Please join us for live blogging of stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia. Live coverage begins at 20.35pm AEST, with comments added to this post throughout the race.
This stage resembles one of the classics. The course rolls for 186 miles from Civitavecchia inland toward Assisi, ending in a climb to the finish. The climb is only a category four, but pitches up to 15 percent in some parts, and I predict a selection will be made.
Getting to the climbs, however, is far from trivial, as the terrain is constantly rolling, and the fast pace may take toll on the weaker climbers.
If I had to pick a winner, I’d look at someone who would do well in a classic. Astana has a pair in Roman Kreuziger and Enrico Gasparotto, and if he’s feeling well, Taylor Phinney of BMC, former U23 Paris-Roubaix winner, could have a chance.
On the other hand, this is also a stage where I can picture a break succeeding. Just a hunch.
This is the type of terrain where the race leader Ryder Hesjedal should do well in, and I wouldn’t expect the lead to change hands unless something dramatic were to happen.
We’re approaching the midpoint in the Giro, and the top 10 places are separated by less than one minute. Someone has to make a move.
So will it be one of the classics champions or a rider from a breakaway that doesn’t get caught? Find out from 20.35pm AEST as we cover Stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia with live race updates and commentary.
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And that is it for stage 10 of the Giro. Good night all. Check in tomorrow for live blogging of stage 11.
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And the new GC standings: 1. Rodriguez 2. Hesjedal +17 3. Tiralongo + 32 4. Kreuzinger + 52 5. Intxausti + 52 6. Basso + 57 Still very close near the top.
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Here's the Stage 10 finish. 1. Rodriguez, 2. Huzarski + 2, 3. Visconti +2, 4. Pozzovivo +6, 5. Gadret +6, 6. Hesjedal + 6, 7. Slagter +6, 8. Cataldo +6
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Rodriguez wins! With that he gets the time bonus and the pink jersey!
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Rodriguez goes, drops everyone.
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Rodriguez sitting in second behind Rabobank. Hesjedal might be losing pink here.
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Tiralongo attacks, Hesjedal there by 5 lengths back or so.
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Katusha on the front of the field along the narrow roads.
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Sky and AG2R rides off the front on the descent (will try to get names shortly).
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Game of chess going on with the top contender looking each other over.
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A short descent coming up shortly before the last 1.5km up to the finish.
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Pozzovivo of Colnago near the front again, can he escape again?
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Scarponi chases up the climb.
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Orica-Greenedge rider attacks up the steep part of the climb.
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And we're up the climb and a Colnago rider attacks.
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Field under the 5km banner, 1km left to the base of the climb.
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The road narrows and some guys getting squeezed at the back of the field.
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Sky is now on the front setting the pace. Liquigas not far back and Hesjadal is now all alone, Garmin burned all their matches before the start of the climb.
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Hesjedal, Scarponi, Rodriguez, Schleck - all near the front as the field is about to go uphill in 3.5km.
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Less than 9km to go, it is pretty much all together with the break just a few seconds out.