Giro 2015: Stage 19 Favourites - Strong diesels for long break

Stage 19 totals 236 kilometres with 60 kilometres uphill, requiring a special breed of mountain goats – the ones with endless stamina. Ryder Hesjedal for instance. (Slideshow route/profile)

Overall contenders probably won’t be bothered by a breakaway rider winning the stage. Kruijswijk and Hesjedal for instance are in good shape, but they are no threat to the podium. Their extreme willpower makes them likely candidates to win in Cervinia.

Andrey Amador feels at home on the slopes as he won the stage to Cervinia in the 2012 Giro, but he is still aiming for the podium. Back then Ryder Hesjedal finished fourth in the stage, taking the pink jersey that day.

Simon Geschke, Sylvain Chavanel, Pieter Weening, Francesco Bongiorno and Enrico Battaglin are other likely contenders. All strong diesels.

Of course Contador, Landa and Aru are all good climbers also and if opportunity arrises they won’t mind winning stage 19.

*** Ryder Hesjedal, Steven Kruijswijk, Alberto Contador
** Simon Geschke, Pieter Weening, Mikel Landa, Fabio Aru
* Francesco Bongiorno, Enrico Battaglin, Sylvain Chavanel

Underneath slideshow informs on all maps regarding stage 19.