Giro d'Italia Chaos: Roglic and Tarling Crash Out of Race

The Giro d'Italia takes a dramatic turn as multiple crashes force top riders to abandon, including 2023 winner Primoz Roglic and stage 2 winner Joshua Tarling.

Christian Scaroni claimed victory in the grueling Stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia, navigating the challenging 203-kilometer route from Piazzola sul Brenta to San Valentino. The stage featured four brutal climbs with a total elevation gain of nearly 4,900 meters, complicated by heavy rainfall that led to multiple crashes.

The stage win came as a significant development in the overall standings, with Isaac Del Toro's rivals closing the gap on him. Meanwhile, a major shake-up occurred with top contender Primoz Roglic abandoning the race, altering the dynamics of the competition.

Scaroni and his teammate Lorenzo Fortunato formed a decisive breakaway on the final climb, a grueling 12.6km stretch with an average gradient of 8.3%. They built a substantial lead, securing a one-two finish for the Astana Qazaqstan Team.

“I'm really happy to win a stage of the Giro d’Italia,” Scaroni said, expressing his elation. “Lorenzo Fortunato and I fought very hard and very well. He let me win the stage. I was at the limit in the last kilometre. It was very steep there,” he added, acknowledging his teammate's support in the intense final push.

Giulio Pellizzari of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe claimed third place, resulting in an all-Italian podium finish for the stage.

In the overall standings, Isaac Del Toro's lead narrowed significantly as he struggled in the final 3km. The Mexican rider now holds a slim 26-second advantage over Simon Yates of Visma-Lease a Bike, who gained ground alongside Richard Carapaz of EF Education-EasyPost.

Richard Carapaz delivered a strong performance on the final climb, significantly closing the gap to Isaac Del Toro in the overall standings. Starting the day over two minutes behind, Carapaz's explosive effort left him just 31 seconds shy of Del Toro's lead.

“At the end we knew it was a real key stage here, I think I went well and I demonstrated what I've worked, everything it's cost me to get here and be here once again,” Carapaz said, reflecting on his determined ride and the effort he put into reining in Del Toro's lead.

 

¡Dominio local! Christian #Scaroni se quedó con la etapa 16 del #GroDItalia y cruzó la meta de la mano de su compañero Lorenzo #Fortunato. Llegó tercero Giulio #Pellizzari. 👏🇮🇹

🇪🇨 #Carapaz 4° pic.twitter.com/ALEoje4Zfn

— ESPN Ciclismo (@ESPNCiclismo) May 27, 2025

“I think in the last few years I haven't had the aptitude, the shape to be here in this moment but that was the motivation to get myself up and go ahead and be here and try it once more.

“And good, I think we're good to give a big battle and go for it.”

Roglic's Giro d'Italia Bid Ends in Crashes

Primoz Roglic's title aspirations took a devastating turn as he abandoned the Giro d'Italia after another crash on a downhill section, this time alongside Richard Carapaz. The incident marked a tough day for the 2023 winner, who had already suffered two crashes in the previous week. A significant crash on Saturday had put his continued participation in doubt, with his team's sports director hinting at a possible withdrawal.

Welsh rider Joshua Tarling of INEOS Grenadiers also abandoned the Giro d'Italia due to injuries sustained in a heavy crash. Tarling, who won stage two, was among several riders to lose control on the wet roads, with others including Egan Bernal and Carlos Verona also crashing.

Alessio Martinelli of VF Group–Bardiani–CSF–Faizane was taken to the hospital after his crash, but fortunately, he was reported to be conscious and in stable condition. The crashes added to the day's drama, which also saw Primoz Roglic withdraw from the race.