Settimana Coppi e Bartali 2026 Stage 5 Last 10 Kilometers Mauro Schmid and Axel Laurance battle

In the first kilometers, the final GPM of the day, Montestella—which had already been tackled twice in this stage—was attacked at high pace and was undoubtedly selective. We expected it; it was done at nearly 20 km average under 14 minutes—quite a dismantling of the previous record, which, as I recall, had been awaiting Roger Adria. They spent over 15 minutes on that stage of the Giro del Friuli in 2020, won by Ecnesud, tackling Montestella under 14. The total time taken this year, however. Abn's difficulty on the descent section, while Lorenz was ahead. I made a strong descent to try to make up the deficit. I remember a descent that will bring us to about 5 km from the finish, and it can be very tricky, as Alessandro De Marchi says. He knows these climbs well, but especially these descents, and remember, the sporting director for the Giaco Alula team this year. Giaco Alula, who is fighting for the leader's jersey, is also battling for the overall victory against Mauro Schmidt and Alan Utherley, who hold a lead of about twenty seconds. We are facing the final challenges before arriving in Gimara del Friuli. As mentioned, the last few kilometers are slightly downhill, so nothing dramatic upon arrival on Viale Roma. By the way, about 800 meters of completely straight road at the finish, so nothing particularly complicated. Let's see if Lorenz can thus gain on the squares, the leaders of the race. In fact, right now it's Team Ineos against Team Giaco Alula. In one week, Bartali's team, which often surprised everyone by seeing Continental teams perform strongly, achieved two victories out of four completed stages. They really went to Continental teams in the second stage; I remember Filippo D'Aiuto's victory with Generastore, an eight-kilometer solo breakaway in the final kilometers, and a solo finish that anticipated the sprint. In the third stage, however, it was Tommaso Dati, a Tuscany-born rider for Team Ucchio, who secured his first professional victory, just as D'Aiuto had done the day before. By the way, yesterday, regarding Continental teams, it's worth noting Riccardo Lorello, another Tuscan rider from SC Padovani, achieved his first professional podium. He said that two teams are mainly competing for the general classification: Giaco at the moment against Team Ineos, against Axel Lorenz. He was trying to make a difference on the descent, having moved ahead of the preceding group. There were still a couple of kilometers of descent, I said, with technical sections; in some parts, the asphalt wasn't perfect, making the situation even more complicated. He had gained about a kilometer on the GPM, moving ahead and behind the Natterli. And now comes Axel Lorenz, which number is Axel Lorenz who has returned on the descent. I had 20 seconds to recover, as mentioned, it could have been very technical. He had warned his rider Alessandro De Marchi, but it was the rival, not the rider from the TS team, Alessandro De Marchi, who made the difference. And just as he did with this curve, Axel Lorenz invented a number, so everything is now reopened from a general perspective. Lorenz, who reminds one of a fast, strong sprinter, has already won twice this week in sprint finishes. In both cases, though, there was a steep climb, with a significant gradient of around 6%, in both the first stage and yesterday's stage. However, in both cases, Lorenz was the one who won the sprint over Schmidt. Among the three, Atterley's situation seems a bit more complicated, also recalling the one somewhat further down in the rankings. Schmidt's gap from Lorenz is two seconds, so it would be enough for Schmidt to win the stage. And thanks to the bonus, four seconds gained on the second stage, he would also win this edition of Coppi e Bartali. Atterley, on the other hand, is 20 seconds behind. It's making a very strong descent. Atterley, whom I recall is the reigning world champion in cross-country mountain bike. But I'd say Lorenz made it even stronger, since he came back and gained 15 to 20 seconds on the leaders in the first two sections. What is Axel Lorenz's number? And now the situation completely changes for Team Jake, who probably hoped they had made a difference by getting rid of Lorenz on the ascent. He undoubtedly wanted to anticipate the sprint. Schmidt didn't want to be in a sprint against Lorenz. Against whom, as I recall, he's already lost twice this week. I remember, however, that today will be a flat sprint. Not in ascent, as happened in the first and fourth stages. Schmidt is probably requesting directions from the flagship right now. I also remember that besides Alessandro De Marchi, there's also the sporting director Stephen Coomins. With a 14-second lead, thus ahead of the pursuers. What a situation—I would say decidedly surprising given what we've seen earlier. That is, Lorenz struggling in the final stretch of the climb up Montestella. And there, Camille Bonneau has detached. Otherwise, they are the usual protagonists. Now, however, Augusto obviously has no intention of stepping forward and taking the lead. His captain is up ahead. Lorenz is now playing for victory. Not only of the stage, but of the week Couples Bartali. Schmidt can still take the lead position. Why he'll pull that duck there all the way to the end from now on. Instead, to figure out who will be pulling in the small group of pursuers. It's quite numerous, but there isn't a real, cohesive team that can actually pull together. So let's see if they will manage to find an excellent collaboration. I remember that for the Visma team, there was Anton Schiffer. Giovanni Aleotti was also present at the Red Bull house. Thomas Bisenti for the Polti Visit Malta team. Andrew Augusto at Ineos headquarters. He certainly won't have any intention of stepping forward and firing. Matteo Fabbro was there for the Solution Tech team. They are riders who can still contend for top 10 positions in the general classification. Van Der Lee is also there. Clearly in that group for DF Education. Van Der Lee, who had previously tried to rejoin the group precisely around the Montestello GPM. He had tried to rejoin the two in front. When he attacked Schmidt, Lorenz was unable to react. Or rather, he reacted promptly, but then was unable to keep up with the Swiss player's pace. Van Der Lee, on the other hand, had managed to close it almost completely. But right after the GPM, the false floor. Which kilometer is left completely alone. He failed to close it out with a two-stroke lead. It was then reabsorbed by the pursuing group. So three ahead of Van Der Lee, who now must commit fully. We'll see if he tries before Schmidt's sprint. Which record should be disadvantaged in case of a sprint. The quick point has also shown it this week. Axel Lorenz's is better. A slight incline is experienced in this section. Mauro Schmidt But be careful, Axel Lorenz. Everything is decided in these final kilometers of the Coppi and Bartali race. Schmidt continues, however. Indeed, it was an attack maneuver. Precisely because Lorenz immediately noticed the Swiss man's intentions. He nevertheless tries to keep the pace high. But now I don't think Lorenz will pull away. Now we start descending again. There are no more difficulties. Here is the arrival. I remember Via Roma. The last 800 meters completely straight road. So there is room to set up the sprint. Now it's more appropriate for Schmidt to wait for his teammate Atherley to set up the sprint. Especially to save fuel in these final kilometers. Prevent him from coming in from behind. 18 seconds are indicated. We caught a brief glimpse of the Solution Tech pulling away. Solution with two runners. Fabbro, who is still in the running for the general classification. While Bornau had lost ground yesterday. Could the Belgian runner therefore work like Gregory? As he approached Lorenz. And therefore Atherley clearly has no intention of taking his place at the head of the little group. Schmidt, however, immediately asked his partner to shoot as soon as Lorenz stopped. Fancello, however, is pulling the small group along behind him. Bornau has returned. Unfortunately, Lorenzo Finn is not here either, whom we saw as the protagonist on the climb up Monte Stella. He was in this group together with his companion Giovanni Aleotti. Unfortunately, though, it then came loose. Done immediately after the GPM. That's why we're rightly back in front, because we're within the final kilometer. It is time to face the truth. A week with more uncertainty regarding Bartali until the very end. Today there were exactly 37 of them, with only 20 seconds of separation. Accumulate only thanks to subscriptions. And now the final kilometer will give us the winner of this edition. What uncertainty right to the very end. Which edition of the week has the most Bartali? However, given the attempts at attack, a sprint finish is likely to occur even for the chasers. Last 700 meters. There are no more curves. Straight all the way to the finish. If you arrive in Gemona del Friuli. What a finale. In front of Aterli. Second place for Axel Lorenz. In the third place, instead, Mauro Schmidt. Lorenz against Schmidt. Launch the sprint. In first place, Aterli. Part inside Lorenz. At the same time, he is accompanied by Schmidt. He overtakes him. Mauro Schmidt takes the lead. Mauro Schmidt attempts to overturn the international week with more Bartalis on the final stage. He is supported by Lorenz. But it is Mauro Schmidt who wins. In fact, a comeback. To take the stage and the jersey. Which edition of the week has more Bartali? Uncertain until the final meters. But it is Mauro Schmidt who turns the situation around. To take the blue jersey away from Axel Lorenz. And to win again, as in 2023. The week with the most Bartali. After going a few kilometers earlier. But on the descent, I managed to get back in. This, on the other hand, is the official top 10 with Aleotti. Who won the sprint against Matteo Fabro and Thomas Misenti. Alessandro Fancello effectively completes the Italian quartet. In those positions. Well done, Bonno and Schiffer. While August had previously tried with Van Der Lee. Tenth of August Van Der Lee, on the other hand, was eleventh. This, on the other hand, is the general one. As mentioned, just two seconds made the difference. In fact, only the subscribers enabled Schmidt to turn the situation around. To Schmidt and Lorenz. In fact, in every stage, the difference was made solely by the subscribers. What balance. It's hard to do better than this.