Giro d´Italia 2021 – Stage 13 Preview
By David Hunter
Ravenna > Verona 198.8km
Another sprint stage, but this time with less sprinters.
Can anyone stop the sprinters?
Weather
Sunny, tailwind sprint.
Finale
5.6km – straight on at the roundabout.
4.2km – gentle left.
3.4km – narrow right-hand corner.
2.7km – straight on at the roundabout, but the roadbook says only the right-hand side is open. That’s a strange decision as the left-hand side looks the fastest. This means teams will want to control the front at this point.
900m – who’s idea was this? So dangerous.
700m – straight on past the Christmas tree.
The finale is relatively easy by Giro standards, and it takes place on wide roads. Certainly, the easiest sprint so far.
DS Cycling Mole
Anyone stupid enough to go for the break? I didn’t think so.
Contenders
Giacomo Nizzolo – can he eventually get his first Giro win? He’s been his usually self in this race, consistently challenging for the win, but falling just short. Now that Ewan and Merlier are no longer here he’ll sense a huge chance, the pressure is on. It’s also worth remembering that this could be the last full sprint of the race, time for him to step up and deliver.
Dylan Groenewegen – there’s two ways of looking at how he’ll be, either growing due to getting racing in the legs or tiring due to getting racing in the legs. He is the fastest sprinter in the race, but that doesn’t mean he’ll win. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he won, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he didn’t.
Peter Sagan – I don’t think we’ll see Bora getting involved in the chase, Sagan leads the sprint competition, and he already has a stage win. The responsibility to chase will lie on the shoulders of the other teams, meaning Bora can save their energy for the final 5km. His win the other day was impressive, but I still don’t think he can win a full sprint.
Elia Viviani – Cofidis have the best lead out, but Viviani is looking indecisive, a worrying trait for a sprinter. I expect him to be put in a great position for the sprint, but does he have the legs?
Fernando Gaviria – he’s been at his erratic best in this race. His lead out man, Molano, has been in sensational form, but Gaviria hasn’t been able to finish it off. He could win this stage, but he could also be 10th.
Breakaway picks – the sprint teams aren’t going to mess this up, it could be their last chance to win a stage.
Prediction Time
At long last Giacomo Nizzolo is going to win a stage at the Giro.
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