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Stage 11 of the 2016 Giro d’Italia might be classed as flat, but it features some challenging lumps and bumps near the end of the 229 kilometre trek from Modena to Asolo. Join The Roar for live coverage from 10pm (AEST).
From a sprinter’s point of view, it would be ideal for the stage to end after 200 kilometres. There are few difficulties in that period of time, and the road doesn’t go more than 100 metres above sea level.
The day’s two intermediate sprints, where it has to be assumed that all the points will be taken by the breakaway, come after 145.2 kilometres in Grisignano di Zocco and 167.7 in Villa del Conte.
The Category 4 climb before the line, summited 22 kilometres out, will see a maximum gradient of 16 per cent, before another six per cent ramp just three kilometres out.
It shouldn’t be enough for the general classification contenders to break clear, but that is not to say some of the guys who have already lost a lot of time like Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) or Ryder Hesejdal (Trek SegaFredo) won’t have a crack at picking up some seconds and a stage win.
While wasting energy on a stage where only a handful of seconds are likely to be picked up mightn’t be the best strategy, it is realistic for Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) to attack, forcing other GC hopefuls onto the front foot.
Bob Jungels (Etixx Quickstep) moved into the pink jersey yesterday, and if he were to design a stage that suited him, this would just about be it. Unless something goes badly wrong, it is tough to see him moving out of the lead.
The real contenders for today’s stage though are the riders who have a solid uphill attack in them, or can hold on during climbs then outsprint to the line. As such, Diego Ulissi (Lampre) and Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) are expected to come to the fore.
Others to watch out for when the inevitable attack goes are Joe Dombrowski (Cannondale), Joey Rosskopf (BMC), Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha).
Depending on the brutality of the attack, and how many teammates are left in the peloton, the only sprinters that could dream of hanging on are Heinrich Haussler (IAM), Caleb Ewan (Orica) and Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar).
And with a chance of rain, this is anything but a chance to rest the legs.
Prediction
It will be a fast stage as the sprinters teams try to minimise the work they need to do at the back end. Nothing will stop a puncheur’s win though.
Look at Haussler, Ulissi or Wellens.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 11 from 10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde