Giro d'Italia 2012: Stage 7 Preview - Recanati to Rocca di Cambio 205 km

This stage sees the first summit finish of the 2012 Giro, but it’s a lot gentler than some of those the peloton will face in the last week of the race. That’s not to say there isn’t an interesting finish in prospect, however.

On the final climb, from a little after 4km out, the road heads downhill before rearing up again inside the final 2km, potentially inviting attacks from someone able to attack on the earlier part of the climb and tease out a bit more of an advantage on that short descent.

GT: I’m sure a breakaway will go and it will be a case of the GC teams trying to take control a bit there, especially with the drag up to the finish. It’s quite a long climb up, it will be tough on the way up there – it won’t be a decisive GC day, but it will be a fast tempo and a fairly large group at the top. A breakaway could still be away, or there could be an opportunist attack on that climb, someone who isn’t a GC threat but still a strong rider. One of the Italian climbers, maybe – Tiralongo was going well in Romandie.

For more on this year's race read our full Giro d'Italia Preview.