Summit finishes are not always contested by the main GC players and it’s often the case a large breakaway could form early in the day with the strongest men making it to the end before the main players can catch them.
There is no guarantee that this will happen today but with a flat opening, there is time to build up a large gap to the peloton before the final climbs begin.
Such a feat would need to be pulled off by a strong climber of which there are plenty in the Giro that we don’t figure will be in the GC mix such as Janex Brajkovic, Samuel Sanchez, Thomas De Gendt and Pieter Weening. Even a rider like Roche may try something today as his GC ambitions are certainly over after losing a lot of time on stage 6.
If a breakaway is not allowed gain time today, it should be a battle of the GC men with Quintana, Uran (image) and Evans battling it out.
Favourites:
Nairo Quintana
Rigoberto Uran
Outsiders:
Cadel Evans
Samuel Sanchez
Domenico Pozzovivo
Michele Scarponi
Mikel Nieve
Ryder Hesjedal
Giro 2014 Stage 9: Images and more!
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