"Climbs this hard aren’t done very often" - Can Derek Gee climb onto Giro podium at the Colle delle Finestre?

Derek Gee had a bad first day at the Giro d'Italia and lost some time, but ever since was in constant rise and got himself in the fight for the podium, an unusual achievement for a non-World Tour team. The Canadian has one more opportunity to do this, and if it's to happen it will be due to the mighty Colle delle Finestre.

On stage 19, Gee was once again present and active, only not having the explosiveness to match the final attack of Richard Carapaz and Isaac del Toro. "It went like a few days ago, with the two of them accelerating and me not having the chance to respond immediately".

"Then, in a situation like this it is difficult for there to be cooperation in the pursuit. It is clear that each of us is racing for his own interest and all the decisions that are made still have their meaning". Gee went on to finish with the main chasing group, narrowly avoiding a fall after Giulio Pellizzari went down in the final corner.

“The last bend was probably not made for the arrival of a group. I was on Giulio Pellizzari’s wheel, he fell and I almost fell too. It was a bit frustrating, but probably more so for him," he comments. "However, they gave us the same time as the others at the finish and I think it was the right decision”.

Now this Saturday is the final showdown in the mountains, with one of cycling's most difficult, beautiful and popular mountains. “Suitable for me? I’ll tell you after the race. We’re entering a sort of unknown space, climbs this hard aren’t done very often," he points out.

"The fact that it’s an hour-long effort might be good for me, but the average gradient of 9 percent might not be. I don’t know how it will go, anything can happen. The altitude? I don’t know if it will be a factor, usually in a Grand Tour you go there more often. This time, there are no specific indications and I can’t have any about myself either”.