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Today’s 18th stage is sure to be a make-or-break moment for the General Classification contenders in this year’s Giro d’Italia as they take on the 20km uphill time trial from Mori to Polsa. Live coverage of the race against the clock will start at 11.00pm AEST.
As Giovanni Visconti crossed the line in Vicenza yesterday to claim his second stage victory of this year’s Giro – and Movistar’s third successive win – he brought to a close an enthralling stage, but one that was never likely to shake up the General Classification.
It was too flat, and the day’s one climb, while enough to dispose of the sprinters of the race, wasn’t long enough to put the climbers to the test, nor tempt any of the big contenders to chase for stage honours.
Today’s Stage 18, by contrast, is shaping to be the most pivotal stage to date in this year’s chase for the Maglia Rosa as the peloton tackles the uphill Individual Time Trial to Polsa.
The time trial covers approximately 20km, in three distinct stages: an 8.1km climb at 6.1 percent to Brentonico and the day’s time check, before a 5km-long series of undulations, and a final 6.3km climb from Prada to Polsa averaging 6.8 percent and topping out at a maximum of 10 percent.
Against the clock, there will be nowhere to hide, and at least some reshuffling of the top ten’s order is likely.
One thing’s certain though: anybody with pink jersey aspirations will need to take a significant chunk out of Vincenzo Nibali’s current lead ahead of the two final mountain stages.
Today’s time trial has taken on even more importance since the weather forecast of the days ahead has come to light.
With ice and snow and temperatures as low as -14 degrees Celsius predicted atop the Stelvio Pass tomorrow, it regrettably seems likely that the race organisation may be forced to shorten yet another stage in the interests of rider safety, thus eliminating one more chance for the likes of Cadel Evans and Rigoberto Uran to attack and unseat Nibali.
It’s hard to pick a favourite for today’s stage, with 17 days of cycling in the riders’ legs.
Nibali would be a fairly safe bet, though Evans is also well-suited to the low-gradient climb and was quickest on the uphill section of the race’s first individual time trial.
Uran will again be competitive, while the two-horse race between Betancur and Majka for the young rider classification will reach fever pitch today and either of the two stand a chance at the stage win.
Whatever the outcome, this promises to be the most exciting day for the General Classification so far in this year’s Giro d’Italia.
Be sure to join us from 11.00pm AEST as coverage of the Stage 18 Individual Time Trial commences.
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