The Giro, my favourite tour of the year is only 2 weeks....

[ScottCM]

Tom D is going to win it. Or will be fighting for it watch this space.

 

Don't discount Nizzolo

[Jensie]

Don't discount Nizzolo

The mountains is going to be very very interesting.

[tombeej]

Again, I'll be surprised if any of the sprinters make it to the finish in the front group.

 

Going to be another hard day of constant attacks, because the same teams and individuals who were targeting the stage yesterday will be looking at this one in the same way.

 

There'll be some very tired legs this morning. Let's see who's feeling the freshest.

 

Normally I'd say this is a stage for guys like Tim Wellens, Daniel Oss, Giovanni Visconti, Enrico Battaglin. But guys like Tim were in the attacks yesterday, so not sure if he's up for it again. Let's see.

 

Those first 35km of uphill racing straight off the bat are going to hurt! Especially as so many will be wanting to establish the break on that climb. It's going to be full gas from the gun.

[ScottCM]

Those first 35km of uphill racing straight off the bat are going to hurt! Especially as so many will be wanting to establish the break on that climb. It's going to be full gas from the gun.

 

After yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised to see all the initial attacks started by the Nippo guys. I think their DS gave them a proper lashing last night

[Bonus]

I can't even imagine getting out of bed after yesterday's stage!

[ScottCM]

11:20:37 CEST

Dumoulin giving his power meter a last-minute once over.

 

 

11:22:10 CEST

And we're off as the riders head through the neutral section.

[ScottCM]

11:27:02 CEST

• http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2016/01/16/2/lotto_soudal_70.jpg

As well as Marcel Kittel, we have another birthday boy in the peloton and that is Adam Hansen. Will we see him in the break today and can he take a birthday win?

[ScottCM]

11:41:05 CEST

• http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2016/01/14/2/vini_fantini_70.jpg

Damiano Cunego will have to fend off Nicola Boem if he wants to keep the mountains jersey for another day. Yesterday was the first time in 12 years that Cuengo had stepped on the podium and he says that it made him a bit emotional.

[ScottCM]

11:54:24 CEST

We're 14km into today's stage and it is still gruppo compatto. We may have to wait until the top of this climb before a breakaway forms.

[ScottCM]

11:58:35 CEST

As today's stage gets underway, there have been reports about the 2018 Grande Partenza. Rumours that the race could start in Japan have been around for some time but, according to an Italian newspaper, that could be a reality with all but a signature needed to seal the deal.

[ScottCM]

12:07:59 CEST

We're 20km in and still no breakaway has formed. Just 16km to the top of the climb. Who will take the points and who will be in blue tomorrow as there are no more categorised climbs for the day after this one.

[ScottCM]

12:16:52 CEST

There are seven points available at the top of today's climb so the blue jersey could be snatched by a number of people at the top. Four points are available for second place with two and one for the third and fourth places. Here is how the mountains classification looked at the start. 

 

1 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini 7 pts

2 Nicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSF 7

3 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 5

4 Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Bardiani CSF 4

5 Joseph Rosskopf (USA) BMC Racing Team 4

6 Omar Fraile Matarranz (Spa) Dimension Data 3

7 Georg Preidler (Aut) Team Giant-Alpecin 2

8 Matej Mohoric (Slo) Lampre - Merida 2

9 Julen Amezqueta (Spa) Southeast - Venezuela 2

10 Giacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo - Vini Fantini 2

[ScottCM]

Marcel Kittel got what looked like a birthday pie on the sign on podium this morning.

 

[ScottCM]

After 30km everyone is still together

 

['Dale]

What's Tommy D and GIant's grand plan?

 

He's got 20 secs ahead of the pack

Owns the maglia right now

Looks like a lean mean machine and definitely have the mentality of a GT contender

 

Yet, denies that "I did not prepare for the high mountains in the 2nd half of the Giro..."

 

Let's see

I sense undercover ninja PR

 

Go TOMMY!

[ScottCM]

Average speed after the 1° h. of race: 34,300 Km/h.