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A 10.8-kilometre individual time trial awaits the riders on Stage 15 of the Giro d’Italia. Join The Roar for live coverage from 10.30pm (AEST).
After a gruelling Stage 14 of what seemed like endless climbs, things don’t get any easier.
Covering only 10.8 kilometres is a lot less daunting than 210 kilometres, however when you’re trying to do it as fast as humanly possible things go up another gear.
The stage starts in Castelrotto with a false-flat drag of 1800 metres before the road steadily climbs over the remaining nine kilometres, with an average gradient of 8.3 per cent.
The roads are fairly smooth and offer a lot of room – you don’t want cramped, cobblestone streets for an ITT now do you.
Split time will be taken at the 4.4-kilometre mark and then things really get interesting. Over the final 6.4 kilometres there is a climb of 562 metre, with an average gradient of 8.6 per cent at a maximum of 11 per cent.
With the amount of climbing to be done we shouldn’t be expecting a time trial specialist to win the stage, but rather a rider with climbing credentials.
Pre-race favourite Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) will look to increase the gap on Esteban Chaves and potentially take the pink jersey from Steven Kruijswijk. Keep an eye on Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) too – the Colombian loves to climb and has strong time trialling abilities, he could sneak up and steal the stage victory.
With a rest day set for tomorrow, the riders should be giving this stage their all.
Prediction
Hard to go past Nibali. Has solid time trialling abilities and doesn’t mind a climb or two. With the Giro now entering its final third and things tight at the top of the pink jersey standings, Nibali will be looking to stamp his authority and make his move.
Kruijswijk to be a close second and keep hold of his pink jersey, for now.
The finish line is at the end of a 180-metre straight, will the winner be decided here or will one rider pull off a dazzling run up the mountain? Join The Roar for live updates from 10.30pm (AEST).
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