Tadej Pogacar underlined his dominance of the Giro d’Italia with a sixth stage win to extend his overall lead to almost 10 minutes with Sunday’s processional run to Rome remaining.
The 25-year-old Slovenian rider attacked on the final summit of the 20th stage, powering up Monte Grappa and away from his rivals, 36km from the finish in Bassano del Grappa.
Britain’s Geraint Thomas did enough to keep his place on the podium, finishing seventh on his 38th birthday, to remain third overall.
Colombia’s Daniel Martinez cemented second place in the general classification after finishing third in the stage, behind Pogacar and Valentin Paret-Peintre.
“We did a perfect job today as a team,” said two-time Tour de France winner Pogacar.
“I had good legs also so I am super happy that I had a big lead by the top [of the Monte Grappa]. Really happy with the race. I cannot describe how it felt with all the fans on the climb.”
Pogacar will officially claim a first Maglia Rosa – as Giro d’Italia winner – following the tour’s 21st stage in the Italian capital.
The UAE Team Emirates rider will then turn his sights to the Tour de France in July, as he bids to become the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win both tours in the same season.
“Today was another test before the summer to see how it is,” he added.
“I wanted to finish the Giro with a good mentality and in good shape and I think I achieved that.”
He pulled away from the pack with a devastating burst on a steep incline 10km from the top of the day’s second summit of Monte Grappa before then quickly bridging the gap to stage leader Giulio Pellizzari.
Pogacar then pulled away to win the 184km stage from Alpago by two minutes seven seconds.
Stage 20 results
1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 4hrs 58mins 23secs
2. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Fra/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) +2:07
3. Daniel Martinez (Col/Bora-hansgrohe) Same time
4. Antonio Tiberi (Ita/Bahrain Victorious)
5. Einer Rubio (Col/Movistar)
6. Giulio Pellizzari (Ita/VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè)
7. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers)
8. Ben O’Connor (Aus/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale)
9. Michael Storer (Aus/Tudor) +2:31
10. Rafal Majka (Pol/UAE Team Emirates) +3:08
General classification
1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 76 hrs 22mins 13secs
2. Daniel Martinez (Col/Bora-hansgrohe) +9:56
3. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +10:24
4. Ben O’Connor (Aus/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) +12:07
5. Antonio Tiberi (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) +12:49
6. Thymen Arensman (Ned/Ineos Grenadiers) +14:31
7. Einer Rubio (Col/Movistar) +15:52
8. Jan Hirt (Cze/Soudal Quick-Step) +18:05
9. Romain Bardet (Fra/Team DSM-Firmenich Post NL) +20:32
10. Michael Storer (Aus/Tudor) +21:11