RCS Sport, the organisers of the 2014 Giro d'Italia, have announced that the key stage 12 individual time trial through the vineyards from Barbaresco to Barolo has been shortened but also made harder due to the inclusion of a climb early in the route. This alteration should definitely be advantageous to Movistar’s Colombian climber, Nairo Quintana.

The length of the time trial has been reduced by 4.5km compared to the parcours that RCS Sport announced at the route presentation last October. Furthermore, the Boscasso climb has been included in the individual time trial with the first intermediate time control to be carried out as the riders crest the summit.

The stage route snakes its way through the vineyards of the stunning Langhe region. The route is technically demanding and testing, with a gradual climb to the top of the Boscasso at the very start of the 41.9km route. Subsequently, a technical drop follows before a rolling finish via Ricca and Alba, where the second time check is positioned, after 26.2km.

The final section of the time trial includes the short and steep climb to Castiglione Falletto followed by a quick descent and then a climb up to the finish in the centre of Barolo.

The 2014 Giro d'Italia kicks off in Northern Ireland on May 9 with a 21.7km time trial and ends on Italian soil in Trieste on June 1.