Giro 2021 Favourites stage 5: Back to the fast men

The 2021 Giro d’Italia is still young and the legs are still fresh, and the only thing that could possibly prevent a bunch sprint is the weather. The riders are traversing the Po Plains towards the Adriatic Sea on exposed roads, so strong winds and echelons could rip the peloton apart. The route runs along the Adriatic coast in the last 25 kilometres.

That said, a bunch sprint is the most likely scenario. By far.

Gaviria, Ewan and Viviani are the sprinters with the best Giro palmares. The Colombian took part three times and won five sprints (one in 2019, four in 2017), the Australian took part three times and won three sprints (two in 2019, one in 2017), while the Italian lined-up seven times to win five stages (four in 2018, one in 2015).

Merlier, on the other hand, is the sprinter with the best 2021 Giro palmares. The Flemish rider outgunned Nizzolo and Viviani in the sprint of stage 2.

Favourites 5th stage 2021 Giro d’Italia

*** Caleb Ewan, Tim Merlier, Dylan Groenewegen
** David Dekker, Elia Viviani, Giacomo Nizzolo
* Fernando Gaviria, Matteo Moschetti, Peter Sagan

Another interesting read: route stage 5 Giro d’Italia 2021.

Giro d’Italia 2021 stage 5: finish route, profiles

Click on the images to zoom

profile

finish route

finish profile