Giro 2020 Favourites stage 12: Ardennes Classic Italian style

The hilly race of 204 kilometres is tailor-made for attackers. With an elevation gain of roughly 3,800 metres climbing legs are obligatory. In theory, a sprint of a select group is a viable outcome, which suits the likes of Matthews. On the other hand, who likes to ride to the line with the Australian after such a long and hard day in the saddle?

Both start and finish are in Cesenatico on the Adriatic coast. The riders venture into the mountainous hinterland, although the opening phase is nothing special. The lumpy part of the race begins after 70 kilometres.

Most vertical metres are within 70 kilometres. The riders tackle the ascents to Ciola (6 kilometres at 6.4%), Barbatto (4.8 kilometer at 8.4%), Perticara (irregular climb of 15 kilometres) before cresting the Madonna di Pugliano (9.7 kilometres at 5.5%) and traversing the last climb of the day. That one is 4.4 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 6.3%, but the most interesting section is the last kilometre, as it goes up at almost 10%. So that’s a perfect spot to drop your breakaway companion(s).

Still 30 kilometres to go after the last peak. Half of it goes downhill and the other half is flat.

Favourites stage 12 Giro d’Italia 2020
*** Filippo Ganna, Diego Ulissi, Tao Gheogegan Hart
** Thomas De Gendt, Giovanni Visconti, Jonathan Castroviejo
* Ben Swift, Valerio Conti, Simon Pellaud, Ben O’Connor

Another interesting read: route stage 12 Giro d’Italia 2020.