Belgian Alec Segaert Wins 12th Stage of Giro d'Italia

May 21, 2026 | 19:51

Belgian cyclist Alec Segaert from the Bahrain Victorious team won the 12th stage of the Giro d'Italia. The stage, which covered 175 kilometers from Imperia to Novi Ligure near Alessandria in the Piedmont region, saw a late breakaway by Segaert, who outpaced stronger sprinters in the final kilometers.

With a time of 3 hours and 53 minutes, Segaert crossed the finish line first. “The victory is the most beautiful feeling,” the 23-year-old said after the finish. His compatriot, Tjou Tuan Aerts (32), came in second with the same time, while Uruguayan Thomas Silva, who previously won the second stage from Burgas to Veliko Tarnovo, secured third place.

Leadership Stays With Afonso Eufrasio

Portuguese rider Afonso Eufrasio maintained his lead in the general classification with a total time of 48 hours, 10 minutes, and 38 seconds. He leads by 33 seconds ahead of Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard and 2 minutes and 3 seconds ahead of Tim Merlier from the Netherlands. Vingegaard remains at the top in the points classification with 111 points, ahead of Diego Sevilla from Spain with 60.

Stage Highlights and Breakaways

The stage began with a breakaway of five riders, including Segaert’s compatriot Yelle Gijns. They were caught just before the first climb, Colle Giovo, by the Movistar team, which was hoping for a stage victory with Orlois Aular. The riders then faced the steep climb of Bric Berthod, a Category 3 climb. This proved too difficult for race leaders, including Paul Manent from Burgas and Sofia and Jonathan Milan, who were left behind in a small group behind the peloton.

With about three kilometers to go, Segaert made a bold attack, and his tactic paid off, securing him the stage victory. “This breakaway was already in my head last night. I knew exactly where to attack, and that’s why the race went perfectly for me. The sprinters were at their limit, and I was able to take full advantage of that,” the 23-year-old explained.