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The Giro d’Italia will continue its trek north for Stage 5 as the riders head towards Benevento, with one of the longest stages in the race at 233 kilometres. Join The Roar for live coverage from 10:30pm (AEST).
Stage 5 will be a difficult one for the peloton, with an awkward mix of constant climbs and descents, and just a couple of flat sections.
Dutchman Tom Dumoulin will start the stage with the Maglia Rosa once again, after briefly giving it up to Marcel Kittel, but the latter struggled with the mountains in Stage 4 to lose his lead at the top.
There’s just one categorised climb today, but there are at least five mini climbs for the riders to tackle on their way inland from the starting point at Paraia a Mare.
The stage begins with a gradual rise over the first climb, which reaches 750 metres above sea level, slowly building over the opening 35 kilometres before hitting the peak for the mountains classification points.
The next 50 kilometres are generally flat, if not slightly downhill, which should suit the quicker teams at the front of the peloton and could be the catalyst for an early breakaway leading into the wavy hills in the second third of the race.
The run into the finish is then quite fast, with the final 45 kilometres downhill, with a little speed bump just eight clicks from the line.
The sprinters that fell behind in Stage 4 should have a much better day in the saddle today, regardless of the stage’s generally up-and-down nature.
If the teams can protect their faster riders through the undulating middle sector, then the finish should suit them to a tee and a bunch sprint can be expected.
Prediction
Although losing his pink jersey yesterday, Kittel now holds the red sprinters jersey and will be a tough match if he can stay with the main pack and launch late on the downhill run to the finish.
Expect Dumoulin to hold onto the Maglia Rosa, his Giant-Alpecin team should stick around the front of the pack and control the peloton for most of the day.
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