As it happened : A day of heavy rain, attacks, chases and crashes spark a surprise winner and new Giro d'Italia maglia rosa in Potenza

We are 45 minutes from the stage start and teams are signing on.

Buongiorno and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 5 of the 2026 Giro d'Italia.

It's another stage in the south of Italy and another day for attacks and possible maglia rosa changes and attacks.

It's grey and cloudy at the start in Praia a Mare on the Calabrian coast. Rain and even thunder storms are likely later.

This is our detailed stage 5 preview.

2026 Giro d'Italia stage 5 preview – Breakaway battle and possible GC skirmishes on 4,000-metre elevation day

Patrick Fletcher highlighted how the Giro "ramps up another notch on Wednesday's stage 5, which should see a big breakaway battle and maybe even some GC skirmishes."

"With 4,100 metres of climbing across the rolling hills of the Basilicata region, and a distance that exceeds the 200-kilometre mark, it's a grueling day for everyone involved."

This is the stage profile.

And this is the stage map.

The fears for rain ands bad weather are evident at the start. Riders and teams are preparing for the worst.

Lidl-Trek also know they face a tough day in the saddle if they are to chase the attacks and defedn the maglia rosa.

The rain is expected in 15km or so, when the stage climbs high into the hills. Team mechanics are quickly lowering the tyre pressures for wet conditions.

The riders can see the grey clouds on the hills as they sign on.

The umbrellas are out at the start as the rain starts to fall.

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The early climb offers a perfect point to attack and for a strong break to form and go clear.

It will be interesting to see how Lidl-Trek ride and try to control the racing. They can't chase every move and still have riders for the final part of the stage and the second major climb with 50km to go.

The riders are lined-up on the line but are waiting for Giulio Ciccone to take to the front of the grid with the other classification jersey wearers.

Ciccone is dressed up in pink, with a special black Trek bike with pink decals.

3-2-1, the local mayor drops the flag the riders roll out of Praia a Mare on the coast.

They face 203km of racing and 5.9km neutralised sector.

This is a clear sign of what to expect today.

The riders are tucked up close to the race director's car. As is Cicocne and other Lidl riders.

What happens if Ciccone jumps into the break?

That would be fascinating to see.

Ciccone blows a kiss to someone in the crowd and smiles but the race is about to kick-off.

They're off! the flag drops and the race director's car accelerates away.

203km to go

A Bardiani rider is the first go clear but most seem to be waiting for the climb to start.

200km to go

There are more attacks as more riders try to go up the road.

Ciccone in pink has a nice vibe.

The riders are on the valley road for now and it is dry but every rider has a rain cape on or in their pocket.

The pink party before the racing began.

The first attack was pulled back but Sjoerd Bax (Pinarello Q36.5) has sparked another.

Five riders are clear, including the USA's Magnus Sheffield (Netcompany).

The rain is pouring down now.

A tunnel offers some respite but the riders are soon back in the pouring rain.

190km to go

The road is awash with water. Rain capes can do little to stop the riders being soaked to the skin.

Riders are putting on capes and gilet, to layer up for the cold conditions they face high-up and on the descents.

And yet the attacks keep coming as the Prestieri climb officially starts.

It is 13km long at 5%.

Riders are already being dropped.

More attacks, with riders attacking to also keep warm.

The rain is draininm from the road but there is also significant rain wash at points along the road.

It's interesting to see Victor Campenaerts up front, setting the pace and controlling attacks.

Ciccone is also there, with Derek Gee-West, as Lidl-Trek try to control and dissuade big attacks.

185km to go

More rain, under heavy grey skies, as Campenaerts pushes on, forcing a split.

Ben O'Connor is also up front in the surge. They are joking and smiling but other riders are coming across to them.

This could soon be a GC selection with a few climbers and stage hunters.

There are perhaps 25 riders in the front group, as behind the gruppetto forms behind.

The peloton reforms but lots of riders are hurting with this pace and in the rain.

These are the conditions out on the road.

Thomas Silva is on the attack, trying to fightback after losing the maglia rosa on Tuesday.

Einer Rubio (Movistar) has joined Solva and a Bahrain rider is also coming across as the rain pours once again.

180km to go

Four kilometres left to climb but after a short descent the road rises again.

No dolce vita today at the Giro.

Jan Christen is at the back of the group, trying to put on his cape under the pouring rain.

Our photographers are also out in the rain capturing more great shots of the race.

A tunnel offers some respite from the rain.

175km to go

The riders reach the summit of the Prestieri climb.

Rubio leads over the top but the front group is chasing the attackers.

Lets hope everyone stays safe on the descent.

Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal) is trying to join the attack. The ever-active Victor Campenaerts is already with the trio up front.

The peloton has perhaps eased but now the road climbs again.

Garofoli took some risks on the descent but is about to join the attack.

The rain reminds us of this video, where young riders drop back to the team car in the cold and their DS reminds them they have to show some 'grinta' and says: 'il ciclismo e' un sport di merda'.

Put on the subtitles to understand his message of needing to suffer.

The five attackers are giving it full gas but others riders are attacking to cross to them.

The stage has been going for 40km but the break of the day has not yet formed.

It's great to see Ben Turner up front and in the action after his hard work for Bernal yesterday that cost him huge energy and a chance in the sprint for the stage win.

James Moultrie captured his emotions at the finish.

'A big disappointment' – Ineos GC 'priorities' leave Ben Turner wondering at Giro d'Italia after dropping to help Egan Bernal and missing out on stage win

And just like that... There are 10 riders in the break.

Narvaez is there, Scaroni too for XDS, while the presence of Rubio is a problem because he is only 10 seconds down on GC.

The peloton is at 35 seconds as the rain pours once again.

Milan Menten (Lotto Intermarché) did not start due to his recent illness and Timo de Jong (Picnic PostNL Raisin) has also now abandoned the stage.

On Sunday, De Jong crashed at around eight kilometres to go and in the fall aggravated a previous wrist injury. Further checks on Monday’s rest day cleared him medically to race, but unfortunately the pain in De Jong’s wrist was too much for him to continue on stage five.

"It’s a real shame to lose Timo from the race," Picnic PostNL Raisin coach Matt Winston said.

"He was an important member of our sprint train and someone that can be strong on a variety of terrain.

"We hope that he recovers well and we’ll see him back racing when ready. The rest of the squad here will continue to chase stage results for the remainder of the race."

These were the five attacks. Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious), Einer Rubio (Movistar), Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal Quick-Step), Victor Campenaerts (Visma | Lease a Bike), Thomas Silva (XDS Astana).

They have now been joined by five others.

This could be the break of the day, at least until the steep Montagna Grande di Viggiano climb, with 50km to race.

The counter-attacks have lead to 12 riders forming the front group.

The 12 are: Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious), Manuele Tarozzi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber), Lorenzo Milesi, Einer Rubio (Movistar), Ben Turner (Netcompany Ineos), Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal Quick-Step), Victor Campenaerts (Visma | Lease a Bike), Igor Arrieta, Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Martin Tjøtta (Uno-X Mobility), Christian Scaroni and Thomas Silva (XDS Astana).

The peloton is at 1:00.

The peloton is now bigger as riders catch back on. Paul Magnier is amongst them and so it is likely that Ciccone has more Lidl teammates with him.

We can see that Jonas Vingegaard is staying up front in the peloton, with five Visma teammates.

He has placed Campenaerts in the attack as a so-called 'satellite' rider.

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150km to go

It's been a tough first 90 minutes but the riders face at least three more hours of hard racing.

145km to go

Teammates from the attackers are trying to slow the chase, making this an interesting tactical battle.

Campenaerts rubs his cheeks to try to find some warmth. He's still working in the attack to force the chase behind and so help Vingegaard.

This kind of catches the vibe at the Giro today....

The riders are now on the flat valley road in the depth of the Basilicata region. They face similar roads until the climb with 50km to go.

Darren Rafferty (EF) is trying to cross to the attack alone but is stuck in no-man's land at 40 seconds.

Behind Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier is doing the hard work for Ciccone. He will play a key role today.

Ciccone seems to be suffering in the cold rain. He was happier at the start.

Darren Rafferty is just 20 seconds from the break. It's going to cost him but he should make it across.

The peloton has eased up and is at 2:00.

It's wet and 14C out there but riders are suffering. Felix Gall (Decathlon) opts to stop and put on a new cape and thick gloves.

Ciccone has two teammates to help the chase but the break is going away from them.

Rafferty makes it into the team cars of the break. He can catch his breath after a big effort and deserves to sit on for a while to recover.

120km to go

The 12 attackers lead by 2:20 and so some riders drop back to their team cars for bidons and advice.

However that disrupts the pace and unity of the attack, sparking splits and discussions.

The sun comes out for a brief moment but this is a hard day in the saddle and the rain will surely soon return.

With Darren Rafferty (EF) in the attack, there are 13 riders up the road.

They are: Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious), Manuele Tarozzi (Bardiani CSF 7 Saber), Lorenzo Milesi, Einer Rubio (Movistar), Ben Turner (Netcompany Ineos), Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal Quick-Step), Victor Campenaerts (Visma | Lease a Bike), Igor Arrieta, Jhonatan Narváez (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Martin Tjøtta (Uno-X Mobility), Christian Scaroni, Thomas Silva (XDS Astana), Darren Rafferty (EF).

The riders pass through a feed zone, with the Lidl-Trek riders taking musettes to load up with food.

The riders will burn through lots of calories due to the racing and the rain.

This was the moment Felix Gall stopped to dress-up. Now the sun is out, sao he may soon need to shed a layer.....

110km to go

The riders are starting to dry out in the sun. Finally.

Incredibly the roads are drying out.

100km to go

The gap between to the attackers and the peloton is 1:40.

Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier is doing a lot of work for Lidl-Trek.

Oops the UAE team car has a smashed rear window. It seems a rider went into the back of the car.

The breakaway group is faltering again. Some riders perhaps doubt they can survive over the steep climb.

After a brief moment of sun, the rain is back. It's time to cape up guys.

What happened here?

The break is more compact now and working together in a double pace line.

Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier is doing a huge amount of work on the front today. Behind him other riders can roll along in the slipstream.

Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier leads the peloton with the Red Bull riders lined out behind them.

80km to go

There are 45km to go the steep climb, an hour or so until the racing changes.

Ben Turner drops back to his Netcompany team car for food and a tactical chat.

The gap is up to 2:50 but can Turner stay up front away on the Montagna Grande di Viggiano climb?

The Montagna Grande di Viggiano is detailed as 6.6km long at an average of 9.1%, with one point at 15%.

However the road begin to climb gradually, with short descents, from now.

This is the stage profile.

As the road rises but the rain falls again, Red Bull are on the front and driving the chase.

Gianni Moscon is now on the front but the gap is up to 3:10.

Is 3:00 enough of a gap for the break to stay away from the GC group?

There are around 80 riders in the main peloton, everyone else is either in the attack or the gruppetto.

70km to go

Red Bull have upped the pace and reduced the gap to 2:20. We could see attacks in the break to try to stay clear and drop any slackers.

The tension is rising as the kilometres tick down to the climb. The GC teams are now visible near the front of the peloton. Visma are on the right for Vingegaard, with Netcompany on the left for Arensman and Bernal.

Groupama captured the vibe in the rain-soaked stage.

The Montagna Grande di Viggiano climb officially starts in 7km but the road is already rising.

Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is the first to attack from the break to up the speed and make a selection. That has pushed the gap up to 2:10 but this break seems doomed.

55km to go

The stage is about to change as soon as the riders hit the early steep gradients.

We could even see a GC attack from the peloton, to chase after virtual race leader Einer Rubio (Movistar).

Arrieta starts the climb with a lead of 45 second on the break and 1:45 on the peloton.

He took risks on a descent but faces a huge task to stay away.

The break has split on the climb, with the strongest riders chasing Arrieta.

Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) has ridden across to Arrieta and pushes on.

Behind the peloton is taking off capes and clothes ready for any attacks on the climb.

50km to go

Here comes the 15% point of the climb, with 1km left to climb.

There are only 30 or so riders in the peloton. We can see Vlasov, Hindley and Pellizzari for Red Bull.

Vingegaard has Sepp Kuss and Davide Piganzoli with him.

Most of the GC riders climbed with their capes on but open. Now, as the riders enter the clouds near the summit, they are getting ready for the descent.

Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious), Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) reach the summit of the Montagna Grande di Viggiano climb.

There are a handful of chasers at 40 seconds, with the peloton catching the remains of the break at 2:00.

The riders face 23km of rolling, twisting roads on a high plain before a descent to Potenza.

The Red Bull KM sprint comes with 29km to go.

45km to go

Crash on the descent!

Luca Paletti (Bardiani) goes off the road but had a soft landing in the wet grass.

So far Giulio Ciccone and Lidl-Trek have managed to defend the maglia rosa bur now they have to chase Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious), who is only 1:11 down on GC.

Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier did a lot of work but has been dropped.

40km to go

Of course, Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) still has a long way to race out front with Igor Arrieta (UAE).

Ciccone leads Vingegaard down the descent in the rain. They are 3:00 down on Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) and Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), so it is a big ask for Ciccone to stay in pink.

Derek Gee-West is at the back of the peloton and seems unable to help Ciccone chase and defend the maglia rosa.

The gruppo is 4:00 down on Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) and Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).

Eulálio is 1:11 down on GC so has three minutes to play with.

It's almost time for the Red Bull KM sprint, with bonus seconds of 6-4-2 seconds.

30km to go

The rain is back!

Giulio Ciccone is waving goodbye to the maglia rosa.

Up front Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) and Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) lead the peloton by 5:00.

Eulálio looks set to take pink in Potenza.

Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) and Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) are working together but behind them Christian Scaroni and Thomas Silva (XDS Astana), Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal Quick-Step), Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) are closing the gap.

it is now just 1:00 with 35km to race. There is a race for the stage victory.

In Italy they call it a 'Fuga bidone' - a 'junk break' when a break gets away liker this. But Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) has earned his moment.

He could lead the Giro by more than five minutes tonight. He could keep the jersey beyond the stage 7 Blockhaus mountain finish.

Crash!

Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) slides out at speed. He takes a new bike and is up and going but has lost his chance.

Arrieta lost grip on a harpin descent.

8km to go

Arrieta is trying to chase back on but he is 30 second down on Eulálio.

Eulálio is diving down the wet roads but faces a short, steep climb soon.

Crash!

Now Afonso Eulálio goes down.

He also slipped out in the rain. Arrieta catches him. They are back together.

Both Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) and Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) have crashed and are bleeding.

They are on the last climb with 6km to go.

The magia rosa group is at 7:30, confirming that Ciccone will lose the jersey to Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) today.

Both Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) and Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) take off and throw away their gilet.

bpoth want to win the stage but Eulálio has done more work to take the pink jersey and so Arrieta has a great chance to win the stage.

3km to go

Arrieta and Eulálio descend into Potenza and then will sprint on a riding road.

Arrieta seems scared to crash again.

No! Arrieta goes the wrong way as he brakes late.

He struggled to brake and turn and rode into the tape closing the road on the left. He is angry but trying to chase.

Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) pushes on, knowing he can take the stage and the maglia rosa.

Last Km!

Arrieta can see Afonso Eulálio but can he catch him?

Arrieta is going all out....

Sprint!

Incredible! Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) caught and passed Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) in the final 100 metres.

Arrieta is in tears as he celebrates his victory.

What a stage! There is never a quiet day in the Giro.

Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) and Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) hug each other. They share the honours and glory today.

It is Arrieta's first WorldTour win and only the second of his career.

It is UAE's second consecutive stage win.

The chasers from the original 13-rider attack finish spread across several minutes.

The peloton is still racing.

This is the winning shot.

Here comes the peloton. They finish at 7:13 on Arrieta.

The GC riders are still wet and cold and do not want to hang around at the finish.

"I was completely empty after the hard stage but so was Eulálio. I kept pushing and when I got his wheel I thought I could win the stage," Arrieta said, with tears and fatigue.

The new GC shows that Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) now leads the Giro and so pulls on the pink jersey. He leads Igor Arrieta (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) by 2:51.

Other breakaway riders are further behind, with Ciccone slipping to sixth at 6:12.

Watch this sprint finish.

Igor Arrieta is on the podium as stage winner.

"I don't really know what to say. I'm really, really happy to achieve this victory, it means a lot for me, because of the crash and becasue all the teammates who went home," Arrieta said of the stage 2 crash that took out Adam Yates, Jay Vine and Marc Soler.

"I didn't think it was lost after crashing, I needed to try until the end." he explained.

"After the hard stage that we did, you never know. I was completely empty in the last kilometres but I knew Eulálio was also the same, and both of us deserved the victory, but in the end I had it.

"When I lost Eulálio in the last two kilometres I was like 'it's not possible' but then I kept pushing, I saw that he cannot go faster than me, and then when I took his wheel I was like 'maybe I can win one stage'."

Arrieta could hardly believe he had won.

But he enjoyed his moment on the podium.

It was also emotional for Afonso Eulálio.

Afonso Eulálio is only the third Portuguese rider to wear the maglia rosa.

This was a crazy stage. to understand exactly what happened, read Matilda Price's full stage report.

Giro d'Italia: Igor Arrieta's rainy day raid delivers stage 5 victory for UAE Team Emirates-XRG

We'll have more rider interviews, reaction and analysis from Alasdair Fotheringham and James Moultrie from Potenza very soon.

Check out our home page for other race reports and news from the world of cycling.

We'll be back on Thursday for full live coverage of stage 6 of the Giro from spectacular Paestum to the centre of Naples.

In theory the 142km stage is a day for the sprinters but who knows what will happen.