Preview. Primoz Roglic has taken to the lead of the Giro d'Italia, he is set to ride into Rome in pink, but the sprinters will also look for glory in stage 21 of the Giro d'Italia.
The finish was expected to finish in Trieste at the 2023 Giro d'Italia, but the plans of the race organizers had changed last-minute, and a flat day for the sprinters in Rome will conclude the race. It's an easy day on the bike and one everyone who's reached Rome deserves. It has truly been a brutal final week, and finally the riders see the end of the road, and the surviving sprinters have one final opportunity to fight for a win.
Estimated start and finish times for Giro d'Italia stage 21: 15:25-18:45CET
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The riders ride just outside out-and-back into Rome and then enter the final circuit. The final circuit is 28 kilometers long and and is almost completely pan-flat. It's rather technical but the day should be calm and all will be saved for the final kilometers.
It's still a bit technical finale, but the sprinter teams will be burned out at this point and GC riders already in the back of the peloton. The riders pass through the Colosseum and enter the final straight with one kilometer to go. Then, racing away from the monument, they find the finish line in the city center.
The Weather
A bit of a southern wind and possible rain early in the afternoon, but it should fade. All signs point towards a regular and safe (weather wise) sprint in the center of Rome.
The Favourites
Jonathan Milan - The fastest man in the race I think, only positioning has often been a problem. With the points classification sealed and a stage win in the bank there will be no pressure to chase, the success is achieved. However they are big candidates for a win, so surely Bahrain can still put on a strong leadout and Milan could take a second win.
Mark Cavendish - His form has been improving, and so has his motivation. Cavendish's problem continues to be the fact that Astana have no leadout at all to support him in the finale, despite the surprisingly good legs he's still missed several sprints in the Giro including the other most recent one. Still the peloton is small, he has the legs, if he manages to fit all pieces together a win could certainly come his way.
The fight for the win could include the likes of Alberto Dainese and Pascal Ackermann who have won sprints already in this Giro, Magnus Cort Nielsen who has achieved the same however in different circumstances, and also Fernando Gaviria who has not achieved the triumph he hoped for.
Stefano Oldani, Michael Matthews, Simone Consonni, Marius Mayrhofer, Arne Marit, Vincenzo Albanese and Jake Stewart could also be present in the final sprint and chase a result. Nicolas Dalla Valle and Mirco Maestri could chase a minor result if they get good positioning as has happened earlier in the race.
Although unlikely some others could try and attack towards the finale in search of a surprise win - which is far more likely than happening at the Tour de France. Nico Denz, Alex Kirsch, Derek Gee, Michael Hepburn, Senne Leysen, Lukas Pöstleberger and Ben Healy could try something in what will be a short and very fast day once the racing kicks off.
Prediction Giro d'Italia 2023 stage 21:
*** Jonathan Milan, Alberto Dainese
** Pascal Ackermann, Mark Cavendish, Fernando Gaviria
* Magnus Cort Nielsen, Stefano Oldani, Michael Matthews, Simone Consonni, Arne Marit
Pick: Jonathan Milan
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