A stage only the Giro can do. A ride up the Tiber valley, central to the myth of Rome before the Alpe de Poti and its steep gravel road and then a wild descent to the finish in the medieval city of Arezzo. Roman history, a medieval city and gravel roads that evoke cycling’s early days, the Giro as a time machine. In more practical terms this is the first proper test of climbing in the Giro, a chance to measure Vincenzo Nibali, Tom Dumoulin and the rest.
If you have to ration your Giro viewing this weekend then this stage is the one to watch given tomorrow’s time trial is important but unlikely to be as exciting.
