Another Lumpy stage for Narvaez? Giro d'Italia stage 11 preview

After yesterday's time trial, where Filippo Ganna destroyed the field to take his 7th time trial victory in the Giro d'Italia, equalling Eddy Merckx, Jonas Vingegaard took a big step towards overall victory by putting time into most of his closest competitors. Stage 11 is a different proposition entirely, one that feels destined for a breakaway victory.



Stage 11 features many climbs, but none seem to be long and hard enough for a GC battle to commence, meaning if a breakaway with no threats to Afonso Eulalio's pink jersey gets up the road, they will probably just be allowed to take the victory, which sets us up for a stage for the likes of Jhonatan Narvaez, Ben Turner and the other guys who can win a sprint in a reduced bunch at the end of a tough day. For a guy like Turner, if he can get over the day's big climb, 9.9km at 6.2%, at the front of the race, he will fancy himself to hold the wheels on the final categorised climb and then out-sprint everyone for the win. 

But the favourite has to be Narvaez who has already won two stages very similar to this one at this year's Giro and he can climb better than most of the other puncheurs like Turner but can sprint better than the pure climbers that are likely to be in the breakaway like Leknessund and Bouwman meaning if he can drop the threats like Turner and Ballerini up the climbs then all he has to do is follow the wheels in the finale and then will likely outsprint whoever is left to take his third stage of the race. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Germany’s Potential Sweep and Oval Showdowns: Day 11 at the Winter Games

Germany’s Podium Pursuit and Oval Showdowns: Day 11 at the Winter Games The eleventh day of the Games focuses on high-stakes execution across seven gold medal events. While the 2-man bobsleigh reaches its final heats in Cortina, the spotlight shifts to the endurance of the men’s biathlon relay and the elimination format of the speed skating team pursuit. From the icy technical turns in the bobsleigh track to the precision required on the biathlon range at Antholz, today’s schedule tests whether the established favourites can hold their narrow leads under final-round pressure.
Read more

Legends, Longshots, and a Very Good Day for the Azzurri: Day 6 summary

Legends, Longshots, and a Very Good Day for the Azzurri The 2026 Winter Games reached a fever pitch yesterday as the heavyweights of the ice began to separate themselves from the pack. It was a day defined by veteran resilience and home-ice heroics, proving that experience remains the ultimate currency on the world stage. Whether on the windswept slopes or the precision-perfect ice, the old guard sent a clear message that they aren't ready to step aside just yet. It was a particularly grand day to be a 35-year-old Italian, with the host nation celebrating a haul that included two golds and a silver from its most seasoned stars. In this edition of Scoreboard Summary, we break down every clinical shutout, tactical masterstroke, and photo-finish heartbreak from a massive day of competition.
Read more

Redemption, Records, and Resilience: A Day of High Drama on Day 10 of the Milano Cortina Games

Redemption, Records, and Resilience: A Day of High Drama on Day 10 of the Milano Cortina Games The 2026 Winter Games reached a fever pitch as a series of historic performances and weather-induced chaos redefined the narrative across Italy’s most iconic winter venues. From the treacherous slopes of the Stelvio to the frozen sheets of the Milano Ice Skating Arena, the day was defined by veteran icons cementing their legacies and rising stars seizing the moment under immense pressure. While some athletes celebrated long-awaited breakthroughs and record-breaking feats, others faced the brutal reality of the four-year wait, with podium dreams evaporating in the final seconds of competition. As blizzards delayed the action in the mountains and the tension reached a breaking point in the city's arenas, the events of February 16 ensured that these Games would be remembered as much for their emotional depth as for their technical brilliance.
Read more