Giro d'Italia 2023 Stage 15 recap: Bruno Armirail keeps pink, Brandon McNulty wins thrilling three-way battle for stage

As a former winner of Il Lombardia, Bauke Mollema is a good bet for today - although he's lost a lot of his zip since he won that Monument in 2019. He's still a tactical thoroughbred, though, and his attack out of a roundabout puts the breakaway under pressure and causes a few splits which Rubio is forced to close.

Ineos have come up alongside Groupama on that climb into Bergamo. We're likely to see a GC battle as well as a battle for the stage today as Bruno Armirail battles to keep hold of the maglia rosa entering the second rest day. Nico Denz, meanwhile, has been dropped after his exploits yesterday to become the second double stage winner in this Giro after the departed Remco Evenepoel. Can Healy or Rubio follow his lead today?

It's a great opportunity for the riders to recce the finish as they pass through Bergamo and go under the 5-4-3-2-1km to go banners and then hit the home straight where, in an hour or so, some of them will be contesting for the win. Ballerini has fought back but Gavazzi is still behind. After the climb, it is a very fast approach to the line so if you're not in touch ahead of the descent with 3km to go then you'll be unlikely to win today. Niccola Bonifazio put in a shift on that descent as he paves the way for his team-mate Laurens Huys, who is the more likely of winners from Intermarche today.

On the cobbled climb into the old town Gavazzi is distanced and Ballerini is losing touch. On the front it's Velasco - the rider who initially attacked with Healy, and who then crashed after the second climb - who is doing the damage, to the delight of the fans on the side of the street cheering on the Italian.

It's hard to comprehend what was going through Healy's mind when he attacked there with 70km remaining. His win last weekend admittedly came 50km from the finish - but he used a climb as the springboard there and not a 30km flat section. In any case, the Irishman has been pegged back by his fellow escapees, who still have a gap of 6'20" over the peloton. It's a peloton that's regrouping a little after splitting up on that last descent - with Pavel Sivakov notably caught out on the wrong side of the split for Ineos Grenadiers.

Talk about unexpected... We all thought one of the more powerful outsiders would make a move on the flat section - and not the climber who is already the favourite for the win today. But, no - Ben Healy rides clear with a real statement of intent. Either that, or he's just toying with his fellow escapees.

Given the calibre of some of the climbs in this breakaway, it would be very likely for some of the more powerful outsiders to put in a dig on the next flat section before the decisive final climb. We have around 30km of flat roads - punctuated by a single short and steep hill in the finish zone at Bergamo - coming up after this descent. If they don't open up a gap there, many riders in this move can wave goodbye to any chances when the race returns to Bergamo for the finish.

The race jury has rewarded Einer Rubio for his lunge and it's the Colombian who took 18pts over the top there, which means Ben Healy has to settle for 8pts instead. That puts Rubio onto 112pts - just two shy of Thibaut Pinot's tally for second place. Healy is up to 90pts. Both riders have become players in the blue jersey battle today - which sets things up nicely for next week. Davide Bais still leads on 144pts.

The Irishman and the Colombian have enjoyed a right tussle today for each summit - and their latest showdown was the closest so far. In fact, so close that a photo finish will be needed to sort that one out. Healy looked to have it but then Rubio had a great, late lunge which may have been the difference on the Cat.2 Miragolo San Salvatore.

The Italian has great reactions and even better bike handling skills to swerve wide of a veering team car, which had to pull out when one of the race organisers' cars came to a sudden halt on a narrow section of road. That could have been nasty had Ballerini not had his wits about him. The upshot of his evasive slingshot is that Ballerini is back with the leaders.

The Italian was the one dictating the pace on the first climb - perhaps because his fan club was in attendance - but he's the latest rider from this break to feel the pinch. He lets a gap grow and it's going to take a huge effort for him to return into contention. JJ Rojas, meanwhile, sets the tempo on the front for his Movistar team-mate Einer Rubio, who will be one of the favourites today. Both he or Ben Healy could double up today having both already won stages in this Giro.

The breakaway is straight onto the next climb, the Cat.2 Miragolo San Salvatore, which is 5.2km long at 7%. They're down to 15 riders because Marcellusi was tailed off on that last climb and has yet to rejoin the front of the race. The peloton is 5'55" down.

Before they reach the summit, the peloton swallows up Alberto Dainese, who was dropped at the start of the Selvino climb. Expect him to be out the back and in the gruppetto before too long.

From nowhere the Italian Simone Velasco hits the deck on the plateau after the summit of the climb. Israel-PremierTech duo Sebastian Berwick and Marco Frigo get tangled up in his spawling body and bike, while McNulty drops a chain while trying to avoid the melee. They are all back on their bikes and on their way - but that was an unnecessary flashpoint.

Colombia's Einer Rubio this time benefits from a lead-out by his Movistar team-mate JJ Rojas - at least, he would do if he was on the Spaniard's wheel. Instead, he launched from distance and a bit too late - giving the initiative to Ben Healy, who kicks clear to take maximum points again. That's another 18pts for Healy.

Rubio moves onto 94pts in the KOM standings with Healy now on 82pts. Bais still leads on 144pts ahead of Pinot on 114pts.

A small group of around 20 riders looks to have been distanced by the main pack on this second climb of the day. The gap for the 16 leaders is still over six minutes with Dainese around a minute or so back after being dropped. Lovely scenery on display now that the sun is playing ball again.

After the sprint the road kicks up almost immediately for the Cat.2 cliimb, which is 11.3km at 5.5%. And almost immediately, Alberto Dainese lets the elastic snap as he drops off the back. He was an odd choice for the break for Team DSM given the terrain. He'll soon be joined by Marcellusi, who buried himself trying to join the break and is now paying for his efforts.

A little dig from the local rider Davide Ballerini goes unanswered and it's he who wins the intermediate sprint ahead of Alberto Dainese and Martin Marcellusi. Right, it's now time to climb again...

The gap is 6'15" as Arensman dips into his sack to procure something sticky and fruity for himself and his leader, Thomas. A gel, that is. Bruno Armirail, meanwhile, looks very snazzy in his full pink get-up: pink jersey, helmet, gloves, jersey and bike - but black shorts, thank God. He looks class.

It makes a change to see the riders basking in sunshine after all the rain that we've had so far these past two weeks. It will be welcome relief not to have to contend with arm warmers, jackets, gloves and drenched kit - that's for sure. The gap has stabilised at 6'30" with Groupama tapping out the necessary tempo behind.