Giro dItalia 2016 Favourites stage 9: Dumoulin again, or a Cancellara/Roglic revenge

Giro d’Italia 2016 Favourites stage 9: Dumoulin again, or a Cancellara/Roglic revenge

Out of the three ITT's in this year's Giro the hilly time trial of stage 9 is by far the longest. At 40.5 kilometres, the course is rolling through beautiful Toscane. Last year, Kiryienka powered to victory on a similar, albeit longer parcours. (Slideshow route/profile)

In 2015, the hilly time trial in the Giro was almost 60 kilometres. Kiryienka outperformed Luis León Sanchez and Alberto Contador, who went on to win the overall. In retrospect the ITT decided on the GC as El Pistolero put 2’27” into Fabio Aru, who eventually fell 1’53” short to win the overall.

Dumoulin, Cancellara and Nibali were not on the start list of last year’s Giro. Both Dumoulin and Cancellara fancy this kind terrain, while Nibali will be waiting for the mountain ITT in stage 15. Yet, with Dumoulin a serious GC-contender the Sicilian should be limiting his losses if he wants to add another Giro-victory to his overall win in 2013. Speaking to his advantage is the race concludes with a 7 kilometres descent, one of his specialities.

Primož Roglic fell 0,01 seconds short in the first individual time trial, which was won by Tom Dumoulin. The Slovenian is a good climber, so this time could be his time. Same goes for Cancellara, who was plagued by stomach illness prior to the opening time trial.

Giro d’Italia 2016: Favourites stage 9

*** Fabian Cancellara, Tom Dumoulin, Primož Roglic
** Ilnur Zakarin, Vincenzo Nibali, Bob Jungels, Rigoberto Uran
* Alejandro Valverde, Matthias Brändle, Stefan Küng