The Stage - The Queen Stage of the Giro. Four climbs and 4000 meters of ascending all with the backdrop of everything to play for.
The Climbs - Don’t think of this stage as a route, but more four climbs that will go a long way to deciding the Giro.
Colle Del Lys: This is listed as 28 kilometres of climbing but the 6 kilometre stretch at 7.1% that comes about 18 kilometres in is the real test here. This is likely to be where the break of the day forms.
Colle delle Finestre: With 45 hairpins and 18.9 kilometres, this year’s Cima Coppi (highest point) averages 9.2% and also has incredible gravel slopes to captivate the viewers.
Sestriere: Uncomplicated by Giro standards but coming after the two biggest climbs of the day (or longest). The riders will have bounced into this after a very technical descent of the Finestre too, although the final climb might possibly deter any attacks.
Jaffreau: 7.25km at 9.1% would be hard on any day but after today’s stage this is a brutal end and there could be an explosion or two. One for the lightweight climbers.
The Tactics
Magalia Rosa: Weakness in Yates! The Giro is back on for Tom Dumoulin – not that it was ever off – but now Sunweb have a real chance to try and crack the man from Bury for good after the first sign of weakness in the Magalia Rosa yesterday. There’s also the not inconsiderate battle for the podium between Domenico Pozzovivo and Chris Froome – Pozzovivo has ridden solo through the race but Wout Poels has hit a late peak and there’s little that Sky can’t do. Satellite riders are a possibility but a hard opening to the stage will be on the minds of the Director Sportifs.
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White Jersey: Miguel Angel Lopez took a lot of time out of Richard Carapaz and might have the white jersey on lockdown, but Thibaut Pinot is going backwards and he can launch himself into a top 5 position on GC with the promise of tomorrow to come.
The Breakaway: Will have their work cut out. Yesterday saw the break be let go completely but there are bonus seconds for Sunweb to chase and if not them then Sky must be eyeing some too. Gulio Ciccione has a chance of overhauling Yates in the blue jersey competition so an escape makes sense for him along with Fausto Masnada.
Fabio Aru disappointed again yesterday although he can now be safely let into a break too and UAE Emirates have plenty of options including Valerio Conti (slight chance in KOM race) Diego Ulissi, and Jan Polanc to boot.
