Giro 2018 Favourites stage 12: Fast finishers at Imola-race track

The 12th stage in the Giro d'Italia travels on a nearly flat route to the motorsport race circuit of Imola. On the track the route travels over a 4.3 kilometres hill at 4.2% before a downhill run-in to the line. Probably for the sprinters, or is a (late) attacker going to ruin their party? (Slideshow route/profile)

The 12th stage in the Giro is predominantly a flat endeavour. The toughest climb appears with 12 kilometres to go at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. The Tre Monti is 4.3 kilometres at 4.2% and over the top it’s 7.6 kilometres to go. As the stage itself is as good as flat, we should expect the sprinters to survive these slopes.

When the race boils down to a sprint, Viviani is the rider to watch. He is in fine form and already sprinted to victory in both the 2nd stage and the 3rd stage. He missed out in the 7th stage though – Sam Bennett was faster to claim his maiden Grand Tour victory.

If fast finishers are dropped on Tre Monti, the race will probably come down to a sprint of a reduced peloton. Or maybe a late attack will bear fruit. As the drop down to the line is hardly technical it will be near impossible to make a difference here. But maybe the likes of Rohan Dennis, Jarlinson Pantano and Luis León Sánchez are thinking about a well-timed surprise attack…?

Favourites 12th stage 2018 Giro d’Italia

*** Elia Viviani, Enrico Battaglin, Jens Debusschere, Diego Ulissi
** Luis León Sánchez, Rohan Dennis, Tim Wellens, Sam Bennett, Jarlinson Pantano
* Jurgen Roelandts, Niccolo Bonifazio, Sacha Modolo, Danny van Poppel