The Stage - Another steel wall finish and a chance for the puncheurs and those who can cope with steep percentages.
The Route - Heads east from Castelraimondo, which sits at the end of the upper Potenza River valley. There’s a slight downhill for the first third of this stage before the first marked climb of the day – Montelupone. It’s steep and sharp, and then followed by rolling roads that will see the field find their way through Morrovalle.
There’s a descent on the same roads, passing the Citanova Alva and Citanova Marche before a stretch of completely flat roads that take in the Porto Recanti to head towards the seafront.
There are then two more climbs, the in Castelfidardo and Osim, although only the latter is delegated as a climb and then there is a short rise towards the finishing circuit.
The Finish - The 16.1km Filottrano circuit is to be repeated twice by the peloton and is here to commemorate Michele Scarponi, the 2009 winner of this race and Italian cycling legend who was tragically killed after being hit by a van as he started a training ride from his home in Filottrano.
Scarpoini would have been at home on the centrepiece of the climb, the Muro di Filottrano, which starts out with 88 metres at 11.8%, including a section that touched 15%. The roads then keeps on rising, averaging 6.3% for the last kilometre, before a 1.5-kilometre rise to the line that also has a section at 10% close to the line.
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The Winner - Handling steep percentages is important thanks to the wall although the final climb to the line and the descents after the Fliotranno ascents on each circuit tilt this away from the pure climbers. It’s not ideal breakaway territory, however – long sections of uncomplicated and rather flat roads tilt the scales in favour of the peloton.
The Contenders - This looks like Peter Sagan territory. Bora-Hansgrohe have been active in pulling the escapees back through the four stages so far and Sagan was well I contention until rather late on the Trevi climb which was preceded by a much tougher stage overall (and had a much tougher finish). He’s been picking up form and was second, beaten only by Marcel Kittel, on the first stage.
Wherever Sagan goes, BMC’s Greg Van Avermaet follows and the Belgian, still lightly raced for this time of year, will find few better chances to take a win. We only have to look at his last spring to see what he’s capable of and he will be relishing ahead to head with Sagan.
Lotto-Soudal’s Tiesj Benoot continues to amaze with his progression and the Strade Bianche winner was not only third on the run to Trevi but also a fine sixth on the queen stage yesterday. Blessed with speed, his climbing has improved exponentially and he’s a huge contender for this stage.
Sonny Colbrelli’s (Bahrain-Merida) performance in Omloop before a third place in Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne were big statements of intent from and inform rider and he needs to be watched closely today by the other contenders. They will want to drop him and also Quick-Step’s Fernando Gaviria, who is capable of tackling steep percentages although the long stretched could push him. Bob Jungels could enjoy this finish too but it’s really much more Philippe Gilbert territory with the Belgian guaranteed to enjoy this finish.
Sky’s Michal Kwiatkowski is just a second off the lead and might not need to win to take it, but could they try and set him or Geraint Thomas up to attack? It’s the last chance before the time trial to move up the overall classification.
There are a lot of overall contenders, but Adam Yates impressed on the climb to Trevi for Mitchelton-Scott and it’s a shame he’s not closer than a minute overall; He might not be too aggressively marked by the favourites going late and he catches the eye. Romain Bardet (AG2R) and George Bennett especially (Lotto-Jumbo) caught the eye late yesterday and could throw their hat into the ring.
