The Race of Italy features three key mountain stages. The history of the Giro in this century shows that in the last week it is possible to cancel even a gap of almost five minutes in the fight for the final victory.
On the Športni SOS portal, we are answering your cycling questions related to this year’s Giro. They are fighting for a common victory Geraint Thomas, João Almeida (lag 18 seconds) and Primož Roglič (29). You are still welcome to ask questions (regardless of the sport).
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2139. In this century, how common are the reversals in the last week of the Tour of Italy?Klemen Pahor
If we focus on the last century, we have seen 22 completed Giros, in which there were a total of 15 changes of the pink jersey after the 15th stage.
If we break the last 22 years into two periods of 11 years each, it is interesting that in the first half (i.e. 2001-2011) there were not very many changes (only four in total), but there were much more in the second half (2012-2022) namely 11. The trend is clearly visible here, that the last week is increasingly difficult.
Title of infographic: Giro changes leadership
Corona year 2020 was very special, when the shirt changed hands three times. They carried her João Almeida (led after stages 15, 16 and 17), Wilco Kelderman (18th, 19th), Jay Hindley (20th), and in the end he conquered it Tao Geoghegan Hart.
2140. At that time, how much was the biggest gap that the winner of the race had after the 15th stage?Klemen Pahor
The biggest gap he ever had was 4 minutes and 52 seconds Chris Froome in 2018 behind his compatriot Simon Yates. Details are in the table below.
| A year | Leading after the 15th stage | The ultimate winner | The difference |
| 2018 | Simon Yates | Chris Froome (7th) | 4:52 am |
| 2010 | David Arroyo | Ivan Basso (3rd) | 3:33 am |
| 2020 | João Almeida | Tao Geoghegan Hart (4th) | 2:57 |
| 2016 | Steven Kruijswijk | Vincenzo Nibali (3rd) | 2:51 am |
| 2014 | Rigoberto Uranus | Nairo Quintana (5th) | 2:40 am |
| 2002 | Jens Heppner | Paolo Savoldelli (8th) | 1:49 |
| 2004 | Jaroslav Popovič | Damiano Cunego (6th) | 1:48 |
| 2012 | Joaquim Rodriguez | Ryder Hesjedal (2nd) | 0:30 |
| 2022 | Richard Carapaz | Jai Hindley (2nd) | 0:07 |
Notes:– In brackets for the final winner is their ranking after the 15th stage.− Difference: gap of the final winner behind the leader after the 15th stage.
I mentioned ten upheavals, but there are nine listed, namely in 2017 there was a double upheaval. Tom Dumoulin was leading after the 15th stage, second Nairo Quintana was 2:41 behind. The Colombian managed to attack the lead, before the last stage he had a lead of 53 seconds over the then fourth Dumoulin, who closed the gap in the time trial and finally celebrated by 31 seconds.
Let’s also mention the Giro in 2016, when it Vincenzo Nibali even after the 18th stage for Steven Kruijswijk almost five minutes behind (exactly 4:43), but the Dutchman lost as much as 4:54 in that crucial stage and ultimately finished the Giro in fourth place.
Source: Rtvslo
