Giro d'Italia: Stage 18 preview
Stage 18 map and profile
Stage 18: Mori - Polsa (ITT)
Distance: 20.6km
Highest point: 1,205m
Category: Individual time trial
BATTLE AGAINST THE CLOCK
The final stanza of the 2013 Giro begins with a punishing 19km cronoscalata in the hills east of Lake Garda. The gradients, an average of five percent and the final 6km at 6.8 percent, look better suited to the specialists than to the thoroughbred climbers. Though the time gaps won't be vast, it's conceivable they will determine the outcome of the race. A minute lost here may not seem a lot but in the context of the Giro, you never know. No question of the tactics, then, just 45 minutes of good old-fashioned suffering.
Stefano Zanatta says: "It's neither long nor particularly steep but a good run on this time trial will make a big difference as regards morale. If the sensations are good, it will give riders a real boost for the days to come and I have a feeling it will be particularly important for Nibali. I don’t expect huge gaps but by now the fatigue is really starting to accumulate."
Stage 18 map
Stage 18 profile
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Tour de France stage 3 Live - Another big sprint showdown expected in Dunkerque
Jasper Philipsen is chasing a second stage win on flat 178km day which could be hit by the North Sea wind once again -
Giro d'Italia Women: Anna Henderson claims maiden WorldTour victory on stage 2 and takes pink jersey on uphill finish to Aprica
Dilyxine Miermont second as duo sprint it out for victory after breakaway, Soraya Paladin third from GC group -
Why are Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel racing the Tour de France in $300k watches, and aren’t they going to break them?
Are they actually real, working watches or just ornamental props? -
Red Bull or Ineos? Talk of Remco Evenepoel's early exit from Soudal-QuickStep resurfaces at Tour de France
Negotiations said to be 'on hold' during Tour de France but transfer likely according to Cyclingnews sources