‘Fino alla fine’ – Right to the very end. When race director Mauro Vegni designed the route of the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia, he perhaps hoped for a close race and thrilling finale in Milan. But there has never been a similar finish to the corsa rosa, with five riders fighting for the final three podium places and all of them with a realistic chance of winning the maglia rosa if their rivals suffer a bad day, mess up a corner or even crash.
Every second will count on the 29.3km time trial from the Monza motor racing circuit to the Piazza Duomo in the heart of Milan. It will be a race to the very end.
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) will start last in Monza and race in the pink jersey but leads Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) by just 53 seconds. On paper and considering their previous time trial performances and ability against the clock, it may not be enough for the Colombian to hold off the big man from Maastricht.
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Quintana will also have to fight for a place on the podium because Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) is only 39 seconds down and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) is only 43 seconds back. Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) should not be forgotten. He is 1:15 but an excellent time triallist and so a threat to everyone except perhaps Dumoulin. The final podium places in Milan will be decided by a handful of seconds, with any combination still possible.
A fast and furious route
The time trial is perfect for strong, powerful riders like Dumoulin and so a nightmare for the pure climbers such as Quintana. While today’s Formula 1 Grand Prix races on the streets of Monte Carlo, the final stage of the Giro d’Italia will start in the finishing straight of the Monza circuit, with riders covering a 5.6km before heading south in a direct line towards Milan.
The first time check will be taken after 8.8km near Villa Reale, and every rider and team will be hoping for a fast start and good news. It will give the first indication of the final result. The second time check is after 17.4km in Sesto San Giovanni on the outskirts of Milan. The route then heads into the city via Porta Venezia and Corso Venezia, with a final right, left and right turns leading into the spectacular Piazza Duomo.
The magic number, 1.8
History is on Dumoulin’s side, but is it enough?
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