Flat, rolling, individual time trial – there might not be a lot of fireworks but by the end of this trio of stages, the GC top ten should have had a good old shuffle around.

Tuesday 20th May: Stage 10: Modena to Salsomaggiore Terme, flat, 173km

It’s a sprint stage. Flatter than a flat thing from Flat Town with a tiny little blip about 5km from the finish. There are two laps once the peloton gets into Salsomaggiore so the run-up to the final line – twiddly, with a sweeping right-hander leading into a short 120-metre finishing straight – won’t be a surprise. That’s really all there is to say about this stage. Another Bouhanni day?

Wednesday 21 May: Stage 11: Collecchio to Savona, medium mountains, 249km

The peloton has lumps to negotiate along the way today. This would be a good stage for a rouleur as it’s not unlike a one-day classic in its length and profile. It’s two Cat 2 climbs almost bracket the stage and the finish line is on a fast descent. This stage might be one where the peloton shrugs and lets a breakaway go all the way to the finish. It’s a long stage and the GC contenders will be saving themselves for the all-important individual time trial tomorrow.

Thursday 22nd May: Stage 12: Barbaresco to Barolo, 41.9km individual time trial

Again this year, the Giro planners have put the first individual time trial before any of the high mountain stages. At over 40km and with only a cat 4 climb, this will favour Cadel Evans, although Rigoberto Uran and Domenico Pozzovivo aren’t too bad at TTs as well. Evans will want to take as much time on these two as possible as the high mountains will be tough for him and he’ll want a time cushion. The top ten should be noticeably different at the end of this stage than it was at the start.

Link: Official website

Header image: Barolo vineyards