With Cadel Evans still holding the overall lead in the 2014 Giro D’Italia, join us from 10pm AEST for our live coverage and discussion of Stage 13 of the Grand Tour.
Most of the flat stages are behind us, which means Stage 13 is one of the last chances for the sprinters given the majority of the remaining stages are mountains or time trials.
The only other real chances for the sprinters are on Stage 17 and the final flat stage into Trieste.
This fact will make all the key sprinters left in the race very keen to catch the break and perform well on Stage 13. By Stage 17 no one will have any energy left after a few days in the mountains, and the breakaway will run away with it.
Stage 13 will stretch a distance of 158 kilometres from the towns Fossano to Rivarolo Canavese and encounter one category four climb and one intermediate sprint towards the end of the day’s racing. The rest of the stage is mainly played out over rolling roads that just can’t be classified as categorised climbs.
After yesterday’s time trial, it will be a little bit tougher on everyone as the time trial was designed not to be easy. If there is a formation that is not dangerous to the GC the breakaway may be allowed to go away with the stage, but at the same time the sprinters can count how many opportunities they have left on one hand.
The GC teams will know this as well, and that means they have a lot of riding to go up and down mountains so they won’t want to waste any unnecessary energy chasing a break they don’t need to chase. The other factor that will work to the advantage of the breakaway is the fact that is it is a shorter stage, so they can ride harder for a shorter period of time.
Stage 13’s sprint and categorised climb are right near the end, with the climb being 32 kilometres from the end and the sprint only 13 kilometres from the end. This could certainly throw a spanner in the works for the stage.
Not so much the climb, although if the break has already been caught there is no doubt someone will try and have a go. But with the sprint only being 13 kilometres, the sprinters will almost certainly want someone away as they go through the sprint.
If the sprint finish does come, Nacer Houhani (FDJ) would have to be the favourite once again. He has made the sprints of the Giro his own since Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano) withdrew from the race, and now with Michael Matthews out of the race it suits him even more.
The challenge will certainly come from the form of team Sky and Ben Swift as they try and get something out of the Giro. Other challengers will include Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek), Roberto Ferrari (Lampre), Ella Viviani (Cannondale) and Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano). All of these riders are certainly in with a chance of winning the stage if it does end in a sprint finish, but with the dominance shown so far by Bouhani he is certainly my tip.
Whether it is won by a breakaway or it ends in a sprint finish,it should be a great stage of the Giro .
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thankyou for joining me this evening for the live coverage of stage 13 for the 2014 Giro D'Italia and remember to tune back in tomorrow night here on the roar for live coverage of Stage 14 and the mountains! Goodnight!
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Sprint jersey will stay on the shoulders of Bouhani as we move into the mountains.
Scott Pryde
Expert
With the weather im sure an advantage heading into the mountains for all the riders is that no one crashed and with no split there is no change in the GC from last nights TT
Scott Pryde
Expert
The top 10 for the stage is as follows: 1 Marco Canola (Bardiani-CSF) 2 Jackson Rodriguez (Androni Giocattoli) 3 Angelo Tulik (Team Europcar) 4 Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) 5 Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) 6 Elia Viviani (Cannondale) 7 Luka Mezgec (Team Giant-Shimano) 8 Ben Swift (Team Sky) 9 Tyler Farrar (Garmin Sharp) 10 Borut Bozic (Astana Pro Team)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nope it was Bouhani finishing 4th.
Scott Pryde
Expert
All in all an incredible stage, one where the break were never more than 3 and a half minutes ahead but still found a way to win... When it came to the sprint Canola opened it up and the others just didnt have the legs to come round him... In the bunch sprint it was Nizollo vs Bouhani and Bouhani came out on top by the slimmest of margans, although i believe that is a provisional result and possibly Nizollo pipped him on the line! Sorry for the confusion and am trying to get this cleared up ASAP
Scott Pryde
Expert
He leads Nizzolo and Viviani home.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bouhani wins the bunch sprint just seconds behind the break.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Canola opens the sprint and doesnt get beaten... Rodriguez second and Tulix third
Scott Pryde
Expert
No one wants to lead for the break here
Scott Pryde
Expert
1 km to go for the break
Scott Pryde
Expert
Garmin driving the pack now but it seems futile
Scott Pryde
Expert
2 km to go for the break
Scott Pryde
Expert
Peltoton under 3 to go - gap @ 1 minute
Scott Pryde
Expert
Breakaway really starting to lay cat and mouse now. Still to far to go to start that
Scott Pryde
Expert
Canola attacks the break! Rodriguez follows and Tulix just manages to hang on
Scott Pryde
Expert
Peloton at 1 minute 10 as they come under 5 to go
Scott Pryde
Expert
team Sky making their presence felt
Scott Pryde
Expert
Still bunched instead of single file though
Scott Pryde
Expert
5 km to go. Peloton coming fast now