Egan Bernal and his real chances of moving up the overall standings in the brutal mountainous week of the Giro d'Italia.

The Giro d'Italia ends its second part and is preparing to face the third and final week, with a general classification outlined, but by no means defined, in which Egan Bernal (Ineos) is emerging as one of the riders who will be protagonists.

The Colombian was the one in charge of moving the pack on the climbs and yesterday, on the 219-kilometer stage between Fiume Veneto and Asiago, won by Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek), he did it again, but this time he had support: Richard Carapaz (EF), who is becoming more established every day and has actions in his favor to go for the title.

Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates) remains in the lead, solidly positioned. On Sunday, he closed the gaps created by Carapaz and Bernal; he responded intelligently to the attacks, but it's a big question mark how he'll approach the final stretch of a three-week race, especially with the lead already under his belt.

Will he be able to withstand the attacks? Will he have the strength to control everyone? Is he the true leader of the team? Will the pink jersey weigh him down? It all remains to be seen.

Juan Ayuso , his teammate, looks even more diminished. He's tried to be close, but he's not feeling well. The blow to his knee has him in bad shape and has been in trouble, so the UAE isn't exactly sure about anything, especially since the Spaniard is already losing a minute and 26 seconds to Del Toro.

Although that time in the Giro is nothing compared to all the mountains that are coming, or according to Primoz Roglic, who left at the finish line one minute and 31 seconds, which made him lose five places in the

classification and say goodbye to the chance of winning his second Giro. Bernal moved up a spot yesterday on a stage that was demanding but lacked the ultimate mountain stage, which clearly indicates that if he continues with this progression and consistency, he'll climb from eighth place.

He is 2 min 08 s behind Simon Yates (Visma) , second, and 2 min 02 s behind Ayuso, third. He has Carapaz 1 min 36 s behind and Derek Gee 44 s behind.

He is 43 seconds behind Damiano Caruso, sixth, and only 36 seconds behind Antonio Tiberi, seventh, times that can be overcome due to what is still missing.

However, these optimistic calculations are only possible as long as Bernal responds and doesn't have a crisis, which he can have; he's not immune to something happening to him, right, Giulio Ciccone ? He dropped out of the Giro due to a crash last Saturday.

Einer Rubio (Movistar) has been alert and has plenty of strength. He finished seventh last year, and now occupies 13th place, 4 minutes 26 seconds behind Del Toro, with serious aspirations of breaking into the top 10.

This Monday is a rest day for the Giro, but this Tuesday sees the queen stage between Piazzola sul Brenta and San Valentino (Brentonico) , 203 kilometers long, with four mountain passes: one category 2 and three category 1, the last one at the finish line.

It's an ideal stage to find out who will be invited to the final party of the pink race, where Del Toro, Carapaz, and Bernal are the top performers in the mountains, something they should confirm in the remainder of the race. Due to the tough day, some of the GC contenders will lose ground.

You have to take it slow and measure your movements, because your strength is no longer the same, it's weakened, and the Giro has always been characterized as a race of elimination.

The reserve tank is not full and those who have saved energy, if they have saved it at all , have come to set conditions.

You don't have to do anything crazy, because in the Giro today you can gain seconds, but tomorrow you lose minutes.