'The closest comparison is with Coppi': Chris Froome's attack to win the Giro d'Italia was one for the history books

Insiders look back on a ride that will go down in the history books of Grand Tour racing

Chris Froome attacks on the Colle delle Finestre on stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia

(Image credit: Yuzuru Sunada)

Attacking, riding solo for 80km, winning the stage and taking the pink jersey lead – Chris Froome's Giro d'Italia ride to Jafferau will stand as a reference point for years.

According to many at the Giro d'Italia nothing in recent years could compare to Froome's stage 19 ride, and that you'd have to go back 69 years in the history books to Fausto Coppi's 1949 Giro d'Italia to find such a performance at the Italian race.

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Gregor Brown

Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.