Due north is the direction and Pistoia is the destination for the end of week one of the 88th Giro d'Italia. Once again, a final circuit will condition the stage outcome, but it's not for the speedsters. After passing close to the skyscraper towers of San Gimignano and climbing the San Baronto GPM with 48km to go, next stop is the tough climb of Sammome'. This steep narrow ascent gains 491m. in just 4.5km, then plunges back down to Pistoia to finish in the Piazza S.Francesco d'Assisi. A dangerous finale for riders who have ambitions to win the Giro, for a bad position before the Sammome' could lose valuable seconds.
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Change of plans for Pauline Ferrand-Prévot with the French rider to race Road World Championships after all
'Forward to a new great experience! And in any case, I can already be awarded the title of World Champion of Change of Plans' jokes Ferrand-Prévot -
Vuelta a España team time trial victory 'not a realistic goal' for Visma-Lease a Bike following Axel Zingle's abandon
'Just calculate how much you lose if you suddenly have to start with seven riders instead of eight' says coach Mathieu Heijboer -
Quiz! How many Vuelta a España winners can you name?
La Vuelta is underway – let's look back at all those who have written their name into the history books -
'I didn't feel good enough' - Jasper Philipsen reflects on missed opportunity on Vuelta a España stage 4
Belgian sprinter didn't have the legs to overcome Ineos Grenadiers' Ben Turner
