Koen Bouwman can no longer be overtaken in the mountains classification of the Giro d’Italia. When the Jumbo-Visma rider finishes in Verona on Sunday, he will be the first Dutch winner of the blue jersey.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a maximum of 151 points can be earned in the battle for the mountains classification. The 28-year-old Bouwman has a virtual lead of 173 points on number two Giulio Ciccone.
During the nineteenth stage, Bouwman already managed to take nine points on the first two climbs of the third category. The peloton then drove to Slovenia for the third and toughest climb of the day.
On the 10.3 kilometer climb to Kolovrat with an average rise of 9.2 percent, Bouwman impressively came first on top, so that he finally secured the jersey.
When Bouwman finishes the Giro, he follows in the footsteps of Joop Zoetemelk (Vuelta a España in 1971), Steven Rooks (Tour de France in 1988) and Gert-Jan Theunisse (Tour in 1989). They are the only Dutchmen to have won a mountains classification in a big round.
Saturday there is another tough mountain stage in the Giro. The 105th Tour of Italy will conclude on Sunday with a time trial around Verona.