Route: Much like the Tour's 2007 London prologue or 2003 Paris prologue, this time trial highlights most of what makes Rome so unique. This short time trial starts from the edge of the Roman forum below the Palatine hill and finishes in the shadow of the Colosseum. It's pretty flat, but has lots of turns that will favour the specialists.
Local Hero: Alessandro Proni probably wouldn't have imagined that he would get the chance to race around the usually traffic-jammed streets of his home city, and the ISD rider, who helped them win the TTT at the Coppi e Bartali race in March, is sure to relish this stage.
Procycling's top tip: We've been saving the name of Levi Leipheimer for this stage because we have a hunch the Astana leader may have reason for a double celebration here. Close to a first major tour win at last year's Vuelta, he's going better than ever.
Savio speaks: This stage will show off Roma as Caput Mundi, the capital of the world. The stage travels through all the historic sites, starting near the Colosseum.
I am on the edge of my seat thinking the maglia rosa could come down to a fight of two or three on the streets of Roma. It would be a spectacular fight.
I remember back in 1992 when Andrea Tafi won for my team at the Giro del Lazio ahead of Davide Cassani, third. Tafi had his hands up for victory with the Colosseum in the background on the Fori Imperiali.
Stage map
Stage profile
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