thanks to the bonuses for second place – what a blistering turn of pace on the home straight. A champagne finish in Champoluc.

The Frenchman was in that initial four-man breakaway that was bolstered by reinforcements after the first climb. He’d never won a bike race before last month – and he’s now a Giro d’Italia stage winner. What a ride from the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale man. Chapeau!

Still over a minute for Nicolas Prodhomme, who is on the cusp of his best day on a bike. Del Toro and Carapaz have 20 seconds on the chasers, so the gains may be very little – although the remaining bonus seconds will be a source of motivation.

Simon Yates is battling to limit his losses out there and stay in the fight for pink. You’d think Derek Gee would be out of the picture if he sinks over two minutes back. But tomorrow is a monster stage and someone could take a lot of time in the same way that Chris Froome did back in 2018.

Prodhomme will win today provided he doesn’t pick up a puncture or hit the deck.

The Frenchman has one minute to play with as he crests the summit and starts the descent towards glory. Can he hold on? Behind, Carapaz and Del Toro are trading blows – and they have 30 seconds on the other GC riders.

Yates and Pellizzari were leading the chase until Derek Gee put in a rasping attack to help close the gap a little on Del Toro and Carapaz, who trail Prodhomme by one minute ahead of the summit.

Finally, some action as the Ecuadorian pulls the trigger and takes Del Toro with him. Slow reaction from behind with Gee and Yates eventually stirring into action. But all of a sudden, 20 seconds of Prodhomme’s lead has gone.

Watching from the back of a motorbike, Adam Blythe thinks Prodhomme will take the win today on Champoluc. But has he spoken too soon…?

With no attacks behind, our lone leader gets closer to his goal with every pedal stroke. He still has 1’38" with just 3km of the climb to go – and he will hold on to take the win if no one attacks behind and he doesn’t come a cropper on the descent.

What a ride this is from the 28-year-old, who won’t be forgetting his April/May in a hurry. He’s now extended his lead to 1’35" as he comes to within 5km of the summit. If he can hold on over the top then the win will likely be his – provided demon descender Del Toro is not within striking distance of the lone leader…

The Frenchman’s lead is up to 1’20" again as he buries himself on the Cat.2 climb to Antagnod (9.5km at 4.5%). There are some stinging 11% ramps that will put him firmly in the hurt locker, but the longer the stalemate behind continues, the better his chances become.

The Frenchman reaches the bottom of the descent with an increased lead of one minute over the big-hitting chasers. Just the one Cat.2 ascent to go, then the 6km downhill run to the line. It’s a cats-and-mouse situation for Prodhomme.

The Frenchman has 55 seconds to play with as he starts the penultimate descent of the day. Behind, Majka is back on the front for his UAE leader Del Toro – until Pellizzari puts in a probing acceleration, forcing a reply from the Pole ahead of the descent.

The first attack comes from the man who won on the Col de Joux in the Tour de France a few years ago. Del Toro and Yates have it covered, before Gee leads the others back on. An early leg-stretcher from the Ecuadorian – but not the decisive move.