Mat Hayman's view
On paper, this looks like a fairly flat stage, and once again the sprinters' teams will want to control the race. The GC teams will be keeping out of trouble and will be waiting for the next few stages. The sprinters' lead-out trains will be putting all their winter-work into practice, and it could be that one of the more well-oiled machines from the previous years come out on top, simply because they're used to working with each other.
The heat, as throughout the race, is going to be a factor. The southern hemisphere riders will be used to it, and they might have spent most of the off-season in those conditions, whereas some of the Europeans – although they might have been in Australia for some time – might never like it or get used to it. At the end of the day, you're either good in the heat or you're not.
-
Giro d'Italia and Giro d'Italia Women routes for 2026 to be revealed on December 1
Expected Bulgarian Grand Partenza for men's race, all 21 stages and nine-stage women's route to be unveiled at Rome presentation -
Velocio ONE jacket review: The jacket that wants to be your one and only
Is this the one jacket to rule them all? We test Velocio's latest attempt at seasonal mastery -
Superprestige Niel: Laurens Sweeck powers past Niels Vandeputte at the line for first victory of the season
Series leader Michael Vanthourenhout completes the podium at Jaarmarktcross -
Have Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe 'won' the transfer market? Analysing the team's rider recruitment for 2026
Remco Evenepoel's signing is the biggest move of the off-season, but what other moves have Red Bull made?
