Youngster Pellizzari matches a feat only Pogacar had pulled off in a Grand Tour: staggering numbers on San Valentino

With four major climbs on the profile, the riders knew in advance that a brutal day was in store. The first blow came early as Roglic was forced to abandon after yet another crash. Things briefly settled down until the penultimate climb of the day, the Santa Barbara, where riders like Ayuso could no longer hold on.

A small group including Pellizzari reached the base of the final ascent, the San Valentino. There, the young Italian launched an early move, dropping his fellow breakaway companions. The 21-year-old climber, who had sacrificed time earlier in the Giro working as Roglic’s key domestique, was eventually caught by Richard Carapaz. But in the final kilometer, he managed to drop the Ecuadorian again and held on to finish an impressive third.

Even after a brutal stage leading into the final climb, Pellizzari delivered eye-catching data on the ascent of San Valentino. He rode the climb at a staggering 6.23 w/kg for a duration of 44 minutes and 22 seconds, a level rarely reached by riders his age in a Grand Tour. According to Lanterne Rouge Cycling Podcast, only Tadej Pogacar managed something similar at 21, during the 2020 Tour de France.

Richard Carapaz, Simon Yates and Derek Gee also delivered top-tier performances, each holding between 6.03 and 6.15 w/kg over nearly 45 minutes. With the fight for the overall victory still completely wide open, these numbers suggest there’s plenty of action still to come in the high mountains.

Pellizzari’s numbers are strikingly similar to those of Juan Ayuso, who also turned heads as a 19-year-old with his climbing power. During the Vuelta, the Spanish talent averaged 6.23 watts per kilo over just over thirty minutes, a hugely impressive effort. Pellizzari went one better on Wednesday, holding that same power output for a significantly longer duration.

One thing is clear. We are witnessing an era where young riders are going toe-to-toe with the very best at the highest level and delivering truly phenomenal performances.