Stage 11 of the 2016 Giro d’Italia might be classed as flat, but it features some challenging lumps and bumps near the end of the 229 kilometre trek from Modena to Asolo. Join The Roar for live coverage from 10pm (AEST).
From a sprinter’s point of view, it would be ideal for the stage to end after 200 kilometres. There are few difficulties in that period of time, and the road doesn’t go more than 100 metres above sea level.
The day’s two intermediate sprints, where it has to be assumed that all the points will be taken by the breakaway, come after 145.2 kilometres in Grisignano di Zocco and 167.7 in Villa del Conte.
The Category 4 climb before the line, summited 22 kilometres out, will see a maximum gradient of 16 per cent, before another six per cent ramp just three kilometres out.
It shouldn’t be enough for the general classification contenders to break clear, but that is not to say some of the guys who have already lost a lot of time like Rigoberto Uran (Cannondale) or Ryder Hesejdal (Trek SegaFredo) won’t have a crack at picking up some seconds and a stage win.
While wasting energy on a stage where only a handful of seconds are likely to be picked up mightn’t be the best strategy, it is realistic for Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) to attack, forcing other GC hopefuls onto the front foot.
Bob Jungels (Etixx Quickstep) moved into the pink jersey yesterday, and if he were to design a stage that suited him, this would just about be it. Unless something goes badly wrong, it is tough to see him moving out of the lead.
The real contenders for today’s stage though are the riders who have a solid uphill attack in them, or can hold on during climbs then outsprint to the line. As such, Diego Ulissi (Lampre) and Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) are expected to come to the fore.
Others to watch out for when the inevitable attack goes are Joe Dombrowski (Cannondale), Joey Rosskopf (BMC), Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha).
Depending on the brutality of the attack, and how many teammates are left in the peloton, the only sprinters that could dream of hanging on are Heinrich Haussler (IAM), Caleb Ewan (Orica) and Jose Joaquin Rojas (Movistar).
And with a chance of rain, this is anything but a chance to rest the legs.
Prediction
It will be a fast stage as the sprinters teams try to minimise the work they need to do at the back end. Nothing will stop a puncheur’s win though.
Look at Haussler, Ulissi or Wellens.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 11 from 10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
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Scott Pryde
Expert
General Classification after Stage 11, 2016 Giro d'Italia 1. Bob Jungels (Etixx-Quickstep) @ 45:16:20 2. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) + 0:24 3. Andrey Amador (Movistar) + 1:07 4. Steven Kruijswijk (Lotto NL Jumbo) + 1:07 5. Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) + 1:09 6. Rafal Majka (Tinkoff) + 2:01 7. Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha) + 2:25 8. Esteban Chavez (Orica GreenEdge) + 2:43 9. Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx-Quickstep) + 2:45 10. Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) + 2:47
Scott Pryde
Expert
Top 10, Stage 11 1. Diego Ulissi (Lampre) @ 4:56:32 2. Andrey Amador (Movistar) + 0:00 3. Bob Jungels (Etixx - Quickstep) + 0:00 4. Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek - Segafredo) + 0:13 5. Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani CSF) + 0:13 6. Matteo Trentin (Etixx - Quickstep) + 0:13 7. Sacha Modolo (Lampre - Merida) + 0:13 8. Enrico Battaglin (Lotto NL-Jumbo) + 0:13 9. Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) + 0:13 10. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) + 0:13
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full report and results to come shortly. Thanks for joining me this evening for The Roar's live coverage of the 2016 Giro d'Italia as Diego Ulissi was able to take out Stage 11 in a three man sprint for the line. Hopefully you enjoyed the coverage. Connor Bennett will be with you tomorrow evening, and i'll be back on Friday for Stage 13. Until next time, Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jungels has to receive plenty of credit today for going on the attack instead of simply defending. Few bonus seconds and he should have a time gap on the line. Fantastic effort.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, a shocking day for Pozzovivo, but what a day for Lampre and Diego Ulissi.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Pozzovivo and Brambilla fighting their way up to the line, trying to minimise losses it but it's not a good day for him as he loses well over a minute up to the line.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The sprint with a lead out has opened behind. At 400 metres to go it is Jungels who leads, but Ulissi goes with 200 metres to go and no one will come around him. He leads Amador home and then it is Jungels in third. Almost a double second gap as the peloton come over with Nizzolo finishing fourth with ease.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Inside the final kilometre and it is Jungels who has opened the motor, going for a very long range, high tempo ride to the line.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Matteo Trentin to the front of the peloton
Scott Pryde
Expert
1.5km to go now and the gap is outside of 10 seconds again. Valverde and Nibali the men trying to move to the front of the group.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nibali to the front and he is flying downhil. 9 seconds behind now as Ulissi hits the front of the group.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Ulissi, Jungels and Amador still working hard with 3.5 km to go. They only have 9 seconds over the peloton as Nibali starts to come towards the front of the group.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The rider leaders have about 9 seconds now with 4km to go. Over the top of the climb we come as Kruijswijk hits the front of the bunch.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Domenico Pozzovio meanwhile is about 1:25 behind.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bentancur is done, but Ulissi has caught the front group, making it three riders at the front with 4km to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Lampre lead the chase and here comes the attack! Diego Ulissi goes before Bentancur follows.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Onto the climb now as Jungels leads uphill with just six seconds.
Scott Pryde
Expert
5km to go, the gap down to 7 seconds and Lampre really pushing the pace as they peal off a few seconds.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Daniel Howson is absolutely burrying himself here to lead this chase, but now it is the turn of Lampre to come through and try to keep the pace high. 5.5km to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Amador and Jungels holding just 10 seconds with 7 km to go. They are doing a great job to keep that gap stable though, and we are under 2km from the start of the final ramp uphill.