There's always an exodus of notable, mainly sprinting, talent before the Giro's critical mountain tests, and why not given there is nothing much to whet their appetite during the final week of the race. With the biggest climbs now looming, the sprinters will be determined to make the most of the two stage-winning opportunities they have left. This is the pick of them, so any break today is almost certainly doomed unless their lead amounts to more than a minute coming off the final small climb.
Procycling's favourite to win:
It's difficult to see past Greipel, Petacchi and Farrar, especially as several potential sprint contenders will be leading these guys out. Watch, though, for Androni's Alberto Loddo, whose 25th career win this year was his first ever on home Italian soil. The passage through Macerata may be a good omen for Katusha's rouleur extraordinaire Mikhail Ignatiev (right), who won there during Tirreno-Adriatico.
Distance: 206km
Vertical climb: 770m
Highest point: 301m
Terrain: Flat
Category: Road Stage
-
Really Rad Festival of Cyclocross: Maghalie Rochette and Andrew Strohmeyer earn elite titles at C1 races in Falmouth
Canadian junior national champion battles Rochette to the line in elite women's contest -
Fem van Empel celebrates 50th cyclocross victory at muddy Exact Cross race with handmade sign hidden in her kit
Dutch rider says she 'put a lot of pressure on myself, but the preparation was fun' -
Sonny Colbrelli departs Bahrain Victorious as sports director
Italian takes his leave as Gasparotto joins from Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in staff shake-up at Bahrain -
Formula 1 Grand Prix course to provide twists and turns in Monaco start for 2026 Vuelta a España
9.6km individual time trial confirmed as stage 1 to open Spanish Grand Tour in 300 days
