Alberto Bettiol powered to victory on stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia, exploding up the final climb in the Italian lakes under bright sunshine. The 32‑year‑old XDS‑Astana rider edged Norway’s Andreas Leknessund by 26 seconds after a daring acceleration that sent him over a drain grate. Jasper Stuyven rounded out the podium, 44 seconds back. The crowd roared as he crossed the line.

Bettiol’s win adds a second Giro stage to a résumé that already includes the 2019 Tour of Flanders. He credited intimate knowledge of the course, noting family ties to Verbania and training on the final 50km. The victory lifts his team morale ahead of the looming Alpine stage, where Visma‑Lease a Bike’s Jonas Vingegaard hopes to claim pink. His performance also earns valuable UCI points for the Italian squad.

In the general classification, Portugal’s Afonso Eulalio clings to the pink jersey, 33 seconds clear of two‑time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard. Vingegaard, who dismissed illness rumors, insists he feels 100 % ahead of Saturday’s mountain showdown. The time gaps set a tense battle for the overall lead as the race heads toward Rome on 31 May on the iconic climbs.