Stage 6: Grotte Di Frasassi to Ascoli Piceno (San Giacomo)

First GC Challenge

With almost a week of racing in their legs, this stage presents the first true test for the GC riders. The climbs in the Apennines are not the most challenging in Italy, but none of the riders hoping to be on the final podium in Milan can have an off day on the summit finish above the city of Ascoli Piceno (population 47,000). The Colle Giacomo is only 1,090 meters (3,576 feet) above sea level, and the first 10 kilometers of the climb is not particularly steep as it winds past poplars and chestnut trees, but the final 5 kilometers average 7.5 percent with some double-digit pitches.

It’s a finish that a dozen top climbers (Egan Bernal of INEOS Grenadiers, Hugh Carthy of EF Education-Nippo, Jai Hindley of Team DSM, Thibaut Pinot of Groupama-FDJ, Aleksandr Vlasov of Astana-Premier Tech, Emanuel Buchmann of BORA-Hansgrohe, Domenico Pozzovivo of Qhubeka-Assos, Mikel Landa of Bahrain Victorious, Bauke Mollema of Trek-Segafredo, Dan Martin of Israel Start-Up Nation, Simon Yates of Team BikeExchange and Romain Bardet of Team DSM) will have to match Almeida, Bennett, Ciccone, Evenepoel, McNulty and Nibali.