It’s back into the high mountains for the first of two mountain stages that will decide the order the riders roll down the start ramp for the closing time trial in Milan on Sunday, with five categorised climbs including the 20km ascent of the Passo Manghen, with an average gradient of 7.4 per cent but hitting twice that at its steepest point.
That’s the prelude to the main event however, with a tifosi friendly closing circuit that will require the riders to head up the fearsome Passo Pampeago, with an average gradient of 9.7 per cent and a maximum of 16 per cent, not once, but twice. On the second time up, the finish line is some way short of the summit that will have been crested earlier, but that’s cold comfort on what will be a tough day.
GT: There could be an early attack, but I would have thought a full-on GC day, a tough day on the bike. Me and Ian Stannard will definitely have fun today – it's our birthdays! The last climb is typical of Italy, it’s steeper than those in the Tour, so Rodriguez, that type of guy, a super-light whippet, will be flying up there.
