The Route
The opening stage of the race stars and finish at pretty much sea level in Lido di Camaiore and should allow the sprinters to take the first leader's jersey unlike the traditional opening team time-trial. The stage is mostly flat, but the first half features a loop that takes the riders three times up Monte Pitoro (2.7Km, 7.4%), a decently rough hill but it shouldn't have a big saying in the stage seeing how far it is from the finish.
The final 8 kilometers are by the Tirreno sea, pan-flat and with no turns and roundabouts, so it's perhaps the least technical finish of the season!
The Weather
A breeze from the west, there will be tailwind on the climb and some crosswind in the final long straight by the sea.
The Favourites
The day start out with some favourites who will be eyeing out that first leadership of the race and it consists on the sprinters. Usually in the first sprint stage I always like to take a look at the teams in terms of it's leaders and (possible) leadout, so let's take a look at it:
Caleb Ewan - De Buyst - Kluge - van der Sande
Davide Ballerini/Alvaro Hodeg - van Lerberghe - Stybar - Asgreen
Tim Merlier - van der Poel - Rickaert
Wout van Aert - Roosen - Affini
Fernando Gaviria - Richeze - I.Oliveira
Elia Viviani - A.Viviani - Drucker - Sabatini
Peter Sagan - Oss
Matteo Moschetti - Liepins - Mullen
Luka Mezgec - Hepburn - Bauer
Niccolo Bonifazio - Manzin - Petit
Max Kanter - Arndt - Nieuwenhuis
Furthermore there are several more outsiders that need to be mentioned, riders like Sonny Colbrelli and Davide Cimolai (or Hugo Hofstetter) who would prefer some more climbing but will have to do with what they've got, Manuel Belletti for EOLO, Thomas Boudat for Arkéa, Andrea Pasqualon for Intermarche, Andrea Vendrame of AG2R, Matteo Malucelli for Androni and Movistar who could target the sprints with either Ivan Cortina or Albert Torres.
Prediction Time
⭐ Moschetti, Mezgec, Bonifazio, Kanter, Cimolai, Boudat, Pasqualon
Deceuninck are on fire and they have a very solid leadout for the Italian, I trust Davide Ballerini to take the win in the opening stage.
Make sure to let me in on your opinion, and of course follow me on twitter for the latest updates!
Comments