Podium Cafe

Spoleto - Prato di Tivo 152 km

Second big mountain test of this Giro. Short and snappy stage too.

Estimated finish time: 16:55-17:35 CEST

Trident of the Day: Tadej Pogačar

They raced essentially the same stage in Tirreno in 2021, I’ll give you one guess who won that day.

Official Site , Startlist

Quick one because it’s both the weekend and I’m not about much. Should be a bunch sprint but there’s some lumps that might make a difference. Unlikely to be a break unless it’s a late attack which is a real possibility. Perfect for Groves and Milan. Tougher for Merlier and Fabio.

Foligno - Perugia 40.6 km Timetrial

Forty kilometers of timetrial is no joke in modern cycling, it’s about as long as we get. And this one has some punishing uphill in the last six kilometers to really punish those that don’t get their pacing right.

Estimated finish time: 17:10 CEST (final rider)

Monster from the Black Bay: Tadej Pogačar

Essentially, with that twist at the end I don’t see any of the specialists doing better than the the little dude with the tufts. Читать дальше...

The Course

A proper MTF on stage 8. The last climb is nearly 15k at 7%. Also there’s 3800 metres of climbing across the stage. Used in T-A a few years back, Pog has already won on this climb.

The Favourites

With an uphill start and then a long climb if the break doesn’t go quickly, we should see a strong break of climbers. UAE doesn’t have the team to put a stranglehold on would be attackers so there’s every chance a GC type a bit back on time gets into the break. The other... Читать дальше...

Stage 1

More women’s World Tour stage racing in Spain. Three days in the Basque Country with all the fixins.

Estimated finish time: 13:15-13:45 CEST

Primo Pancake: Mischa Bredewold

Second tier startlist for Itzulia which now sits in a very difficult calendar spot. Bredewold looks like one of the fastest on the WT teams here.

Official Site , Startlist

Torre del Lago - Rapolano Terme 180 km

Tuscany gets to show off its white roads and assorted other goodies on what promises to be an unpredictable stage.

Estimated finish time: 17:00-17:25 CEST

Cavaradossi of the Day: Tadej Pogačar

It could be a breakaway day but with so many tasty treats along the way and a challenging finale it’s not to think some of the bigs will see this as a stage win opportunity. Except the ones saving up for the TT tomorrow.

Official Site ... Читать дальше...

The Course

A 40.6k TT with a kicker at the end to help the climbing non TT’ers. With a power 35k start though, it might not be enough.

The Favourites

It’s got all the hallmarks of the Pog vs Pippo show. Ganna has been climbing well of late but you’d imagine he’ll need quite a buffer before the climb to hold on. The best of the rest includes half of Ineos but Plappy has been taking it easy of late. He’s said he’s all in for GC so I expect this is the day he’s been waiting for. Читать дальше...

Sad news cycling fans it looks like the MCC is postponned this year....

Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images

Pamplona - Iruña 135.6 km

Genova - Lucca 178 km

This is pretty much as straightforward a sprint stage as you’re going to get in the Giro outside of the Po valley.

Estimated finish time: 17:00-17:30 CEST

Best luccing sprinter of the Day: Tim Merlier

QuickStep have a better record of consistently getting things right in the sprints. Milan had his day yesterday but Merlier will be in the right spot and turn the tables again.

Official Site , Startlist