Giro d’Italia 2024
Stage 6 – Torre del Lago Puccini (Viareggio) > Rapolano Terme (180km)
Thu 9th May | Scheduled start: 12:45 CET
Profile
Stage 5 Result
1st Benjamin Thomas (300/1)
2nd Michael Valgren (750/1)
3rd Andrea Pietrobon (750/1)
4th Enzo Paleni (750/1)
Stage 5 Bets
Laurence Pithie 0.5pts each way (4 places) @40/1
Huge prices filling all the places there as the sprint teams, especially Alpecin-Deceuninck, royally messed up chasing the four attackers. Some lively post-race debriefs on the team buses no doubt.
Stage 6 Preview
The Strade Bianche stage – so-called as it uses some of the same white gravel roads as the Italian one-day race. Given the potential pitfalls of mechanicals and punctures, GC teams may well be content to just get through the day unscathed which opens the door for a breakaway win.
The flat 70km start favours a rouleur type, but the up and down nature of the second half of the stage is more suited to a puncheur, so teams may look to have numbers up the road. There’s a 1km unclassified climb which averages 8.4% but touches 20% inside the last 5km which will be crucial in deciding the day’s winner.
Stage 6 Contenders
What’s unclear is whether UAE Team Emirates will be happy to give the pink jersey away, albeit temporarily. Riders within a couple of minutes will sense a chance to take pink if the vibe is that they are, but it might be wiser to lean towards those with plenty of time to spare.
Tadej Pogačar (4/1; 5.0) is favourite for the stage as he has to be given that he’s a double Strade Bianche winner and that perfect short climb for him at the end. Who knows? Maybe UAE will chase down the break and set him up for the stage win, but it’s more likely that they won’t which makes Pogačar unbackable at such a short price.
Filippo Ganna (14/1; 15.0) has been very lively and looks a stage winner waiting to happen. But with a time-trial on Friday, will he really go all-in here? More likely he’ll be held back to drive Geraint Thomas (50/1; 51.0) into each gravel section. Jhonatan Narváez (12/1; 13.0) has already shown his form with the opening day win and this is another good stage for him, but he’s still close on GC so the caveat above applies. Fellow Ineos Grenadier Magnus Sheffield (100/1; 101.0) has come back to form following injury and took an excellent sixth at the Tour of Flanders – he’s another option at an attractive price.
Max Schachmann (18/1; 19.0) finished behind Narváez in Torino and looks to be back to something like his best after a difficult few years. He’ll be one of the favourites if in the break.
Julian Alaphilippe (14/1; 15.0) is another finding some form of late, but is he quite at the level of old? Mauri Vansevenant (40/1; 41.0) is a second option for Soudal Quick-Step but at less than 2mins off GC must bank on UAE wanting to gift the leaders’ jersey away.
Quinten Hermans (22/1; 23.0) has done plenty of work on the nose of the peloton for Kaden Groves but may be given his own option here. Alpecin-Deceuninck could do with a morale boost after their shocker on stage 5 and the fast-finishing puncheur could give it to them.
Jan Tratnik (33/1; 34.0) is looking super strong for a Visma-Lease a Bike team that are having no luck with multiple crashes, though he may be on duty for team leader Cian Uijtdebroeks.
Aurelien Paret-Peintre (33/1; 34.0) may get an option to go forward by Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale though, similar to Tratnik, his primary job is to protect Ben O’Conner. Andrea Vendrame (33/1; 34.0) had a couple of near misses at the Tour de Romandie last month and the former Giro stage winner may be preferred.
Jasper Stuyven (50/1; 51.0) has worked hard for Jonathan Milan (40/1; 41.0) but should get licence from Lidl-Trek to go for his own chances here. The parcours, however, perhaps suits Andrea Bagioli (66/1; 67.0) a bit more.
Laurence Pithie (40/1; 41.0) may come into his own on a hard, punchy day like this, and of course has a fast finish should he need it.
Mikkel Honoré (40/1; 41.0) looks to be riding well but is plenty short enough. EF Education EasyPost are sure to have representation, however, and given Michael Valgren (100/1; 101.0) might be a bit pooped after stage 6, Andrea Piccolo (80/1; 81.0), who rode so well on stage 2, might be the option. Also, Georg Steinhauser (80/1; 81.0), second in the Tour de l’Avenir in 2021 and the nephew of Jan Ullrich may be on the verge of a breakthrough win and is a tempting price.
Jenthe Biermans (150/1; 151.0) came into the race on the back of a one-day win in France and finished an excellent fourth on stage 4. He should have no problem with the ups and downs and the triple-figure price is attractive.
The balance of probability leans towards a breakaway win, but it could kick-off early behind and scupper it, especially if some GC players are distanced.
Making the break can be something of a lottery on these flat starts, but let’s throw a few darts and hope we hit the bullseye.
Stage 6 Bets
Quinten Hermans 1pt each way (4 places) @22/1
Andrea Vendrame 1pt each way (4 places) @33/1
Laurence Pithie 0.5pts each way (4 places) @40/1
Georg Steinhauser 0.5pts each way (4 places) @80/1
Jenthe Biermans 0.5pts each way (4 places) @150/1
Posted 21:58 BST Wed 8th May 2024
Prices to win the stage are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change - find the best prices available on the Giro d’Italia at Oddschecker
[Giro d’Italia stage profiles reproduced by kind permission of Ben Lowe at Veloviewer.com]
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