Giro d’Italia: Alberto Bettiol marches to solo victory on stage 13 vaulting from breakaway on final climb

Bettiol, who lives just across the border in Switzerland, reeled in and caught Norwegian champion Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility) 13km from the line in the final kilometre of the 189km stage’s closing hill. He then showed his knowledge of the local roads to race to a 20-second advantage, which he defended all the way to the line.

Leknessund had no shot of making it back to Bettiol, but he did at least hang on to take second place, 26 seconds back. Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) led home the next group home – four riders rom the initial 15-man breakaway – to round out the podium at 44 seconds.

“Today in theory I won already before the start because I had all my family here and my second family because my girlfriend and all her family are from Verbania, so I consider Verbania my second home,” Bettiol said after the win.

“Having all of them – my brother, my father, my mum, and all the people who have always been around me – it was already a victory for me. But winning like this is something I will take with me forever.

“It doesn’t matter if it was two years since I won, but if I win like this, I’m happy to win every two years.

“I knew every single corner in the last 50km because I train here sometimes. I saw this climb a couple of months ago with a bike, with a motorbike, and I saw the film of the downhill several times. I knew the last kilometre was really really strong.

“I expected somebody from the climbers to attack stronger because this climb is really on the limit for me. But I knew the shape was good, and also I knew the fact that I knew the climb really helped me and that’s how I won.

“I’m so happy to have finally with this jersey. I’m happy because Vino really believed in me two years ago and he really wanted me in his team. Finally, I paid him back. I think, in general, that all of my teammates did a really amazing Giro so far, so I’m happy that I can also be part of this amazing Giro d’Italia for…