Cycling: The seventh stage of the Giro d'Italia will be a matter for the climbers. After starting in Capua, it's 218 kilometers to the Gran Sasso d'Italia. Even though there are even tougher mountains ahead of the riders in the course of this Tour of Italy, there should be more time gaps tomorrow.
Giro d'Italia: Who cheers on the Campo Imperatore?
After a few flat stages, a time trial and a rather easy mountain finish, tomorrow will be the first real showdown for the class riders and climbers. The 218-kilometer seventh stage of the Tour of Italy is in Capua will start at 11:20 am. It will end on the Gran Sasso of Italy - on the Campo Imperatore (Eng. Imperial field). Previously must in Roccaraso and in calascio two mountain classifications in the second category have already been completed. The final climb of the Gran Sasso d'Italia is the first real endurance test for the contenders for the pink jersey. It is 26,5 kilometers long and only has an average gradient of 3,4 percent, but since it is not really downhill according to the mountains classification in Calascio, one could also speak of 47 kilometers uphill, which only contains small flat sections in between.
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Velomotion prognosis: No big gaps?
The final climb is extremely long and unrhythmic. Some riders will definitely have to bury their dream of a good placement at this year's Giro d'Italia tomorrow. Even if the data indicate that the mountain is not very demanding and therefore there are no large gaps, we must not let that fool us. The ascent includes some flat sections, but the last 4-5 kilometers in particular are extremely steep. We expect a typical uphill move from Ineos Grenadiers, which will continue to shrink the main group until shortly before the last steep section. Only later will the favorites attack. Even a small sprint will probably decide the day's victory. If he is in form, he is always included in such a stage profile Primois Roglic to count.
*** Primoz Roglic (Jumbo – Visma)
** Remco Evenepoel (Soudal – Quick-Step), Joao Almeida (UAE)
* Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers), Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora – hansgrohe)
https://www.velomotion.de/magazin/2023/05/radsport-giro-ditalia-6-mads-pedersen/
https://www.velomotion.de/magazin/2023/05/radsport-giro-ditalia-2023-teams-fahrer-ziele-1/