Plenty of riders will have spent a nervy rest day contemplating this extraordinary mountain time trial. It starts easy enough, ramps up towards the Passo Furcia, then takes off on a hard-packed dirt road towards the summit. Sections of 20 and 24 per cent slow riders to walking pace and ensure the massive crowds can clearly see the toll it takes on them. Many of them will no doubt be hoping that adverse weather leads to the stage being shortened and finishing on the Passo Furcia as was the case when the Giro first came this way in 2006.
Procycling's favourite to win:
Alberto Contador was among the riders beaten by Franco Pellizotti here in 2008, which marks ‘The Dolphin of Bibbione' as the favourite. However, so steep is the mountain that riders climb at much the same gear-grinding, slow pace, meaning time gaps shouldn't be too large. Pellizotti's 2008 time of 40:26 gave an average speed of just 19kph.
Stage Details
Distance: 12.9km
Vertical climb: 1,080m
Highest point: 2,273m
Terrain: High mountain
Category: Individual Time Trial
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