"Six minutes is a long time, and Eulálio has shown he's strong" - Gee, Storer and Gall anticipate Blockhaus brute at the Giro d'Italia

The climb to Blockhaus will be decisive in the Giro d'Italia, and will be the climbers' first big GC test. At the start of the stage, Felix Gall, Michael Storer and Derek Gee shared their thoughts ahead of a long day on the bike where Jonas Vingegaard is the man to beat.

"Six minutes is a long time, and Eulalio has shown he's strong. I don't think the jersey will change hands anytime soon," Gee told CyclingPro.net at the start of stage 7. "I think we'll be very strong today. I expect Visma and Red Bull to go all out on the climb".

Lidl-Trek have previously led the race, and currently the focus is back on Gee - who leads the team's GC ambitions. He has shrugged the pressure off himself, and instead on what Visma could do on the final ascent and the time that has been taken by Afonso Eulálio on stage 5.

"They might not be thinking about the Maglia Rosa, because the gap is so big, but there's a stage up for grabs, and everyone wants to see the balance of power. I think the race will explode early on the Blockhaus, then we'll go flat out for 40 minutes."

Gee was ill this spring which hampered his preparation for the Corsa Rosa; crashed on stage 2 where he also lost a minute; and has had his team under pressure on stage 5 where it worked all day long to try and protect Ciccone's pink jersey. Hence, it's been a very busy period for Gee, a less relaxed first days to the race than what we would've hoped for.

"I'm fine. I wasn't the luckiest, but not the unluckiest either, so let's look on the bright side," he smiled. I feel good and I'm eager for today. My legs are good, today will be the first big test to see how things go, but so far so good".

"On paper, today's climb is suitable for me, but I've never done it. Anyway, this is Giulio Ciccone's region; he's often talked about it. But I'm not sure what to expect, other than that it's not an easy one. He told me how technical it is, how it unfolds, and how tough it is right from the start."

“So far, everything's been going well. Last year, at this point in the race, I'd already fallen once," Storer said this morning in Formia. "So, touching wood, I can say that this year is going a little better".

12 months ago, four crashes derailed a Giro campaign where Storer had high expectations, following a triumph at the Tour of the Alps. This time around, his build-up to the Giro has been more modest, but he may reach his best form at the right time.

"The goal for today is to give it my all on the final climb. We don't know where we can position ourselves, because there are so many unknowns this year and because we haven't faced a mountain finish yet. So, we'll know more today.”

“I feel good. I'm optimistic and I'll try to do well. It will be a very tough stage, and I hope that my good performance will mean finishing among the top five of the day. However, it could also mean finishing among the top 10 or 15… We'll find out," he details.

The Australian won't be Tudor's only card for the day, as he confirmed that despite crashing into a UAE car on stage 5, Mathys Rondel will join him on the final climb in pursuit of a good result and a high placing in the overall classification.

"No, Florian [Stork] isn't thinking about the general classification. But Mathys Rondel is. He's shown great form this year, he's very motivated and will really want to show off his qualities on this climb. We hope we can both be up front with the best."

With 13.4 kilometers in distance and an average gradient of 8.5%, the Blockhaus is a brutal climb, which will have the pure climbers in advantage. That could be to the liking of Felix Gall, leader of Decathlon CMA CGM Team.

“I'm feeling great, I'm happy. I've managed to get through these first few days without any crashes. Sure, it was really cold on some stages, but it was tough for everyone. I feel good and I'm happy that the first real mountain stage has finally arrived," he said before the start of the stage.

“The Giro is still long, of course. But today will be a very important test for everyone. I'll really understand where my condition stands. I feel good, and so far everything has gone well, but it's another thing to tackle such a long day, especially after the days I've already ridden. The Giro is long, yes, but today I think the first real battle for the general classification will take place.”

Gall will want the gaps to open up before the stage 10 time trial, where the Austrian is expected to lose time to some of his rivals. Blockhaus is a climb that he's ridden before, but under very different circumstances as it was before his breakthrough as a top climber.

"I think it could suit my characteristics. I tackled it in 2022, the only time I raced the Giro, and that day I was in the breakaway. I don't have particularly fond memories of it, because in the end I really reached my limit. But I think it could suit me today," he recalls.

"I've changed a lot since then. In 2022, I was here mainly to gain experience; racing the Giro today is a completely different experience."