Thursday’s 12th stage of the Giro d’Italia went to Belgian Alec Segaert, who attacked the peloton with 3.3 km to go and held off the field. Segaert’s Bahrain-Victorious teammate Afonso Eulálio retained the pink jersey. Derek Gee-West was top Canadian in 44th.
The Course
Two climbs appeared in quick succession at the midway point of 175 km from Imperia to Novi Ligure but the final 43 km were flat. If sprinters survived the double ascent they could fight it out for the victory. The Red Bull Kilometre was 14 km from the finish line.
Only five riders bothered to break away, but they never rolled up much of a gap before Cat. 3 Colle Giovo. That break was brought back, there was a reset and another one of six bounced away. It hit Colle Giovo with a 2:00 buffer, but with Movistar powering the peloton to eliminate sprinters, the grades wiped out the advantage. With sprinters scattered all the way down the climb, the peloton nabbed the latest break after the crest. Sixty-six kilometres remained.
If any sprinters managed to latch back on between the climbs, Cat. 3 Bric Berton shook them off again. The question was: could the fast men get back in touch before the finale in Novi Ligure? A group containing Magnier and Jonathan Milan was too small to run down the pink jersey peloton. Afonso Eulálio sprung from the group to take the Red Bull Kilometre’s six seconds.
With 7 km to race, Giulio Ciccone attacked but was soon shut down. Segaert was the next to test his legs and things looked promising at the red kite. The young Belgian won by three seconds.
Two small hills close to the finish line are the only things complicating a bunch sprint on Stage 13.
2026 Giro d’Italia, Stage 12
1) Alec Segaert (Belgium/Bahrain-Victorious) 3:53:00
2) Toon Aerts (Belgium/(Lotto Intermarché) +0:03
3) Thomas Guillermo Silva (Uruguay/XDS-Astana) s.t.
44) Derek Gee-West (Canada/Lidl-Trek) s.t.
2026 Giro d’Italia GC
1) Afonso Eulálio (Portugal/Bahrain-Victorious) 44:17:41
2) Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark/Visma-Lease a Bike) +0:33
3) Thymen Arensman (The Netherlands/Netcompany-Ineos) +2:03
4) Felix Gall (Austria/Decathlon-CMA-CGM) +2:30
8) Derek Gee West (Canada/Lidl-Trek) +3:40
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