Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team) has won Stage 16 of the 2025 Giro d’Italia, the 203 km long Piazzola sul Brenta-San Valentino (Brentonico), ahead of Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team) and Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe).
Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG) retains the Maglia Rosa.
The stage, ending in San Valentino, was the first truly mountainous stage of this year’s Giro – over a 203 km course, the riders tackled four major climbs, including an 18-km summit finish.
Three XDS Astana Team riders – Lorenzo Fortunato, Christian Scaroni, and Fausto Masnada – made it into the breakaway after attacking on the day’s first climb, the Carbonare. On the way to the finish, Fortunato won all the mountain primes, significantly strengthening his lead in the King of the Mountains classification. On the final climb, attacks from first Scaroni and then Fortunato proved decisive – the two XDS Astana Team riders dropped all their rivals and finished together, securing a brilliant one-two victory.
Speaking in the press conference, the stage winner Christian Scaroni said: “I’m still trying to realize that we won today! It was an amazing day for the whole team. We worked perfectly from the start, got into the breakaway at the right time, and did a lot of work at the front to help Lorenzo (Fortunato) score maximum points for the mountain classification. It was a really tough stage – long climbs don’t suit me much – but together with my teammates we executed the perfect strategy. On the final climb, Lorenzo and I attacked at the right moment and ended up alone. I want to thank Lorenzo especially for this stage and this victory. We won it together! I dedicate this win to the whole XDS Astana Team, my family, and my girlfriend.”
2025 Giro d’Italia: Stage 16 Brief Results
- Â Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team) – 203 km in 5h35’05”, av speed 36.349 km/h
- Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team) s.t.
- Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) at 55″
The Maglia Rosa Isaac Del Toro said: “It was a very hard day for everybody. Even all GC riders were at the limit. It was the pure spirit of cycling. I can’t be prouder of the team. Without them, I couldn’t be in this position. I didn’t have the best legs of my life but that wasn’t an excuse. I did my best with the energy I had. The experience of my team-mates helped me tremendously today. I’m super happy because I reached the finishing without any gramme of energy left. I wanted to make them think that I’m 100% trying to keep this jersey. I hope to have better legs tomorrow. I’m not someone who wants to believe in confidence, I just hope to do it and if there’s a smart move, I want to make sure that I’ll be there. I don’t have this type of confidence in me but I believe I can do it. Visma and UAE, we tried to put a high speed on the climb, there was a little bit of a head wind. Simon [Yates] spent a little bit, they used the steep climb to their favour. When [Richard] Carapaz went, I tried to keep a near distance, I wanted to work with him but I didn’t have the best legs for that. I fought till the end. He was stronger. I have no regrets. I spoke with Juan Ayuso in the morning, he didn’t have the best feelings. He had two crashes. We tried to manage a little bit when he had a hard time on the second climb. He had a bad day. The three riders [behind me on GC] are dangerous. They’re different kinds of riders. We need to be careful. I don’t have one favourite”.
General Classification After Stage 16
- Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Simon Yates (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) at 26″
- Richard Carapaz (EF Education – EasyPost) at 31″
- Derek Gee (Israel – Premier Tech) at 1’31”
- Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) at 2’40”
Official Jerseys
- Maglia Rosa, leader of the General Classification, sponsored by IUMAN – Intimissimi Uomo – Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
- Maglia Ciclamino, leader of the Points Classification, in collaboration with Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale and ITA Italian Trade Agency – Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
- Maglia Azzurra, leader of the Gran Premio della Montagna (KOM), sponsored by Banca Mediolanum – Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team)
- Maglia Bianca, Best Young Rider, born after 01/01/2000, sponsored by Conad -Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG) – worn by Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
Ron is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.
Websites:
Bike World News
Ron’s Bike Garage
Current Bike Quiver:
Bird Bikes Zero 29 29″ hardtail mountain bike
Commencal Absolut 26″ Dirt Jump/Pump Track bike
Commencal Tempo 29″ full suspension mountain bike
Felt ZA 700c race bike
Kona Kilauea vintage 26″ mountain bike
Niner RLT9 700c road/gravel bike
Specialized Stumpjumper vintage 26″ mountain bike
Day Job: Digital Marketing
Night Job: Digital Marketing, eCommerce Consultant, Web Consultant, Bike Shop Operator, Husband, Dad, Tenor
Discover more from Bike World News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.