Giro 2022 Favourites stage 17: Climbers eyeing pink

The race starts at altitude in mountain village Ponte di Legno. From an elevation of 1,315 meter the riders tackle the Passo Tonale from the start. The 8.7 kilometres climb precedes a sheer endless downhill to San Michele all’Adige, after which a series of short ascents appear halfway through the race.

After the first intermediate sprint in Pergine Valsugana there are 45 kilometres and two big climbs remaining. The first one is the Passo del Vetriolo – 11.8 kilometres at 7.7% – and the second one the Menador.

The Menador is also known as Monte Rovere. Although it doesn’t climb very high, it’s a brutal test of 7.9 kilometres at 9.9%. The second half is particularly trying with a section peaking out at 15%. It’s part of the penultimate kilometre that averages 12.6%.

The Menador is crested with 8 kilometres to go. That’s flat at first before a false flat leads to the downhill. The last kilometre is false flat again.

Is it going to be another day for the breakaway, or will we see a GC riders clash for the stage win? We would opt for a GC clash. After all, Hindley only needs a stage win – and the corresponding time bonus – to move into the pink jersey. Moreover, GC climbers such as Hindley and Carapaz need to distance Almeida, as the Portuguese is the hot favorurite to gain time in Sunday’s ITT.

Favourites 17th stage 2022 Giro d’Italia

*** Jai Hindley, Richard Carapaz, Mikel Landa
** Pello Bilbao, Wilco Kelderman, Hugh Carthy, Simon Yates
* Vincenzo Nibali, Thymen Arensman, Giulio Ciccone, Wout Poels

Another interesting read: route 17th stage 2022 Giro.