Giro 2026: Valgren wins thriller, Vingegaard still in pink

fotobureau Cor VosIn a thrilling race, Michael Valgren escapes from the lead group just before the flamme rouge. He immediately opens up a significant gap and takes the win ahead of Andreas Leknessund and Damiano Caruso. The peloton takes it easy and crosses the line 5 minutes later. Jonas Vingegaard retains the lead ahead of Felix Gall and Thymen Arensman. (Slideshow route/profile)

Stage 17 Results – 2026 Giro d'Italia

1. Michael Valgren (den) 4:41:33
2. Andreas Leknessund (nor) + 0:03
3. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 0:06
4. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.
5. Einer Rubio (col) s.t.
6. Igor Arrieta (spa) + 0:14
7. Gianmarco Garofoli (ita) + 0:52
8. David de la Cruz (spa) + 1:08
9. Jhonathan Narváez (ecu) + 1:44
10. Mark Donovan (gbr) s.t.

GC after stage 17

1. Jonas Vingegaard (den)
2. Felix Gall (aut) + 4:03
3. Thymen Arensman (nld) + 4:27
4. Jai Hindley (aus) + 5:00
5. Afonso Eulálio (por) + 5:40
6. Derek Gee-West (can) + 7:09
7. Michael Storer (aus) + 7:14
8. Davide Piganzoli (ita) + 7:57
9. Damiano Caruso (ita) 8:34
10. Ben O'Connor (aus) + 9:20

Race report

Attacks fly from the very start, but it takes a long time before the breakaway finally gets clear. In the run-up to the first climb, Niklas Larsen, Jan Christen, Rémi Cavagna, Michael Valgren, Alessandro Tonelli, Manuele Tarozzi and Andreas Leknessund open a gap, which they extend to 2 minutes.

That does not mean things settle down behind, though, because even before the Passo dei Tre Termini begins, a chasing group forms, and just before the summit Davide Bais, Lorenzo Milesi, Mick van Dijke and Frank van den Broek manage to bridge across to the leaders.

Further behind, another chasing group has formed, featuring riders such as Jhonatan Narváez, Enric Mas, Einer Rubio, Giulio Ciccone, David de la Cruz, Aleksandr Vlasov, Florian Stork, Jan Hirt, Gianmarco Garofoli, Michal Valgren, Gijs Leemreize, Fabio Van den Bossche, Igor Arrieta, Jardi Christiaan van der Lee, Juan Pedro López, Simone Gualdi, Mark Donovan and Damiano Caruso. They crest the climb 50 seconds behind the leaders, while the peloton is another minute further back.

On the Cocca di Lodrino, Rémi Cavagna pushes on alone, while the groups behind him merge together. By that point, the peloton’s deficit has already grown to 4 minutes.

The Frenchman extends his lead to 2 minutes over the chasers and 6 minutes over the peloton, but on the climb to Roncone he is reeled back in. At the summit, Jhonatan Narváez wins the intermediate sprint for the points classification, taking back the maglia ciclamino from Paul Magnier.

Valgren, Caruso, Leknessund, López and Garofoli break clear from the front, before Rubio, Vlasov, Arrieta, Van Dijke and De la Cruz join them on a small climb inside the final 30 kilometres to form a ten-man group at the front. The tackle the Andalo Lever climb 30 seconds ahead of Van der Lee, Ciccone, Gualdi, Mas, Hirt, Donovan, Stork and Narváez.

Rubio drops his companions on the climb before Valgren and Arrieta before manage to claw their way back to his wheel. Eventually, the Dane and Colombian crest the summit with a 13-second lead over Arrieta, Leknessund, Vlasov and Caruso.

The six come back together inside the last 2 kilometres before Valgren kicks away just before the flamme rouge. He immediately opens a gap and Leknessund launches the chase, but it is too late. Valgren takes the spoils, claiming his first Grand Tour stage win at the age of 34.

The peloton finishes more than 5 minutes later, with Jonas Vingegaard retaining the lead ahead of Felix Gall and Thymen Arensman.

Another interesting read: route 17th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.