Stage 13 in the Giro d’Italia is as flat as it gets for 150 kilometres before one rolling hill appears. No sprinter should be alarmed by the three sections – firstly 3.5 kilometres at 2.7%, then a downhill false flat for 4.5 kilometres before the last 2.9 kilometres go up at 3.9%. These gentle slopes are part of the closing circuit around arrival town Nervesa Della Bataglia. So riders have had the opportunity to check out the final straight.
Who is going to succeed Fernando Gaviria as the most successful sprinter? Winning four sprints, the Colombian was the best fast man in last year’s Giro. Both having won two stages, Elia Viviani and Sam Bennett are best placed to take over that title.
The Italian did win five races before the start of the Giro only to continues his winning streak once the first opportunities arose in the Corsa Rosa. He pocketed both the 2nd stage and the 3rd stage. The Italian’s until then flawless Giro-campaign was jammed by Sam Bennett on stage 7 though. The Irishman outgunned the Italian to claim his first ever Grand Tour victory before he went on to win the 12th stage on Imola racing circuit with an impressive long-range sprint.
Favourites 13th stage 2018 Giro d’Italia
*** Elia Viviani, Sam Bennett
** Sacha Modolo, Danny van Poppel
* Niccolo Bonifazio, Jens Debusschere, Ryan Gibbons
Read also: route 13th stage 2018 Giro d’Italia.
Giro d’Italia 2018 stage 13: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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