The classics are done and dusted and it is now time to focus on the grand tours. The first of those starts in just a few days time when the cycling-mad country of Italy invites the world to a two-wheeled festival of versatile racing with steep mountains, uncontrollable terrain, long time trials and fast bunch kicks. This year's Italian grand tour contains a bit of it all as a well-balanced route gradually builds up to its crescendo in the final week of racing. CyclingQuotes.com takes a look at each of the 21 stages that will make for a huge three-week celebration of cycling.

 

OBS! This article will be updated with stage winner picks and outsiders every day before the start of the stage.

 

When Michele Acquarone took over the reins from Angelo Zomegnan as race director of the Giro d'Italia, he had a firm objective. He wanted to internationalize what was by many seen as a mostly Italian race in an attempt to challenge the position of the Tour de France as the world's leading bike race and the first premise for success in that regard was the attraction of more international stars to the race's line-up.

 

To achieve this Acquarone knew that he had to listen more to the riders' wishes. The final two routes designed by Zomegnan had been heavily criticized as being way too hard and even inhuman as the number of mountain stages and excessively steep climbs just continued to grow. The nature of the course convinced many stars to skip the Italian race in favour of the two remaining grand tours.

 

When Acquarone revealed the route for the 2012 edition it represented a clear dissociation with the legacy of Zomegnan. Gone were the excessively steep climbs, the uncountable number of mountain finishes and long transfers and instead the race was built much more upon the riders' wishes. The race still had its spectacular highlights - most prominently a final mountain stage to the top of the Stelvio climb designed by the fans - but the anatomy of the race was much more human.

 

With the design of this year's course Acquarone has continued along the same path with another balanced course. Once again there are plenty of mountain stages with no less than 6 summit finishes and a number of other hard stages in the difficult Italian terrain and once again the race has been built up to reach its crescendo with a festival of mountain stages in the final week of racing but the distances have been limited and the riders get a much more gentle introduction to the race.

 

With Italians struggling in the time trials there has been a tendency in the race to favour climbers over time triallists but with the desire to attract more international stars, the race includes a long time trial for the first time since 2009. Combined with a short 17,4km team time trial on the second day of racing and a 20,6km mountain time trial in the final week, the mammoth 54,8km race against the clock in stage 8 gives the allrounders much better prospects when they try to challenge the climbers. The move has been a success as the 75,4km of individual racing has probably played a crucial role in the decision by defending Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins to line up in the race.

 

There will, however, be plenty of opportunities for the climbers and as it is typical for the Giro there are difficult stages all the way from the early part of the race until the end. Riders with GC ambitions cannot afford to turn up unprepared and hope to ride into form along the way as they risk to lose time already in the first week of racing. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that the crucial week is the final one.

 

The big losers in the route construction seem to once again be the sprinters and there are only 5 stages that are really suitable to big bunch kicks. With the race bookended by flat stages organizers RCS have nonetheless tried to convince the sprinters to start the Giro - they get a unique chance to take the maglia rosa on the first day - and ride all the way through to the end. It seems to be mission accomplished as big-name riders like Mark Cavendish and Matthew Goss have decided to exploit their few opportunities in the race.

 

All things considered, the internationalization strategy seems to be a huge success as the overall win seems to be fiercely contested when international stars like Bradley Wiggins, Cadel Evans, Samuel Sanchez, Ryder Hesjedal and Robert Gesink take on the biggest Italian stage race riders like Vincenzo Nibali, Michele Scarponi, Ivan Basso and Domenico Pozzovivo in a race that has all the potential to be another fantastic celebration of the sport of cycling.

 

Below we give an analysis of each of the race's 21 stages. RCS have rated the difficulty of each stage by assigning between 1 and 5 stars and that assessment is indicated in the description.

 

Stage 1, Saturday May 4: Naples - Naples, 130,0km (*)

The last time the Giro did not start with either a prologue or a team time trial was in 2003 when Alessandro Petacchi took his first of 6 stage victories that year but in 2013 organizers RCS have once again chosen to kick off the Italian grand tour with a road stage. The short 130km route starts in Naples and leaves the city to take in four laps of a short circuit containing the small Via Francesco Petrarca climb. The ascent is not a hard one and only serves the purpose of finding the first leader in the mountains competition before the riders start the first of 8 laps of an 8,1km completely flat finishing circuit in the streets of Naples. The last 2,4km follow a straight line along the seafront and with limited opportunities for the sprinters and the first maglia rosa at stake, we are guaranteed to see a big bunch sprint determine the first overall leader of the race. There is no doubt that Mark Cavendish plans to win the opening stage of both the Giro and the Tour this year.

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Mark Cavendish, Matthew Goss, Nacer Bouhanni

Outsiders: Elia Viviani, Roberto Ferrari, John Degenkolb

 

Stage 2, Sunday May 5: Ischia - Forio, 17,4km TTT (***)

The GC battle starts already on the second day of racing on the small Ischia island which is located a few kilometres outside of Naples in the Mediterranean sea. A short 17,4km team time trial will be the first opportunity to get an early advantage over the key rivals but the route is not a typical one suiting the team time trial specialists. A number of rolling hills along the seafront and a number of corners along the winding roads make it more similar to the challenging Tour TTT in 2009 or last year's hilly route around Verona than the completely flat out-and-back course which kicked off the Giro in Torino in 2011. The short distance means that time gaps between the overall contenders will be minimal but there is no doubt that Bradley Wiggins hopes to deal Vincenzo Nibali an early psychological blow on the island of Ischia.

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Sky, Orica-GreenEdge, Garmin-Sharp

Outsiders: Blanco, Movistar, Radioshack-Leopard

 

Stage 3, Monday May 6: Sorrento - Marina di Ascea, 222,0km (***)

On the third day of racing the riders are back on the Italian mainland as they start in the city of Sorrento and head south along the coast on a long 222km run to Marina di Ascea. The opening part of the stage contains a number of rolling hills typical for a coastal road before the route flattens out and the race settles into a rhythm with an early break up the road. The racing gets serious after 145km as the riders leave the coast to tackle the category 2 San Mauro Cilento climb (8,0km, 6,6%). The riders head back down to the coast and after a few kilometres they once again head inland for the day's final challenge, the category 3 Sella di Catona climb (6,7km, 4,5%). From the top 19,8km of downhill remain - only interrupted by a small hill - and it will be a fast finish to the stage with only the final kilometer being flat. The last climb is not overly difficult but there will be limited time to regain any lost ground and it would be a surprise to see the pure sprinters remain in contention at the end of a long day. The stage could be decided in a sprint from a reduced peloton or from a late attack but a Sky team with an early leader's jersey may also to choose to let a break go all the way to the finish in an attempt to share the responsibility with another team in the coming stages.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Nacer Bouhanni, Matthew Goss, Roberto Ferrari

Outsiders: John Degenkolb, Giacomo Nizzolo, Oscar Gatto

 

Stage 4, Tuesday May 7: Policastro Bussentino - Serra San Bruno, 246,0km (***)

The GC riders have to be very careful on the fourth day of racing which offers the climbers the first opportunity to take time out of the time triallists. The peloton continues its run along the western coast in a mammoth 246km stage from Policastro Bussentino to Serra San Bruno. The first 191,9km are completely flat and only the wind has the potential to pose some danger for the riders. The racing gets, however, serious when the riders head inland to tackle the category 3 Vibo Valentia climb (14,9km, 3,0%). A short descent and a few kilometres of flat roads lead to the bottom of the day's final ascent, the category 2 Croce Ferrata (12,75km, 5,5%). The climb is a regular one with a maximum gradient of 10% just before the midpoint and the final half is easier than the first part. From the top 6,15km of rolling terrain and a short pave section with 1km to go remain before the race finishes in Serra San Bruno at the end of a very long day in the saddle. As this is the first real test of the favourites' climbing legs and as the final climb is not hard enough to make any real difference, it would be a huge surprise to see any major time differences between the overall contenders. Instead a final sprint from a 20-30 rider group, a successful move on the final climb or a winning long-distance breakaway seem to be the most likely outcomes of the stage.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Mauro Santambrogio, Cadel Evans, Samuel Sanchez

Outsiders: Giovanni Visconti, Miguel Angel Rubiano, Enrico Battaglin

 

Stage 5, Wednesday May 8: Cosenza - Matera, 203,0km (**)

For the third day in a row the riders will have to travel more than 200km as they turn around and head north along the Adriatic coast after having reached the Italian heel in yesterday's stage. The riders will climb the small category 4 climb to Cipolletto (4,0km, 3,2%) after 37,2km as they travel across the Italian mainland to reach the coast and from then on the riders start a long flat run up the coast. Once again the sprinters will, however, be denied a perfect opportunity as the race turns left and heads inland after 178,2km to tackle the category 4 Montescaglioso climb (4,5km, 5,7%). From the top 20,3km remain and they consist of a small descent followed by a gradual climb up to Matera. The ascent is not steep but will make sure that this is certainly not a day for the pure sprinters and instead the classics specialists will relish the opportunity to take some early success in the race. The last 4,85km are rolling and the final kilometer has an average gradient of 2,6%. The stage once again seems to be an unpredictable one with success from a late attack and some kind of sprint both realistic scenarios. However, a Sky team in possession of the leader's jersey may choose to hand over the responsibility by giving a long-distance breakaway the chance to go all the way to the line.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: John Degenkolb, Enrico Battaglin, Matthew Goss

Outsiders: Francisco Ventoso, Giacomo Nizzolo, Elia Viviani

 

Stage 6, Thursday May 9: Mola di Bari - Margherita di Savoia, 169,0km (*)

Having endured a number of tough finishes, the sprinters will get the first opportunity to express their talents since the opening day in Naples when the peloton continues its run north along the Adriatic coast. Once again the peloton heads inland with 93,1km to go but this time there are no significant climbs on the route and instead the peloton returns to the coast to finish the stage with two laps of a flat 16,3km circuit around the city in Margherita di Savoia. Keeping with recent tradition in the Giro the flat stage is a relatively short one and keeping in mind their limited opportunities there is no doubt that the sprinters will make sure that this stage comes down to a big bunch kick late in the afternoon.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Mark Cavendish, Elia Viviani, Nacer Bouhanni

Outsiders: Matthew Goss, John Degenkolb, Francesco Chicchi

 

Stage 7, Friday May 10: San Salvo - Pescara, 177,0km (***)

Hopefully, the sprinters enjoyed their day in the spotlight as the seventh day of racing offers a stage with one of the saw tooth profiles that have so often decided the Tirreno-Adriatico in this part of the country. From the start in the coastal city of San Salvo the riders immediately head into the Apennines and from then on it goes up and down most of the day. While the climbs in the first part of the stage are longer, more gradual ascents, the seconds half is littered with many of those short, steep climbs that characterize the region. In a fitting tribute to one of the landmark stages of the recent editions of the Tirreno-Adriatico the race will even pass through the city of Chieti in which Joaquin Rodriguez, Peter Sagan and Michele Scarponi (twice) have won stages on the steep slopes in the recent editions of the Italian stage race. The passage comes after 138,8km and the climb up to the city is a category 3 ascent (2,25km, 9,5%, max. 16%). It is followed by a short descent and then a 1,1km hill with an average gradient of 11,5% and a maximum of 19% all the way up to the location of an intermediate sprint. In addition to the climb in Chietit the organizers have decided to categorize a further three climbs, the category 4 Villamagna after 124,6km, the category 3 Santa Maria De Criptis (3,35km, 6,9%, max. 18%) with 19,7km to go and the day's final hill, the category 4 San Silvestro (2,0km, 8,5%, max 14%) with 7,4km remaining. From then on only a short descent and a completely flat stretch to the coastal city of Pescara remain at the end of a very hard day. With a crucial time trial awaiting the next day, most GC riders will hope to save energy but it would be a big mistake to underestimate the dangers of the stage. Who doesn't remember the big breakaway with David Arroyo, Xavier Tondo and Richie Porte which got away in similar terrain in 2010 and almost turned the race upside down as the favourites had to spend the rest of the race gaining back time on a resistant Arroyo? The stage is almost impossible to control and there will be many riders just below the major favourites who fancy their chance to gain some precious time on their rivals and attacks are guaranteed on the final steep climbs of the day.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Enrico Battaglin, Miguel Angel Rubiano, Mauro Santambrogio

Outsiders: Luca Paolini, Samuel Sanchez, Rigoberto Uran

 

Stage 8, Saturday May 11: Gabicce Mare - Saltara, 54,8km ITT (****)

With a hard stage already in their legs one of the race's single most crucial days come on May 11. In an attempt to convince some to the world's major stage race riders to participate in the Italian grand tour, organizers RCS Sport decided to include a long time trial in the race for the first time since 2009 when Denis Menchov founded his overall victory with a win in the mammoth 60,6km race against the clock from Sestri Levante to Riomaggiore. The 54,8km individual test has the potential to be just as crucial as that infamous time trial in 2009 and there is little doubt that the presence of this stage is one of the key reasons for Bradley Wiggins' participation in Italy. With the only remaining timed event being a mountain time trial in the final week of the race, Wiggins will do his utmost to take as much time out of his rivals in this stage as possible and there is little doubt that most contenders are glad to get this stage out of the way very quickly At Saturday night it is time to reassess the situation as Wiggins' rivals now know exactly how much time they need to take back on the Brit in the mountains. The course has some rolling hills as it travels from the seaside town of Gabicce Mare along the Adriatic coast before the riders head inland to finish in Saltara where a nasty surprise awaits the riders. The final 3,35km are all uphill and while the first 2,7km have an average gradient of 2,7%, the last 650m are much steeper at 11,2% and include a section of pave. Despite the presence of this small climb there are plenty of flat stretches to please the time trial specialists and it would be a huge surprise not to see Wiggins in pole position among the favourites at this point of the race.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Bradley Wiggins, Taylor Phinney, Fredrik Kessiakoff

Outsiders: Cadel Evans, Benat Intxausti, Stef Clement

 

Stage 9, Sunday May 12: Sansepolcro - Firenze, 170,0km (***)

From now on the race is probably all about taking back time on Wiggins but even though the 9th stage has plenty of climbing the ascents are probably too far from the finish to favour a dangerous attack on the Sky captain. Nonetheless, the stage is a highly anticipated one but for different reasons. With the 2013 world championships being held in Firenze in September it was always an obvious choice for RCS to let the Giro do a lap on the circuit of that big event. However, economic problems and bad weather have delayed the work on the roads and the stage has had to be modified and will now only briefly touch the road race course. One consequence is that the key Fiesole climb on the worlds course will be climbed from another direction before the riders head down to Firenze and so it will not be the expected dress rehearsal of September's battle. However, the stage remains a hard one and after two smaller uncategorized hills in the first part of the race the category 2 Passo della Consuma (16,9km, 3,9%) and the category 1 Vallombrosa (8,95km, 6,3%, max. 12%) climbs await midway through the stage as the riders traverse the Italian mainland. A longer descent and a short, flat stretch lead to the final part of the stage which starts with 29,7 remaining as the riders hit the bottom of the category 3 Vetta le Croci ascent (4,0km, 9,1%, max. 12%). Then it is a short descent before the riders will climb the category 4 Fiesole climb (2,95km, 5,7%, max. 11%) whose top is located on the outskirts of Firenze with 10,7km remaining.  From then on it is mostly downhill before the final 1,78km to the finish line in Piazzale Michelangelo have an average gradient of 3,0%. While the favourites will probably keep their powder dry for more important battles, the race could lend its hand to a successful breakaway or a hectic final with attacks from the classics specialists on the final climbs near Firenze.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Enrico Battaglin, Miguel Angel Rubiano, Stefano Pirazzi

Outsiders: Giovanni Visconti, Michal Golas, Danilo Di Luca

 

Monday May 13: Rest day

 

Stage 10, Tuesday May 14: Cordenons - Plateau Montasio, 167,0km (****)

After a well-deserved rest day during which the riders have travelled from the center of the Italian heartland to the country's Northeastern corner and the Eastern Dolomites, the GC battle heats up immediately with the first big test in the mountains. The day has a typical anatomy for a Giro mountain stage as it starts on the plains in Cordenons and travels along flat or gently rising roads for 102,6km before the serious climbing starts. The category 1 Passo Cason di Lanza (14,45km, 6,3%, max. 16%) is highly irregular with a short descent at the midpoint  and longer sections with average gradients between 10 and 11%. The ascent will surely do its fair share of damage on the riders' legs when the strongest teams up the tempo to create a hard stage but the real battle between the favourites will take place on the final category 1 mountain to the finish line on Plateau Montasio (21,9km, 5,2%, max. 20%).  The average gradient is highly deceptive as the first 11km only have a gradient of 2,5% before the difficulty significantly increases. The next 6,45km have an average of 7,5% and is followed by a short 1,55km section with an average of no less than 12,9% and a steep section of 20%. The final 2,9km to the line are easier (6,0%) but there is little doubt that the steep section close to the finish offers the first real opportunity for the climbers to take time out of Wiggins. As usual there is the risk that the first mountain test will be approached conservatively but depending on the GC situation some of the climbers may need to get the maximal benefit of all possibilities during the remaining part of the race.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Michele Scarponi, Domenico Pozzovivo, Mauro Santambrogio

Outsiders: Cadel Evans, Sergio Henao, Stefano Pirazzi

 

Stage 11, Wednesday May 15: Tarvisio - Vajont 1963/2013, 182,0km (**)

Another difficult stage awaits the riders the next day but the climbing will be much more gentle and not nearly as hard in what will be the second consecutive summit finish. From the start in Tarvisio the riders follow almost flat, slightly rolling roads for 88,5km before they reach Ovaro. The city is famous as the starting point of the excessively steep Monte Zoncolan climb but instead of tackling the infamous slopes the riders start the category 2 climb Sella Ciampigotto (29,5km, 4,3%). At the top the riders take on a long descent which is followed by some rolling terrain before they start the day's final ascent, the category 2 climb to the finish in Vajont (7,55km, 4,8%, max. 9%). The hill is not a hard one and it is highly unlikely that the stage will produce any difference between the biggest favourites but anyone has to be careful as the situation may require attacks from the climbers. The stage seems perfect for a successful long-distance breakaway as the favourites have little incentive to keep it together in an attempt to fight it out for the stage victory.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Eros Capecchi, Danilo Di Luca, Stefano Pirazzi

Outsiders: Miguel Angel Rubiano, Pieter Weening, Juan Jose Cobo

 

Stage 12, Thursday May 16: Longarone - Treviso, 134,0km (*)

We are more than halfway through the race and the sprinters have only had two real opportunities until now. Hence, there is little doubt that the fast men will give a sigh of relief when they analyze the profile of the 12th stage. The riders start in the mountains and have to tackle three smaller climbs during the first 93km (the uncategorized climb to Pieve D'Alpago (5,7km, 5,3%), the catgory 4 Muro di Ca' Del Poggio (1,15km, 12,2%, max 18%) and the category 4 Montello (3,65km, 5,9%, max. 14%)) before they hit the plains south of the Dolomites. The final 41km of this very short stage are almost completely flat and the stage finishes with a 7,5km finishing circuit in Treviso. Once again the limited number of sprint opportunities makes it completely certain that we will see a bunch kick at the end.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Mark Cavendish, Elia Viviani, Nacer Bouhanni

Outsiders: Matthew Goss, Roberto Ferrari, Robert Hunter 

 

Stage 13, Friday May 17: Busseto - Cherasco, 254,0km (**)

The sprinters get their second consecutive day in the spotlight on this 254km mammoth stage but unlike the previous day's flat final part, the last kilometers of the stage are considerably more complicated. The first 207,1km are almost completely flat as the riders travel west in the Po valley. They make, however, a small digression from the flat road to Cherasco when they head south to touch the hills along the Italian Riviera. The category 3 Tre Cuni climb (10,1km, 4,8%) could be a possibility to put the sprinters under pressure but from the op 36,8km still remain. Instead two smaller uncategorized ascents inside the final 16km could provide the perfect springboard for attacks but from the top of the last one 6,1km still remain and it is highly unlikely that we will not see a bunch sprint at the end of this very long day in the saddle.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Elia Viviani, Luka Mezgec, Giacomo Nizzolo

Outsiders: Mark Cavendish, Sacha Modolo, Roberto Ferrari

 

Stage 14, Saturday May 18: Cervere - Bardonecchia, 168,0km (****)

After two consecutive days for the sprinters it is time for two days in the Alps over the weekend as the second week of racing comes to a dramatic end and signals the start of a very hard final part of the race. The 168km stage start in the Po Valley in Cervere where Mark Cavendish won a stage last year and head in a northeastern direction towards the Alps. The first 70,7km in the valley are almost completely flat but the road starts to rise gently as the riders approach the outskirts of the mountain range. After 87,8km the climbing gets more serious and the road points upwards for another 37,5km before the peloton reaches the top of the category 2 climb to Sestriere. Officially the climb is 16,25km long with an average gradient of 3,8% and a maximum of 9% and it is mostly a long gradual climb to tire out the riders legs as it does not have any really steep parts. From the top 21,4km of descending follow before 12,7km of gently rising roads will lead all the way to the bottom of the day's final climb. The category 1 Bardonecchia climb (7,25km, 9,0%, max. 14%) is not very long but it is a regular, steep ascent with the potential to do some serious damage. The final 500 meters even have a gradient of 11,6%. There is no doubt that we will see attacks from the favourites as the stage presents a perfect opportunity to take out time on some of the key rivals.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Domenico Pozzovivo, Carlos Betancur, Vincenzo Nibali

Outsiders: Rigoberto Uran, Michele Scarponi, Sergio Henao

 

Stage 15, Sunday May 19: Cesana Torinese - Col du Galibier, 149,0km (*****)

The second week of racing comes to a close in a grandiose manner as the short 149,0km stage is one of the most anticipated of the entire race. Some days before the official route presentation RCS made public that the 2013 Giro would include a stage to the top of the famous French giant Col du Galibier to commemorate Marco Pantani's exploits on the climb during the Tour de France 15 years ago. That stage will be held a week before the finish of the race and will have the potential to have a major impact on the final GC. The opening 32,9km of the stage are all downhill but from then on the climbing gets brutal as the riders hit the bottom of the category 1 Col du Mont Cenis (25,45km, 6,3%, max. 10%). The ascent takes the riders up to more than 2000m of altitude and is a regular one with no really steep parts but the length of the ascent will certainly do its fair share of damage on the riders' legs. From the top 56,4km of a mostly downhill roads await the riders before they start the day's crucial challenge with 34km remaining. Unlike the 2011 Tour stage ending at the top of the Galibier the riders will climb the mountain from the steep Telegraphe side which makes it much more suitable to attacks. After 11,85km of climbing the riders reach the top of the category 2 Col du Telegraphe (7,2%, max. 10%) after which they will tackle a short 4,85km descent. From then it is uphill all the way to the finish line at the top of the category 1 Galibier mountain (18,1km, 6,8%, max. 10%) 2642m above sea level and the final 7,8km are the steepest part with an average gradient of 8,4%. The stage has all the potential to be a short, hectic affair with a major influence on the final outcome of the race and there is little chance that the stage will be decided from an early breakaway as the favourites all dream about the prestigious win at the top of the French giant.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Carlos Betancur, Vincenzo Nibali, Mauro Santambrogio

Outsiders: Samuel Sanchez, Robert Kiserlovski, Stefano Pirazzi

 

Monday May 20: Rest day

 

Stage 16, Tuesday May 21: Valloire - Ivrea, 238,0km (**)

The final week of the race is extremely hard but the riders start off with a stage which will probably not influence the final GC too much. Nonetheless, 238km with some serious climbing along the way will certainly hurt after more than two weeks of tough racing and the stage may play its role in the accumulation of fatigue in the riders' legs. Having spent the rest day on French soil, the Giro peloton moves back to its home land via the category 1 Col du Montcenis (9,8km, 7,0%) whose top is located at the 64,8km mark. Then a long descent follows before the riders once again hit the Po Valley and head northeast along flat roads just south of the mountains. After 198,2km the riders cross the finish line but instead of creating a stage for the sprinters RCS have decided to let the riders tackle a 39,8km loop on the outskirts of the mountains. The circuit is mostly flat but with 17,5km to go the riders hit the top of the category 3 climb Andrate (6,25km, 8,1%, max. 13%) which is way too tough for the sprinters. As the climb is also too far away from the finish to make it suitable for an attack from the GC riders, no one should be interested in keeping everything together and the stage seems to be destined to be won by the strongest from an early breakaway.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Eros Capecchi, Danilo Di Luca, Fabio Duarte

Outsiders: Dario Cataldo, Diego Rosa, Jose Herrada

 

Stage 17, Wednesday May 22: Caravaggio - Vicenza, 214,0km (*)

The final week continues with another long stage which could be seen as an incentive for the sprinters to stay in the race before the race has GC written all over the road during the next three days. However, RCS have once again chosen to include a nasty little climb at the end of an otherwise completely flat route and it is highly uncertain that any of the fast men will be able to survive the hill. The first 192,6km are completely flat as the peloton continues to traverse the Po valley in an easterly direction but the category 4 Crosara climb (5,308km, 6,8%, max. 12%) disrupts the sprinters' harmony. The first 4km of the ascent are the toughest with an average gradient of 8,1% and the outcome of this stage is determined by mainly two factors. First of all the remaining sprinters have to find out whether they feel strong enough to survive the steep slopes of the climb whose top is located with 16,8km to go and secondly their teams have to have enough firepower left to keep it all together at the end of a hard grand tour. The most likely outcome is a successful breakaway but no one can exclude that some of the fast men hope to see a bunch sprint in Vicenza before the peloton once again hits the mountains.

 

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Mark Cavendish, Luka Mezgec, Elia Viviani

Outsiders: Sacha Modolo, Francisco Ventoso, Grega Bole

 

Stage 18, Thursday May 23: Mori - Polsa, 20,6km ITT (****)

The 18th stage is the first of three crucial days which will determine the final winner of the 2013 Giro d'Italia. The 20,6km mountain time trial starts in the city of Mori and climbs to the top of the category 2 Polsa climb (20,6km, 4,9%, max. 10%) and is another stage in favour of Bradley Wiggins. The Brit would undoubtedly have preferred another flat race against the clock but there is no doubt that a rather long mountain time trial suits him much more than a traditional mountain stage. The climb is highly regular with a rather constant gradient only interrupted by a flatter part at the midpoint of the stage and the roads head upwards right from the beginning with almost no flat stretch to start off the action. Wiggins will undoubtedly not be able to gain as much time on his competitors as he will be in the first time trial and it is not out of the question that he may even be challenged for the stage win. Nonetheless, the Sky rider is a formidable mountain time triallist as he proved last year with his victories in uphill races against the clock in both the Paris-Nice and Tour de Romandie and so he is certainly the big favourite. He will enjoy the fact that the stage is also longer than most mountain time trials and it will give him one last opportunity to take some time out of his rivals with two major mountain stages on Friday and Saturday still to come.

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Vincenzo Nibali, Cadel Evans, Carlos Betancur

Outsiders: Tanel Kangert, Michele Scarponi, Mauro Santambrogio

 

Stage 19, Friday May 24: Ponte di Legno - Martell, 139,0km (*****)

The first of two big mountain battles takes place in some classical Giro terrain as it takes in two of the most legendary climbs in the history of the Giro. It will be a short, intense stage which gets serious right from the beginning as the riders hit the bottom of the cateogry 1 Passo Gavia (16,5km, 8%, max. 16%) after a short 5,7km descent. The climb is a legend due to the many battles on its slopes and especially the epic stage passing the mountain in the 1988 Giro has played a major role in the creation of its mythical status. It was last climbed in the penultimate stage in the 2010 Giro where Ivan Basso cemented his overall victory while Johann Tschopp was the first to crest the summit on his way to an impressive stage victory. At the top 25,7km of descending await the riders before they hit the bottom of another of the most mythical climbs in the history of the Giro, the Passo Stelvio (21,9km, 6,9%, max. 12%) which for the second year in a row is the race's Cima Coppi (the highest point of the Giro). The climb is longer and more regular than the Gavia but not as steep as the earlier ascent and was last climbed in last year's edition where Thomas De Gendt took a marvelous solo win at the top on the race's penultimate day. It laid the foundation for his overall third place which was secured in the final day's time trial. At the top 24,8km of downhill await the riders and they are followed by 23km of mostly flat roads before the peloton hits the day's final challenge, the category 1 Val Martello climb (22,35km, 6,3%, max. 14%). The climb is highly irregular with flat and steep sections interspersed throughout the climb and unfortunately there is a 2,5km stretch with an average gradient of only 1,3% which finishes just 1850m from the finish line. However, the final 1500m have an average gradient of no less than 10,1% with a 14% pitch  under the flamme rouge and there is no doubt that the climb will do some serious damage at the end of a monumental stage and of three weeks of hard racing.

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Vincenzo Nibali, Samuel Sanchez, Carlos Betancur

Outsiders: Franco Pellizotti, Damiano Caruso, Fabio Duarte

 

Stage 20, Saturday May 25: Silandro - Tre Cime di Lavaredo, 203,0km (*****)

As it has been common in recent Giris, RCS have saved a big mountain stage for the penultimate day of racing and this year will be no different as what seems to be the race's queen stage will be on the menu so close to the finish. Once again the stage traverses some classical Giro terrain as it passes some of the race's most legendary climbs. The stage starts off with 65,2km of flat roads before the climbing gets serious with the first of two category 2 climbs, the Passo Costalunga (25,37km, 5,7%, max. 11%), which is a long regular climb. A short descent leads to the bottom of the Passo San Pellegrino (11,8km, 6,4%, max. 14%) which is another regular ascent without too steep sections. It is, however, the final three legendary climbs that make up the real difficulty of the stage. The descent from the San Pallegrino climb is followed by 12,5 kilometres of roads with a gradual incline before the riders hit the bottom of the legendary category 1 Passo Giau (15,65km, 7,9%, max. 14%). The climb starts out gently but the last 9,8km have an average gradient of 9,4% and turn the climb into a very hard affair. It was last climbed last year when it gave the first indications that it was not as easy to get rid of Ryder Hesjedal as Joaquin Rodriguez, Michele Scarponi and Ivan Basso had thought and it spelled the end of the GC possibilities of Roman Kreuziger. The descent from the Giau leads to the famous ski destination Cortina d'Ampezzo from which the riders start the category 2 Passo Tre Croci climb (7,9km, 7,3%, max. 12%). At the top 6,75km of rolling terrain await the riders before they hit the lower slopes of the final category 1 Tre Cime di Lavaredo climb (7,05km, 7,8%. max. 18%). Once again the average gradient is somewhat deceptive as it would be much higher had it not been for a small descent along the way. The last 3,78km have an average gradient of no less than 11,3% and this climb is one of the irregular, brutal ones that characterize Italy and which are rarely seen in the Tour de France. The ascent has a long history and was last used in 2007 when a young Riccardo Ricco burst onto the scene with a huge stage victory and there is little doubt that most of Wiggins' rivals have pointed to these steep slopes as the place to put the Brit in serious trouble. The suspense will be saved until the very last moment before the winner of the 2013 Giro will emerge at the top of the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo climb.

 

CyclingQuotes' stage winner picks: Vincenzo Nibali, Samuel Sanchez, Carlos Betancur

Outsiders: Franco Pellizotti, Domenico Pozzovivo, Damiano Caruso

 

Stage 21, Sunday May 26: Riese Pio X - Brescia, 197,0km (*)

Unlike the Tour and the Vuelta which always finish in Paris and Madrid respectively, the final destination of the Giro varies a bit. It is very often Milan which hosts the final stage of the Italian grand tour but in 2009 the race finished in Rome and in 2010 Ivan Basso was declared winner in Verona. After finishes in Milan in both 2011 and 2012 the 2013 edition will finish in Brescia and for the first time since 2007 when Maximiliano Richeze sprinted to a win in Milan, the final stage will not be a time trial. Instead, it will be a - rather long - 197km, completely flat stage which finishes with 7 laps on a 4,1km circuit. The stage will be the bait that should convince the sprinters to survive  the hard mountain stages in the third week as  the win on the final day of a grand tour is highly prestigious. Having won on the Champs-Elysees four years in a row there is little doubt that a certain Mark Cavendish would relish the opportunity to bookend the Italian grand tour with stage victories and we will certainly see a big bunch kick as a perfect end to what promises to be a fascinating grand tour on a very well-balanced course.