How to watch Stage 7 of the Giro as Pogacar and Thomas tackle time trial

The first of the race’s two individual time trials is the most difficult and comes at an important time in the race ahead of two tricky days prior to the first rest day. For the first 34km this is a fast and flat ride up the Topino valley in Umbria, passing near the historic hilltop town of Assisi. But the cat will be thrown among the pigeons 6.6km from the finish with a punchy double-digit climb (1.3km at 10.7%) ahead of a flat section and then a steady rise to the beautiful city of Perugia.

Another ramp of 11% comes 2km from the finish ahead of the leg-sapping final push towards the broad avenue of the Corso Vannucci, the social centre of the city. Such is the test of the final quarter that riders with serious ambitions to take the win – or merely to limit their losses – will have to manage their efforts on the flat section in the valley for fear of blowing up at the end.

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) is already in pole position and will be looking to consolidate – or more likely increase – his 46-second advantage over Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) in the general classification.

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.

And fans of Jonathan Vaughters are in for a treat on Stages 8 and 9, with the outspoken EF Education–EasyPost supremo joining our coverage.

Meanwhile, the charismatic Jens Voigt (Stages 1-9), 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.