Primoz Roglic was poised to win his first Giro d'Italia title after snatching the leader's maglia rosa from Geraint Thomas with an emphatic victory in the 18.6-kilometre individual time trial in the penultimate 20th stage on Saturday.
Jumbo-Visma's Roglic overcame a mechanical issue to win the brutal mountain time trial by 40 seconds as Ineos Grenadiers rider Thomas' title challenge evaporated on the steep slopes of Monte Lussari in the penultimate 20th stage of the race.
"It feels amazing. It's incredible," Roglic said. "My chain dropped but I put it back. I could have lost everything but it's part of racing.
"The crowd gave me some extra watts and I was enjoying the atmosphere and the energy around the event. One day to go. The course is a bit technical. It's not over until it's over, but it looks good."
?? "It feels amazing. It's incredible. My chain dropped but I put it back. I could have lost everything but it's part of racing. The crowd gave me some extra watts and I was enjoying the atmosphere and the energy around the event. One day to go. The course is a bit technical.… pic.twitter.com/232ifJmYzv
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 27, 2023
Roglic, 33, led at the first timecheck and extended his lead over Thomas to 16 seconds halfway up the climb, before hitting a pothole and dropping his chain.
He lost time and momentum while changing bikes but was able to regain his composure and clock the best time of 44 minutes and 23 seconds, turning his 26-second overall deficit into a 14-second lead over Thomas.
Joao Almeida of UAE Team Emirates finished third, 42 seconds behind Roglic.
Saturday's victory will feel like redemption for Roglic, who lost the 2020 Tour de France on the final competitive day of racing, a time trial in which he gave up his lead - and the overall race victory - to fellow Slovenian Tadej Pogacar.
Roglic, who won the Vuelta a Espana in 2019, 2020 and 2021, will take a 14-second lead over Thomas into Sunday's largely processional 135-km flat run through the streets of Rome.
When every pedal stroke brings you closer to legend ??
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 27, 2023
Quando ogni pedalata ti avvicina alla leggenda??@expo2030#Giro #GirodItalia pic.twitter.com/NofIdlIMYL
"I could feel my legs going 1.5km from the top of that climb," Thomas said. "I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses but I just didn't feel like I had that grunt.
"I guess it's nice to lose by that much rather than a second or two, because that would be worse. At least he smashed me. To be honest, Primoz deserves that. He had a mechanical and still put 40 seconds into me, so chapeau to him."
STAGE WINNERS
1. Primož Roglic (SLO) Jumbo - Visma 44:23
2. Geraint Thomas (GBR) INEOS Grenadiers +40
3. João Almeida (POR) UAE Team Emirates +42
4. Damiano Caruso (ITA) Bahrain Victorious +55
5. Thibaut Pinot (FRA) Groupama - FDJ +59
6. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo - Visma +1:05
7. Brandon McNulty (USA) UAE Team Emirates +1:07
8. Thymen Arensman (NED) INEOS Grenadiers +1:18
9. Andreas Leknessund (NOR) Team DSM +1:49
10. Jay Vine (AUS) UAE Team Emirates +1:53
11. Matthew Riccitello (USA) Israel - Premier Tech +1:56
12. Laurens De Plus (BEL) INEOS Grenadiers +2:04
13. Ilan Van Wilder (BEL) Soudal - Quick-Step +2:05
14. Lennard Kämna (GER) BORA - hansgrohe +2:18
15. Aurélien Paret-Peintre(FRA) AG2R - Citroën Team +2:35
16. Filippo Zana (ITA) Team Jayco - AlUla +2:42
17. Santiago Buitrago (COL) Bahrain Victorious +2:44
18. Bruno Armirail (FRA) Groupama - FDJ +2:48
19. Eddie Dunbar (IRL) Team Jayco - AlUla +3:03
20. Koen Bouwman (NED) Jumbo - Visma +3:28
OVERALL LEADERS
1. Primož Roglic (SLO) Jumbo - Visma 82:40:36
2. Geraint Thomas (GBR) INEOS Grenadiers +14
3. João Almeida (POR) UAE Team Emirates +1:15
4. Damiano Caruso (ITA) Bahrain Victorious +4:40
5. Thibaut Pinot (FRA) Groupama - FDJ +5:43
6. Thymen Arensman (NED) INEOS Grenadiers +6:05
7. Eddie Dunbar (IRL) Team Jayco - AlUla +7:30
8. Andreas Leknessund (NOR) Team DSM +7:31
9. Lennard Kämna (GER) BORA - hansgrohe +7:46
10. Laurens De Plus (BEL) INEOS Grenadiers +9:08
11. Einer Rubio (COL) Movistar Team +10:43
12. Ilan Van Wilder (BEL) Soudal - Quick-Step +11:58
13. Santiago Buitrago (COL) Bahrain Victorious +12:21
14. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo - Visma +13:09
15. Aurélien Paret-Peintre (FRA) AG2R - Citroën Team +14:13
16. Bruno Armirail (FRA) Groupama - FDJ +17:16
17. Warren Barguil (FRA) Team Arkéa - Samsic +24:06
18. Filippo Zana (ITA) Team Jayco - AlUla +33:22
19. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious +34:46
20. Patrick Konrad (AUT) BORA - hansgrohe +37:57