Alberto Bettiol wins Giro d’Italia stage 13 in Verbania

Italian cyclist Alberto Bettiol won stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia on Friday with a perfectly timed attack on the final climb, securing a solo victory in Verbania on the shores of Lake Maggiore. The 32-year-old rider for XDS Astana caught and passed Norwegian Andreas Leknessund near the summit of the Ungiasca ascent before holding his advantage on the descent to the finish line.

Bettiol completed the 189-kilometer stage from Alessandria in three hours, 51 minutes, and 33 seconds, finishing 26 seconds ahead of Leknessund of UnoX Mobility. Jasper Stuyven of Belgium won a sprint from a small chasing group to take third place, 44 seconds behind the winner. The main peloton, containing all the general classification contenders, finished over 13 minutes later, ensuring no changes to the overall standings.

The victory marked Bettiol's second career Giro stage win, his first since 2021, and ended a personal win drought of several years. He attributed his success to intimate knowledge of the local roads, stating he had trained in the area and studied the descent. He also highlighted the personal significance of winning in Verbania, where his girlfriend's family lives, calling it his...