Category: Giro d’Italia

If ever there was a stage that screamed “day for the breakaway”, this is it.

After a gentle start along the Adriatic coast, the race heads inland to tackle a series of ups and downs, with four Cat. 4 climbs dotted about to sap any teams hoping for a bunch finish.

Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) looks a good shout for victory after hinting at a return to form in the opening week and a bit, while Jhonatan Narvaez (Ineos Grenadiers) will be looking to double up after his near-miss on Stage 9.

Or could it be a day for Kaden Groves, whose Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mates have plugged a heavy tempo on the climbs to weed out his slightly faster rivals? If the race comes back together, the Australian will fancy himself against a reduced group.

The UK coverage will be bookended by The Breakaway, presented by Orla Chennaoui, who has a string of esteemed guests joining her across the three weeks. Usual suspects Dan Lloyd, Adam Blythe and 12-time stage winner Robbie McEwen will return, with former Jumbo-Visma star Nathan van Hooydonck swooping in for the final week as Blythe resumes his duties on the motorbike in Italy.

Meanwhile, former road star Daniel Oss (Stages 10-14), two-time winner Alberto Contador (Stage 15) and Blythe (Stages 16-21) will be doing their thing on the back of a motorbike to bring fans closer to the action.

The sprinters will be licking their lips looking at the profile of Stage 11 at the Giro d’Italia.

While the start is lumpy, the final 100km of the run to Francavilla al Mare resembles a bobbly pancake and should present the fastmen with another shot at glory.

Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Jonathan Milan (Lidl–Trek) and Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) have shared the three bunch sprints between them. With Kooij out of the race through illness, will Merlier or Milan double up on Wednesday?

Or could it finally be time for Kaden Groves to step up? His Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mates have little to show for their opening week and a bit in Italy, despite animating the race at points. Can they get their man to the finish in a good position?

The UK coverage will be bookended by The Breakaway, presented by Orla Chennaoui, who has a string of esteemed guests joining her across the three weeks. Usual suspects Dan Lloyd, Adam Blythe and 12-time stage winner Robbie McEwen will return, with former Jumbo-Visma star Nathan van Hooydonck swooping in for the final week as Blythe resumes his duties on the motorbike in Italy.

Meanwhile, former road star Daniel Oss (Stages 10-14), two-time winner Alberto Contador (Stage 15) and Blythe (Stages 16-21) will be doing their thing on the back of a motorbike to bring fans closer to the action.

How are the legs, everyone?

The peloton get just 45 kilometres to reacquaint themselves with their limbs after the first rest day before Stage 10 heads uphill. Two big climbs are expected to spice up Tuesday’s action, with the Cat. 2 Camposauro serving as the appetiser ahead of the third summit finish of the race – the Cat. 1 slog to Cusano Mutri.

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) already has three wins in this year’s race and the profile suits him to a tee, but will UAE be content to let a breakaway stay away? The Slovenian starts the second week with a 2’40” lead over Dani Martinez (Bora–Hansgrohe), with Britain’s Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) a further 18 seconds back.

The UK coverage will be bookended by The Breakaway, presented by Orla Chennaoui, who has a string of esteemed guests joining her across the three weeks. Usual suspects Dan Lloyd, Adam Blythe and 12-time stage winner Robbie McEwen will return, with former Jumbo-Visma star Nathan van Hooydonck swooping in for the final week as Blythe resumes his duties on the motorbike in Italy.

Meanwhile, former road star Daniel Oss (Stages 10-14), two-time winner Alberto Contador (Stage 15) and Blythe (Stages 16-21) will be doing their thing on the back of a motorbike to bring fans closer to the action.