Kasper Asgreen wins dramatic Giro d’Italia stage as crash alters general classification
In a stage that promised a routine bunch sprint and ended with bedlam on the border between Italy and Slovenia, Kasper Asgreen delivered a masterclass in resilience and timing to claim a sensational victory on stage 14 of the 2025 Giro d’Italia.
What had appeared to be a calm transitional day turned into chaos just 23km from the finish in Nova Gorica/Gorizia, as a major crash split the peloton and shook up the general classification. Amid the confusion, Asgreen, part of an early breakaway trio, seized his moment and powered clear to take a solo win that few would have predicted in the morning briefing.
The Danish rider from EF Education-EasyPost crossed the line 16 seconds ahead of a reduced chase group, securing his second career stage win in a Grand Tour. Behind him, the remnants of the chasing peloton were left to contest the minor podium places, with Alpecin-Deceuninck’s Kaden Groves outsprinting Visma-Lease a Bike’s Olav Kooij for second place.
Unexpected twist in a stage meant for the sprinters
The 195km stage from Treviso to Nova Gorica was expected to favour the fast men, with the parcours relatively flat and the finish ideal for a sprint showdown. But the Giro rarely follows the script. Just as teams began to organise themselves for the finale, disaster struck.
A high-speed crash on a narrow section of road triggered a domino effect through the peloton. Riders went down, bikes flew, and team tactics evaporated in an instant. About 20 riders managed to avoid the carnage and continued the chase of the day’s breakaway, but they never quite got the coordination needed to catch the front-runners.
Asgreen, who had joined the breakaway early in the day, sensed opportunity as the disarray unfolded behind. With typical Danish grit and a diesel engine made for long efforts, he pushed clear of his fellow escapees and held off the favourites all the way to the finish line.
“It was one of those days where everything just came together,” said Asgreen. “We knew it could be chaotic near the end, but I didn’t expect to go solo and make it all the way. It’s unbelievable.”
General classification shaken by crash chaos
While Asgreen celebrated his win, the story was very different for the Giro’s GC contenders. Race leader Isaac del Toro of UAE Team Emirates once again showed his poise under pressure, making it through the chaos in the leading chase group and retaining the maglia rosa.
The 21-year-old Mexican, who has shown a maturity beyond his years throughout the Giro, had another nerve-racking moment late in the stage when he nearly went off course on a fast descent. But he kept his cool, stayed upright, and crucially avoided the time losses suffered by some of his closest rivals.
Juan Ayuso, also of UAE Team Emirates, wasn’t so lucky. Caught behind the crash, he lost over 40 seconds and dropped from second to third overall. Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) and Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe) were similarly delayed, with Roglic in particular looking uncomfortable and frustrated after the finish.
The big beneficiary was Britain’s Simon Yates. The Jayco-AlUla leader had a quiet race up until now, but by staying upright and in the right position at the right time, he moved up into second place overall, 1:20 behind del Toro.
“It wasn’t the kind of stage where you expect to gain time,” said Yates, “but sometimes staying out of trouble is the biggest win. I’ll take it.”
Asgreen’s victory highlights breakaway brilliance
Kasper Asgreen’s win was not just about luck or circumstance. It was the result of tactical intelligence, physical strength, and sheer determination. The 30-year-old has long been known as a powerhouse rider capable of big efforts—his time-trial background and classics pedigree make him ideally suited to solo raids like the one he executed today.
EF Education-EasyPost have made a habit of animating breakaways in this year’s Giro, and Asgreen’s victory is a huge reward for the team’s aggressive strategy. With only a handful of flat stages remaining, this could be one of their last big chances to grab the spotlight—and they took it with both hands.
“We’ve had a plan to get into moves every day,” Asgreen said. “It’s been tough, but the team has backed me and today it paid off. You don’t get many gifts in the Giro, so when something like this happens, you have to take it.”
A turning point in the Giro d’Italia?
Stage 14 might not have been the mountainous epic some fans live for, but its impact on the race could be just as significant. Crashes are an unfortunate reality of cycling, particularly in nervous transitional stages, but their consequences are often far-reaching.
For del Toro, today was another test of his resilience, and he passed with flying colours. As a young leader under immense pressure, the fact he continues to dodge disaster while extending his lead is a testament to his growing credentials as a future Grand Tour winner.
Simon Yates, now in second, will be eyeing the high mountains still to come. The Briton has struggled with consistency in past Grand Tours, but his experience could be crucial in the final week. Meanwhile, Ayuso, Roglic, and Tiberi will be desperate to claw back the time they lost today.
Looking ahead: mountains looming
As the Giro now turns toward the high Alps, the GC picture is beginning to take shape. Del Toro has time in hand, but he hasn’t yet faced the back-to-back summit finishes that often define the final week of the race.
For Asgreen and the sprinters, opportunities are dwindling. Stage wins are harder to come by in the final days, and today might be the last hurrah for a breakaway specialist. For the teams fighting for pink, however, the Giro is just getting started.
Stage 14 delivered a reminder that in Grand Tours, even the quiet days can explode into drama. And for Kasper Asgreen, it was a day that confirmed what cycling fans already knew—when he’s on song, few can match his raw power and unshakable belief.
