Giro d’Italia 2017 Stage 6 takes place on Thursday 11th May. For the second day in a row this has all the hallmarks of a sprinters stage. Albeit one that might contain a different set of challengers for the stage win.
Giro d’Italia 2017 Stage 6 – Stage Profile
Stage 6 takes the riders from Reggio Calabria to Terme Luigiane. The stage is 217kms in length and should see the entire field come to the line together.
There are two classified climbs on the stage. A category 3 early on at 36kms and a small category 4 at 193kms. There is another climb inside the first 90kms that is similar to the category 3 but for some reason this is not classified.
The second half of the stage is fairly flat terrain. The roads do undulate a little in the final 35kms. The last 1.6kms does rise by an average gradient of 5.3% and gets steeper (up to 10%) the closer the riders get to the finish line. The final 2kms are on wide roads.
We might be looking at sprinters who can climb and the puncheurs for the stage win. Peter Sagan where are you? This finish is perfect for you.
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Giro d’Italia 2017 Stage 6 – Favourites
This isn’t the easiest stage to predict. Quick-Step Floors will be looking to maintain their hold on top spot in the three jersey categories they lead.
A couple of riders that look suited to the finish are Nathan Haas (Dimension Data) and Enrico Gasparotto (Bahrain Merida). Haas tends to do well in races that have a kick at the end and this is certainly one of those. Gasparotto, in his pomp would have attacked this stage with glee. The thing is he is an older rider now and has team orders riding for Vincenzo Nibali. Haas at 11.0 looks more appealing than Gasparotto at 19.0. Both work as EW bets.
Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) must be bitterly disappointed with this finish on stage 5. His and his teams positioning in the last km was frankly awful. That left him with far too much to do to get into position to challenge for the stage win. The gradient in the final km really does not suit him at all on stage 6. Odds of 26.0 reflect his chances.
Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) has won stages in Grand Tours that have uphill sprint finishes similar to the one he will ride into Terme Luigiane. Greipel only managed a 4th place finish on stage 5 and appeared to slow once he saw that Gaviria was out of reach. 26.0 actually looks like a decent shout.
Fernando Gaviria (Quick-Step Floors) won his second stage in three days on Wednesday. Confidence is a great ally for an elite sprinter. The QSF team were brilliant in the closing 500-600 metres delivering Gaviria to the front of the sprinters and setting the platform for him to win. Can he win on an uphill finish like this? That is a tricky one. He was excellent riding in support of Bob Jungels on the Mount Etna stage. Of the sprinters in the trace he achieved the highest position on that the first mountain stage. The fact he has won two stages and this climbing potential has Gaviria as favourite at 8.0.
Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) is one of my stage choices. Stuyven has won and gone well in classics races with tougher finishes than this. As mentioned in previous stage previews he is sprinting better than ever. When combined with the better climbing ability over the main sprinters he has to be worth a punt at 11.0.
Giro d’Italia 2017 Stage 6 – Outsiders
In this group we have to consider some of the classics men and the GC riders. I won’t go into great detail but it includes:
- Enrico Battaglin (Lotto-NL Jumbo) at 17.0 – I don’t think he will be quick enough to win;
- Sacha Modolo (UAE Team Emirates) at 19.0 – went completely missing on stage 5 and this is much tougher;
- Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Astana) at 26.0 – I think he has a stage win in him but it will come on one of the hilly stages later in the race;
- Rui Costa (UAE Team Emirates) at 29.0 – like LLSG above – I think his best chances will come later in the race in the mountains;
- Simon Clarke (Canondale-Drapac) at 34.0 – the team are looking for stage wins and it looks like the Team Classification too. I feel Clarke would stand more chance from a small group and I can’t see that scenario on Thursday;
- Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) at 41.0 – was looking for a time bonus on the Mount Etna stage but was beaten into 4th place in the GC riders sprint. I don’t think this is tough enough for all the sprinters to be dropped so not for me;
- Gerraint Thomas (Team Sky) at 51.0. A win here would likely give him the race lead. Like Pinot he doesn’t have the speed to beat the likes of the sprinters who should stay in touch like Stuyven.
- Bauke Mollema (Trek-Segafredo) at 301.0 does actually tempt me for a small bet. He won the Point’s Jersey in the 2011 Vuelta (I bet not many of you knew that). Of the GC riders he is arguably the most dangerous in a sprint. I think he will be there to help Stuyven in the finale and that keeps him near the front of the race.
Giro d’Italia 2017 Stage 6 – Tips
PLACED 2ND – Back Jasper Stuyven to win stage 6 with a 1.0/10 stake EW (1/4 odds top 3) at 11.0 with Bet365.
Bet on Nathan Haas to win stage 6 with a 1.0/10 stake EW (1/4 odds top 3) at 13.0 with Bet365.
Back Bauke Mollema to win stage 6 with a 0.5/10 stake EW (1/4 odds top 3) at 301.0 with Bet365.
Bet here:
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