Well, what a Stage 6 of the Giro d’Italia! A win for Matthews, Cadel gaining time and lots of skin left on the roads of Italy.
So, what can we expect from Stage 7? Whatever it is, we’ll have it covered right here on The Roar from 10:30pm AEST.
Sprint or breakaway?
Breakaway or sprint?
I’m voting breakaway but it really could go either way.
Today’s stage will take riders on a 211 kilometre journey from Frosinone to Foligno.
There are two categorized climbs today, the first of these the Cat 3 Valico di Aricnazzo. The climb falls about 30 km into the race and if a breakaway can put some distance between themselves and the peloton, then they may just stay away.
The Valico della Somma has gradients between 4-5% and shouldn’t bother the sprinters, making it a flip of the coin to if the stage will end in a gallop.
The sprinters will naturally want the breakaway caught and a dash to the finish line. They are running out of sprint opportunities and in the face of tomorrow’s summit finish, I suspect they’ll want some last glory.
It’s not a terribly difficult sprint, with good roads but the breakaway will be hoping the sprinters struggle over the final, albeit, easy climb.
Now that I’ve said I want to see a breakaway take the stage, I hope it’s a breakaway lead by Lotto-Belisol’s Adam Hansen.
Any breakaway today will need strong riders, not just chancers but if a breakaway can get away early and put in some good distance, it may just survive.
If the stage ends in a bunch sprint, Elia Viviani of Canondale or FDJs Nacer Bouhanni will be favourites.
One thing I think we can expect from the GC contenders is a quiet day in the saddle, staying out of trouble and conserving their energy for tomorrow’s summit finish to Montecassino.
I suspect I’ll have a busy night at the keyboard, so don’t forget to join me at 10.30PM AEST for all the action, and join the discussion in the comments below.
Kate Smart
Expert
Tomorrow's stage should be thrilling with a summit finish and a cat 1 climb or two! Thanks for joining me tonight and be sure to tune into The Roar's Giro coverage over the last two weeks of the Giro. Thanks and Goodnight.
Kate Smart
Expert
No changes to the overall standings. Bouhanni should be in red tomorrow.
Kate Smart
Expert
Stage results 1. Bouhanni 2. Nizollo 3. Mezgec 4. Matthews
Kate Smart
Expert
Bouhani clips the barricades but makes it through to win the stage.
Kate Smart
Expert
Farrar is up there. Bouhani too and Patacchi. Viviani there too.
Kate Smart
Expert
Matthews in 5th wheel.
Kate Smart
Expert
Final k
Kate Smart
Expert
Bouhani on Durbridge's wheel. Trying to push his way in. Some bumping in the group. Giant out on front.
Kate Smart
Expert
Ventoso is Movistar's sprinter.
Kate Smart
Expert
2.4km to go.
Kate Smart
Expert
The break is caught. Ventoso from Movistar. Durbridge on the front.
Kate Smart
Expert
The breakaway passing through a narrow point at the 3km mark.
Kate Smart
Expert
The breakaway are not giving up. Haas slightly ahead of the breakaway. 3.4km to go.
Kate Smart
Expert
BMC and Giant on the front of the bunch. Orica lurking close by. 3.7km to go.
Kate Smart
Expert
5km to go. The gap is about 15".
Kate Smart
Expert
Thurau attacks again but nothing comes of it. The Commisaires car has come forward. 5km to go. BMC on the front of the bunch.
Kate Smart
Expert
BMC on the front of the peloton. 6km to go.
Kate Smart
Expert
37" with 7km to go.
Kate Smart
Expert
The breakaway are attacking each other. Can anyone from the break take the victory?
Kate Smart
Expert
Anacona is struggling to stay up with the breakaway. Chalapud was looking like the weakest link but once he rejoined he's put in a little more work. The gap is down to "53 with 8km to go.