Giro 2017 Favourites stage 2: Sprinter, attacker, or fast descender

The 2nd stage of the Giro d'Italia runs on a hilly course. The last proper peak is crested with 50 kilometres remaining and then it's mostly downhill. Should be for the sprinters, unless the peloton miscalculates... (Slideshow route/profile)

Hardly any flat roads in the 2nd stage of Giro d’Italia. The route runs on rolling roads without getting too steep. We can rest assured a bunch of escapees will grab the opportunity to break and stay away as long as possible, but one may wonder if they will hold out until the finish line. The last climb of the day leads over a pass, Genna Silana, which is crested with some 50 kilometres left to race. It’s a long ascent, but it is averaging a modest 3.3%. So that’s similar to Passo del Turchino in Milan-San Remo and should not be a problem for sprinters.

Chances are the race will come down to a sprint in arrival place Tortolì. The sprint teams will not want to make the same mistake as yesterday when Lukas Pöstlberger attacked in the closing kilometres to pull off a surprise win. The ensuing sprint for second place was won by Ewan ahead of Greipel, Nizzolo and Modolo.

Or will we see a fast descender drop to glory in the 40 kilometres descent? The last 8 kilometres are flat and that could be an option to launch a late attack.

Favourites stage 2 Giro d’Italia 2017

*** André Greipel, Fernando Gaviria, Caleb Ewan
** Sam Bennett, Sacha Modolo, Davide Cimolai, Jasper Stuyven, Giacomo Nizzolo
* Bob Jungels, Rohan Dennis, Vincenzo Nibali, Luis León Sánchez, Valerio Conti