PREVIEW | Giro d'Italia 2025 stage 13 - Pidcock, Van Aert or Pedersen for the win at Monte Berico? Or GC favourites to spoil the fun?

The Corsa Rosa is the first Grand Tour of the season and this year it will include a start in a nation that will for the first time in it's history host a Grand Tour, Albania; and also several mountain stages in it's second half whilst the first half will feature some tricky stages including one that goes through a lot of the Strade Bianche course. We preview stage 13.

The riders return to the famous Monte Berico on stage 13. It's a day for the classics riders whilst the GC men have to be fully aware of their surroundings. There are no long climbs on this day, but there will be plenty tension in the finale with the short and steep final ascent creating the threat of gaps.

Mostly flat, but when it climbs it's sharp. It's a day that will be for the puncheurs, quite possibly a breakaway, but the final climb is steep enough that we will without a doubt see GC action either ways. There will be a few ascents before reaching Vicenza, but inbetween the roads are pan-flat and very fast, so the legs will be saved towards the end.

The riders climb Monte Berico for the first time with 21 kilometers to go, then the 1.8-kilometer long Arcugnano climb which averages 6.6% with 11 kilometers to go... And then the run-up to the final ascent to the beautiful Monte Berico right above the town. The ascent is 800 meters long at 8%, a fully anaerobic effort which will be slightly different from previous days.

A lot of rain falling this Thursday, but it won't be the case on Friday. We may have some wet roads along the way to Vicenza, but it shouldn't be a dangerous finale because of it. The wind will also not really be present.

GC Fight - They will go to the absolute maximum, this is a hard finale and besides the fact that there are bonifications and likely a stage win at the top, splits will occur as the finishing straight is very steep. This is an explosive finale, on paper that would favour Primoz Roglic, but who knows what legs the Slovenian will have in this finale. Above all positioning seems to be crucial, but I think on this stage BORA will do good.

I do fear Isaac del Toro may top him however, the Mexican looks very explosive and on such a short climb the effort could actually favour him even better. Juan Ayuso, Richard Carapaz and Giulio Ciccone each also have good performances in such efforts which could see them going for a win, certainly a tight battle between all of these men. These teams will also swarm the head of the peloton into the climb, and most of the top finishers will be these men and those that are around them in the GC fight.

There is a big question which is how the sprinters can survive. Now, I will not name Wout van Aert a sprinter, but he can do so and such a short effort may be enough for his raw power. The same can be said of Mads Pedersen, and I wouldn't count out Paul Magnier either - although for him it'd be harder. A second question for these men is if Van Aert and Pedersen will actually try to go for the stage win or if they will prioritize positioning Yates and Ciccone respectively. Whilst I think it's too hard, Corbin Strong and Orluis Aular could also do well if they ride without problems when it comes to positioning.

Although, this is one of the few stages that truly reward the pure puncheurs, and they will likely try to take advantage of it. Tom Pidcock is the obvious name that comes to mind, he's been close already on a few occasions, but this is the best remaining chance for him to win a stage in this Giro. And honestly, his lightweight build is perfect for the steep ramps of Monte Berico, he may just be able to do it. Astana have a non-peak form Christian Scaroni and Diego Ulissi as cards to play; whilst I would also consider outsiders like Max Poole, Edoardo Zambanini, Kevin Geniets, Paul Double and Quinten Hermans.

There are chances of a breakaway succeeding but it would very much be a wildcard. The chances aren't too great a some teams will aim for this stage, but if we do have a strong group up the road it will be hard to capture. There isn't a specific type of rider that would be the absolute favourite to win in such scenario however, as there are so many flat roads that on paper attacks from within the breakaway could easily succeed as the climbs are not long and not enough to create big differences.

*** Isaac del Toro, Primoz Roglic, Tom Pidcock
** Giulio Ciccone, Juan Ayuso, Wout van Aert
* Mads Pedersen, Richard Carapaz, Corbin Strong, Diego Ulissi, Simon Yates, Christian Scaroni, Edoardo Zambanini, Antonio TIberi

Pick: Isaac del Toro

How: Sprint between a group of climbers and puncheurs.