Matt White's Giro d'Italia Stage 9 Preview:
Sunday, May 19, 2019
34.8km Riccione - San Marino (ITT)
This is actually a time trial with something in there for everyone. There’s flattish terrain and then around 14km of climbing towards the finish which comes in the form of multiple ramps. My initial thoughts were that riders would change bikes and move to a road bike for the second half but the more analysis we do the more I don’t think that will be the case. Some riders might disagree but there are some downhill sections in between the climbs so you’ll lose 20 seconds on the change before hitting 50kph again on the short downhill sections. You don’t want to be on a road bike for those sections. Overall this first part of the race is one of the easiest openings to the Giro in recent memory but I know what’s coming from the time trial all the way to the finish, with all those mountain stages. It’s a race of two halves and the second part of the race is just relentless.
-
'I'm just at the level I want to be' – Lotte Kopecky says she 'doesn't really care' whether rivals view her as Tour of Flanders frontrunner
SD Worx-Protime leader full of confidence as she speaks to the media three days before chasing more history in the highlight of the Flemish spring -
'We know we are able to win' – Pauline Ferrand-Prévot returns to Tour of Flanders as a firm favourite after 'unexpected' success in 2025
Frenchwoman has set De Ronde as a big goal for 2026 and Visma-Lease a Bike say they're ready to race for victory -
'It wasn't the plan' – Richard Carapaz undergoes surgical procedure this week, affirms recovery will not distract from Giro d'Italia in just five weeks
Former Giro champion treated at Equadorian hospital for perineal condition -
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA rider hospitalised in serious condition following training crash
Jaume Guardeño suffered serious injuries after hitting a rock and colliding with car on Tuesday
