Giro dItalia 2016 Favourites stage 6: Escapees or GC-riders in first mountain stage

Giro d’Italia 2016 Favourites stage 6: Escapees or GC-riders in first mountain stage

Stage 6 is dominated by two irregular climbs at around 18 kilometres. The finish is at the top of the last one, so in order to win you have to be a hell of a climber. Cyclingstage.com takes a look at riders with the necessary skills. (Slideshow route/profile)

What’s it going to be? Are the GC-guys going at it head-to-head in the first uphill battle? At the same time the course is perfect for a bunch of escapees to make it till the end. In the first mountain stage of last year’s Giro Jan Polanc was the last survivor of an early break to solo to victory, while on the lower slopes of the closing climb GC-guys Contador, Aru and Porte put some time into their opponents.

A likewise scenario is obvious and the likes of Giovanni Visconti, Alessandro De Marchi, Matej Mohoric, Tim Wellens, Davide Formolo, Stefano Pirazzi and Przemyslaw Niemiec will be eyeing up their chances to be in the break.

If the escapees are reeled in time, it will be up to the GC-guys and we will know early on who is in shape and who isn’t. Vincenzo Nibali is the man to beat, after all he is the only rider in the 2016 Giro d’Italia who has victories in all three Grand Tours under his belt. Furthermore, he is the only rider who did win a mountainous multi-day stage race this year – namely the Tour of Oman.

Favourites 6th stage Giro d’Italia 2016:

*** Giovanni Visconti, Tim Wellens, Davide Formolo
** Vincenzo Nibali, Ilnur Zakarin, Rafal Majka, Matej Mohoric
* Alessandro De Marchi, Stefano Pirazzi, Przemyslaw Niemiec, Steven Kruijswijk