Giro d'Italia Stage 17

Well I got yesterday's stage all wrong. The peleton decided to extend their rest day another 24 hours and let a group get over 12 minutes ahead of them when it was too late to haul that back. So in the end the 10 of them made their move on the final climb.

Today though is a day for the GC contenders.

It starts with a small hump, it might have been categorised in Denmark but not today. At the bottom of that descent is the first of today's two category 2 climbs, which takes up above 2000m at a relatively gentle start. Relative compared to what is to come on the other three climbs. But from them on if you aren't climbing sharply you will be descending sharply.

There are two category 1 climbs the first is the steep climb up the Passo Duran, the second the Passo Giau is followed by a 18km steep descent to the finish. So watch for the attack on the climb in the hope to get ahead and stay ahead on the way down. If there weather is wet there may well be spills on the way down as people try to get back or stay in contention on the run down into Cortina d'Ampezzo.