Pedersen powers to fourth Giro d’Italia stage win with late burst in Vicenza
ROME: Mads Pedersen clinched his fourth stage victory of the 2025 Giro d’Italia in spectacular fashion on Friday, launching a perfectly timed sprint to triumph on stage 13. The Danish rider surged ahead in the uphill finish at Vicenza, narrowly beating Wout van Aert in a thrilling finale to the 180 km stage from Rovigo.
Pedersen, sitting fourth with just meters to go, found a narrow gap near the barriers and accelerated decisively, with Van Aert locked on his wheel but unable to close the gap. “Timing my effort was dictated by instinct,” Pedersen said after the win. “I had to open up a bit earlier than I wanted to. I’m happy with this win and adding another 50 points for the Maglia Ciclamino.”
Isaac del Toro, the 21-year-old overall leader, gained valuable bonus seconds in the intermediate sprint and managed a strong third-place finish. While he couldn’t match the sprinters in the final burst, his performance was enough to slightly extend his lead and keep the pink jersey.
The stage’s uphill drag and high intensity made it a brutal test, but Pedersen’s power and precision once again proved decisive in a race that continues to deliver gripping finishes.
