Departing from Cefalù, on the northern shores of Sicilia, many of the riders might be thinking of the 1994 World Championships – that day when France's Luc Leblanc battled Italy's Claudio Chiappucci to be crowned king in Agrigento, on the island's southern coast. Sunday's 207-kilometre trans-Sicilian stage will be very undulating and favour an attacking rider when it arrives on the same stretches used in the Worlds 14 years prior.
Ex-World Champion Igor Astarloa is eyeing the stage. "I have already had a look at many of the Giro stages, also the second stage, after the time trial," Astarloa of Team Milram noted. "It is the same spot of the Worlds that was won by [Luc] Leblanc, in Agrigento. This year, there are a small number of stages for the sprinters and many finishes on small ascents; stages for [Paolo] Bettini, [Danilo] Di Luca." (GB)
-
Human Powered Health strikes two-year deal with Marta Lach to fuel WorldTour team's top-level ambitions
'The deal was done in 24 hours' says team general manager -
'Iconic Powerline not being part of the race is devastating but it's even more devastating that the mountain is on fire' - Melisa Rollins aims for second win at Leadville Trail 100 MTB
2024 winner of high-altitude Colorado race will debut colours as US champion from recent marathon cross-country mountain bike nationals -
Cycling transfers – All the latest news and announcements for the 2027 season
The ultimate guide to the pro cycling transfer window, tracking every move across the men's and women's WorldTours -
Quinn Simmons returns to Leadville Trail 100 MTB seven years on from his extraordinary teenage debut
Colorado native last competed at high-elevation mountain bike race in 2019 when he finished second
