After the difficulty of the previous day, stage 12 will seem like a gentle roll over a couple of cat 2 climbs and some smaller cols after two intermediate sprints early in the stage. The King of the Mountains jersey competition will most likely feature on this day, and after his stage victory on a similar stage at the Tour de Suisse, Davitamon-Lotto's Axel Merckx may well feel he's in with a chance of picking up a Tour stage win. The riders then say goodbye to the Alps as they head over a couple of flat stages, where the Pyrenees await them, ready to split the field even more.
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‘I can’t say I will beat Demi, but I will keep trying to get there’ - second overall Marlen Reusser at Vuelta Femenina
Swiss rider gains confidence going into summer races -
Ineos Grenadiers say 'The only way to do the best GC possible' at Giro d'Italia is continued use of more aggressive tactics
'We have to find this balance of being realistic but also dreaming' says Egan Bernal, as he looks to rediscover former Tour and Giro-winning shape -
'We're happy with where we are' - UAE Team Emirates-XRG upbeat on Giro d'Italia options despite Primoz Roglič's time trial success
Team management say Adam Yates turned in notable TT performance -
'Hopefully, here I can take another step' - Simon Yates upbeat about Giro d'Italia despite double preparation setbacks of illness and being hit by car
Visma-Lease a Bike GC challenger uneven preparation, but satisfied with opening time trial performance in Tirana
