Giro 2019 Favourites stage 12: Breakaway day

The finale of the 12th stage on the Giro is pepped up with a double digit ramp on cobbles before a technical descent to the line. (Slideshow route/profile)

The 12th stage serves a promising finale. Probably, the GC riders will want to keep their powder dry. The Montoso is crested too far out and the finale is not suited to open up proper gaps. So a successful breakaway is the most likely scenario perfect opportunity for the breakaway.

Probably, the battle for the breakaway will be huge. Could it rage until the foot of the Montoso? Yes, that is a possibility, although it is more likely that we will see a group up the road earlier.

The first 100 kilometres are played out on flat to rolling roads and the Montose is crested inside the last 32 kilometres. The Montoso ascent is 8.8 kilometres long and slopes at 9.5%. The route descends to a flat section, which runs all the way to Pinerolo. Actually, the riders have been here before, as they passed through Pinerolo with 60 kilometres remaining. They even climbed the cobbled Wall of 500 metres on the Via Principe d’Acaja. Obviously it will feel different to hit the 13.2% ascent in the finale. The race concludes with a short and technical descent to a flat final kilometre. Bike handling is essential in the steep downhill hairpins.

The route and finale are perfect for Diego Ulissi. Is he given the chance to fight for the breakaway, of does he have to defend to maglia rosa of his team mate Conti?

Favourites 12th stage 2019 Giro d’Italia
*** Diego Ulissi, Enrico Battaglin, Jan Bakelants
** Valentin Madouas, Thomas De Gendt, Esteban Chaves, Tao Geoghegan Hart
* Primoz Roglic, Simon Yates, Vincenzo Nibali, Gianluca Brambilla

Check out the route of stage 12.