Giro 2017 Favourites stage 5: Sprint from Sicily…?

The finale of the 5th stage in the Giro d'Italia is a sprinter's dream. Yet, until kilometre 100 the route itself takes in quite some climbs. Sprinters or escapees? (Slideshow route/profile)

The first half of stage 5 in the Giro d’Italia is perfect for a break to race to a substantial lead. Until kilometre 100 the race is played on mountainous terrain before the route continues on flat roads. Are the sprint teams willing to control the break? And what about the team of the overall leader? And how are the legs after yesterday’s toil on Mount Etna?

Yet, the Giro d’Italia is still young. We should expect the legs to be full of juice and the motivation to be sky high. So it’s likely that the sprint teams will close the gap in the flat 60 kilometres run to the finish line.

If so, we can expect a super fast sprint as the peloton enters the last kilometre after a slightly downhill section.

The 2nd stage was the first race in this year’s Giro to boil down to a bunch sprint. André Greipel came in first ahead of Roberto Ferrari, Jasper Stuyven, Fernando Gaviria and Kristian Sbaragli, while Caleb Ewan suffered a mechanical within sight of the line.

Favourites stage 5 Giro d’Italia 2017

*** André Greipel, Fernando Gaviria, Caleb Ewan
** Sacha Modolo, Bob Jungels, Luis León Sánchez, Sam Bennett, Kristian Sbaragli
* Roberto Ferrari, Jasper Stuyven, Davide Cimolai, Matteo Pelucchi, Giacomo Nizzolo