PREVIEW | Giro d'Italia 2024 stage 13 - Jonathan Milan main favourite to make a hattrick in a sprint stage
Cycling
The sprinters are set to have another opportunity. Stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia is completely flat from start to finish and we preview a day that is certain to end in a bunch sprint - although the threat of crosswinds is alive.
Stage 13 is the flattest day of the race with no doubt. The 179 kilometers between Riccione and Centro will pass by quite quickly for sure, without a single hilltop on the day to slow down the riders or be a serious challenge to a possible bunch sprint.
Stage 13: Riccione - Centro, 179 kilometers
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Hence, there is very little to take a look at. The wind is also unlikely to play a role in this day through Emilia-Romagna, and all eyes will be on the final sprint in Cento. This will not be an easy one...
Already with 3 kilometers to go the riders will be in Pieve di Cento with a few urban corners where the peloton will stretch, there will be a fight for positioning to this location. Then in the final city, there is a meaningful chicane with 1.5 kilometers to go, a sequence of corners that will be key for positioning. Recovering positions now will be complicated as the riders will do some slight turns all the way into the final 500 meters.
Only then is the run-up to the line straightforward, but the riders have only a few seconds before the final sprint. A fast and furious sprint awaits us as the peloton comes fresh off an easy day on the bike.
The Weather
Map Giro d'Italia 2024 stage 13
Heat, and the wind will blow from the mountains - the southwest. This means crosswinds will be in place, in what is a completely flat plain. The final kilometers it will not be strong, but throughout the day there will be sections that will be dangerous and create tension in the peloton. It will be an interesting day.
The Favourites
Jonathan Milan - Nothing too detailed is necessary to explain. Milan is the strongest sprinter in the race, that is unanimous. He used to have problems with positioning but over the past sprints that hasn't been seen and Lidl-Trek have a great leadout. Win number 3 would not be a surprise.
Tim Merlier - Merlier was a very tough contender for Milan in the past sprint and he has seemingly recovered from his injuries already. The Belgian will love the lack of climbs and difficulties in the day. In a pure sprint with a slight tailwind, the Belgian can surely be threatening to just about any sprinter in the peloton.
Kaden Groves is the obvious candidate for the win outside of those two, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider has been close on two occasions and he has been looking at his best. Certainly, he could be a match under the right conditions. The likes of Phil Bauhaus, Caleb Ewan and Juan Sebastián Molano have also shown this on a few occasions, and are on paper small candidates for a win.
As for outsiders we will have other sprinter who are seeking results - but a podium is the best they can realistically achieve. Davide Ballerini, Danny van Poppel, Laurence Pithie, Stanislaw Aniolkowski, Madis Mihkels, Fernando Gaviria, Tobias Lund Andresen, Giovanni Lonardi, Alberto Dainese and Enrico Zanoncello are in this list.
Prediction Giro d'Italia 2024 stage 13:
*** Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier
** Kaden Groves, Phil Bauhaus
* Davide Ballerini, Danny van Poppel, Laurence Pithie, Caleb Ewan, Giovanni Lonardi, Juan Sebastián Molano, Alberto Dainese
** Kaden Groves, Phil Bauhaus
* Davide Ballerini, Danny van Poppel, Laurence Pithie, Caleb Ewan, Giovanni Lonardi, Juan Sebastián Molano, Alberto Dainese
Pick: Jonathan Milan
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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Regione Piemonte will host the Grande Partenza of the Giro d'Italia 2024! Opening stage on 4 May with start in Venaria Reale. La Regione Piemonte ospiterà la Grande Partenza 2024! Si parte il 4 maggio da Venaria Reale. 👇Thread 👇 #Giroditalia #GrandePartenza @regionepiemonte
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