Stage 14 is a short and intense high mountain stage. Following the first climb to Verrayes (6.6 kilometres at 8%) the only flat road leads to Aosta. Shortly after moving through the principal place of the Aosta Valley – with 93 kilometres to go – the war of attrition really kicks in with four consecutive climbs and only time for a breather in the descents.
The Verrogne (13.8 kilometres at 7.1%) is followed by the Truc d’Arbe (8.2 kilometres at 7%). Back in the valley a false flat runs to the foot of the viciously hard Colle San Carlo. The 10.5 kilometres ascent slopes at 9.8% before a long descent flies down to the last uphill stretches. Which is – in comparison – nothing special. The first 3 kilometres go up at 6% before 2 kilometres on the flat lead to a false run-in of 3 kilometres to the line.
Last year, Simon Yates put 41 seconds into his rivals on a similar route to Sappada. The Briton attacked on the penultimate ascent to extend his lead on the less steep climb to the line. It is unlikely for a similar scenario to unfold as Yates is struggling this Giro.
The best climbers ride for Movistar, Landa and Carapaz, while Zakarin climbed to an impressive victory in the first mountain stage to Lake Serrù. López looks strong also, but he faced quite some set-backs until now. The Colombian is never afraid to attack from distance. Possibly, he puts on the afterburners to try his luck and catapult himself back into GC contention. Just like Zakarin did in the Lake Serrù stage.
Favourites 14th stage 2019 Giro d’Italia
*** Mikel Landa, Miguel Ángel López, Richard Carapaz
** Mikel Nieve, Pello Bilbao, Ilnur Zakarin, Giulio Ciccone
* Primoz Roglic, Vincenzo Nibali, Bauke Mollema, Fausto Masnada
Check out the route of stage 14.
Giro d’Italia 2019 stage 14: profiles
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