Giro 2019 Favourites stage 6: Strong men in long race

The 6th stage of the Giro d'Italia amounts to 238 kilometres, while a section with demanding climbs ends 15 kilometres before the line. Day for the breakaway! (Slideshow route/profile)

The first 190 kilometres are played out on fast terrain with no major climbs. Perfect for the breakaway to open up a wide gap.

Obviously, another scenario is that the team with the pink jersey will take the reins. If so, a handful of resilient all-rounders who can excel at climbing and sprinting could come to the fore. Or, yet another option, a late attacker powers to the win with a well-timed effort.

Scenario’s galore, but a bunch sprint is not one of them. The Coppa Casarinelle climb 30 kilometres before the finish will almost certainly prove too testing for the pure sprinters who have ventured to Italy. All the more since the ascent is followed by the Gargano climb with hairpins and gradients up to 6% gradients. The riders reach the Santuario San Matteo sul Gargano 15 kilometres before the finish.

Favourites 6th stage 2019 Giro d’Italia
*** Thomas De Gendt, Diego Ulissi, Florian Sénéchal
** Valerio Conti, Jan Bakelants, Omar Fraile, Tao Geoghegan Hart
* Jan Polanc, Luke Durbridge, Tanel Kangert, Victor Campenaerts

Read about the route of stage 6.