Pedersen holds off Van Aert to take fourth Giro stage win

Pedersen powered through on a long uphill sprint towards the end of stage 13's 180km route from Rovigo to Vicenza and was able to maintain a slender advantage over Belgian Van Aert, with Mexico's Del Toro in third.

"I went a bit earlier than I really wanted to but on such a hard uphill final like this sometimes it's OK to go early because everyone has burning legs the last 100 meters," said Denmark's Pedersen.

"I'm just happy with this one and adding another 50 points to the 'ciclomino' [sprint] jersey so let's see how it goes."

Pederson is two wins away from the six stage victories managed by Tadej Pogacar in 2024.

Meanwhile, Del Toro stretched his advantage in the battle for the pink jersey by earning a four-second bonus for the stage finish to add to the two seconds he collected in the intermediate sprint.

The UAE Team Emirates rider is now 38 seconds clear of team-mate Juan Ayuso in the general classification race with Italy's Antonio Tiberi in third, another 40 seconds adrift.

Britain's Simon Yates in fourth as he seeks his first Grand Tour triumph since winning the Vuelta a Espana in 2018.

Saturday's 14th stage is a largely flat 195km run from nearby Treviso to Nova Gorica across Italy's border with Slovenia.

1. Mads Pedersen (Den/Lidl-Trek) 3hrs 50mins 24secs

2. Wout van Aert (Bel/Visma-Lease a Bike) Same time

3. Isaac del Toro (Mex/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +2secs

4. Remy Rochas (Fra/Groupama - FDJ) +5secs

5. Dorian Godon (Fra/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) Same time

6. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) "

7. Antonio Tiberi (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) "

8. Derek Gee (Can/Israel Premier Tech) "

9. Orluis Aular (Ven/Movistar) "

10. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos Grenadiers) "

1. Isaac del Toro (Mex/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 46hrs 32mins 59sec

2. Juan Ayuso (Spa/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +38secs

3. Antonio Tiberi (Ita/Bahrain Victorious) +1min 18secs

4. Simon Yates (GB/Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 20secs

5. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +1min 35secs

6. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/EF Education-EasyPost) +2mins 07secs

7. Giulio Ciccone (Ita/Lidl-Trek) +2mins 20secs

8. Brandon McNulty (US/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +2mins 40secs

9. Egan Bernal (Col/Ineos Grenadiers) +2mins 50secs

10. Derek Gee (Can/Israel Premier Tech) +2mins 54secs

Issued on BBC Sport | https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/articles/c1kvz7m2dr4o