It’s been an eventful Giro already, and we’re only just coming to the end of the first week. Here we take you through the last stage before the rest day.

Sunday 17 May: Stage 9 – Benevento to San Giorgio del Sannio, medium mountain, 212km

After yesterday’s exciting mountain-top finish, what does the GC have to work with today? Well, a jiggity-jaggity stage that, at 212km, is the second-longest so far. There are three categorised climbs: the cat 2 Monte Termino and cat 1 Colle Molella are together in the middle of the stage while the cat 2 Passo Serras starts about 17km from the finish.

Ordinarily, this stage would not trouble the GC contenders but considering the way the guys have been racing and the events of the past week, it might be used by some teams to put down some serious pain. Equally, this could be the day for a breakaway to disappear and fight amongst themselves for victory, leaving the peloton to adopt a more sedate pace.

We’re still in the south so it could also be one hot day. After they cross the finish line, the riders will enjoy a well-earned rest day.

Stage 9 profile; Giro 2015

Link: Official race website

Header image: http://www.sanniolife.it