They’ll hit the first climb hard and fast

The San Pellegrino will be ridden at tempo, with 60-80 riders going over the top together. Then there will be attacks on the second climb because there are mountains points to be won.

The GC riders won’t do anything until the last climb – my guess is that 30-40 of them will hit it together. It’s 16km long and consistently steep. They have two huge days ahead of them so I don’t think much will happen before the final kilometres. That could change if one of the maglia rosa contenders is having a really bad day though.

For me, today’s stage winner will be a very good climber who has no GC aspirations at all.