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Wednesday 15 May 2013

Giro d'Italia 2013 Preview Stage 16 -21


Part 3 of my 2013 Giro d'Italia Preview.

Stage 16
Vallorie - Ivera 232km

Stage 16 sees the race re-enter Italy with the Category 1 Col du Montcens and is the highest climb of the day at 2081m,  however it is 180km from the finish. The race then decends into Italy and is flat until we reach the Cat 3 climb Andrete at 35km from the finish, however Stage 16 is a day for the breakaway to take the stage victory, my tip being Blanco's Robert Gesink.




Stage 17
Caravaggio - Vicenza 214km

Stage 17 is a bit of respite for the riders with a flat stage that goes through Verona from Caravaggio to Vicenza. This stage is perfect for the sprinters as there is only one categorised climb, Cat 4 climb at Crosara only 25km from the finish. My tip is for Mark Cavendish.




Stage 18
Mori Velodrome - Polsa 20.8km (ITT)

This is the last of two Individual Time Trials in Giro 2013. The winner will receive 9 King of the Mountain points in the quest for the Magila Azzurra as this time trial is a second category climb. The Climb reaches over 10% during the ascent. As this is an unusual Individual Time Trial my pick would be for a climbing specialist so my tip is Brit and Movistar rider Alex Dowsett, as he has already won one TT in this years' Giro.







Stage 19
Ponte di Legno - Val Martello Martelltal 139 km

Arguably, the hardest stage of Giro 2013 involves two Cat. 1 climbs and a Super Category climb. The First climb of the day is the Passo Gavia, 23 km into the days racing then the descent which leads to the hardest climb of the day - P.D. Stelvio Stevelfserjoch at 2758m. The descent leads to a flat section before the summit finish at Val Martello Martelltal. My pick for the day is home favourite Vincenzo Nibali.


Stage 20
Silandro Schlanders - Tre Cime di Lavaredo 203 km.

The final day of racing in the General Classification with three Cat 2 climbs at 90, 117 and 190km. With two Cat 1 climbs at 164km and the summit finish at Auronzo di Cadore this stage could decide the Giro and King of the Mountains Classification. My pick for the day is Samuel Sanchez of Euskatel-Euskadi.




Stage 21
Reise Pio X - Brescia 197km

The final stage of Giro 2013 is a parade through the streets of Brescia. No categorised climbs means that today is only able to decide the Red Jersey standings between Mark Cavendish and Cadel Evans. My pick for the day is Cavendish.





Overall Predictions

Pink (GC):  Vincenzo Nibali (AST)


Red (Points): Mark Cavendish (OPQ)

Blue (KOM): Stefano Pirazzi (BAR)

White (Youth): Rafal Majka (TST)

Team Points : Sky Procycling (GBR)
Team Time : Sky Procycling (GBR)