Michael Valgren conquers Andalo after a great escape in the Giro and the favorites are still strong

The Danish cyclist Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost) has achieved victory in the seventeenth stage of the Giro d’Italia 2026, held this Wednesday over 202 kilometers between Cassano d’Adda and Andalo, after winning the final stretch over his teammates in a numerous breakaway that marked the future of the day, while the favorites maintained a truce in the main peloton and Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma|Lease a Bike) continues to lead.

The day, favorable for ambushes in their transition from the plain of Lombardy to the mountainous foothills of Trentino, was led by a massive breakaway of 29 runners who came to enjoy an advantage of more than five minutes over the main group.

Among the adventurers, the Spanish Enric Mas and Juan Pedro López (Movistar Team), David de la Cruz (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) stood out, who unsuccessfully sought the prize of stage victory.

After the scoring passes through the Passo dei Tre Termini and the Cocca di Lodrino, the race entered a phase of maximum tension in the final kilometers. The French cyclist Rémi Cavagna (Groupama-FDJ United) tried his luck alone, but his attempt was neutralized by the chasing group with 50 kilometers to go, before facing the final slopes of Andalo-Lever.

In the last 11 kilometers, characterized by a dizzying descent and a subsequent very demanding final climb, the Colombian Einer Rubio (Movistar Team) and Valgren launched the attack for victory, opening an insurmountable gap with respect to a combative Arrieta, who gave ground in the last breath. There, the Dane showed greater freshness in the 700-meter finish line on the asphalt of Andalo to raise his arms alone.

For its part, the peloton led by the ‘pink jersey’, Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), completed the day at a controlled pace, accepting the advantage of the escapees and saving strength for the decisive high mountain blocks that await in the coming days in the Dolomites before the end of the Italian round. The Giro will continue this Thursday with the dispute of the eighteenth stage between Fai della Paganella and Pieve di Soligo.