Julian Alaphilippe, a two-time world champion, made history by winning the hilly 12th stage of the Giro d’Italia with a solo breakaway. This was his first victory in the race, adding to his impressive list of accomplishments in other races. Tadej Pogacar, the current pink jersey holder, finished safely in the main pack to retain his lead in the overall standings.
Alaphilippe completed the 120-mile route from Martinsicuro to Fano in just over 4 hours, which included four fourth-category climbs. Jhonatan Narvaez narrowly beat Quinten Hermans in a two-man sprint for second place, finishing 31 seconds behind Alaphilippe. Pogacar and the peloton crossed the finish line over 5 minutes later. Despite the competitive nature of the race, Pogacar expressed admiration for Alaphilippe’s stellar performance and skill, noting that only champions are capable of such impressive actions.
Sprinter Fabio Jakobsen withdrew from the race before the start of the stage due to a crash. The upcoming Stage 13 features a flat route from Riccione to Cento, followed by an individual time trial and three challenging mountain stages. The Giro is set to conclude in Rome in ten days, with Pogacar aiming to secure victories in both the Giro and the Tour de France this year.
