Today’s stage of the Giro d’Italia is a 26.8km (16.75 miles) mountain time trial, Bassano del Grappa – Cima Grappa, which poses interesting bike and equipment choices for the teams. GNC have produced a video looking at what we’re likely to see out on the road.

The route is essentially up Monte Grappa, which is a 19.2km (12 miles) switchback climb to 1,712m at an average gradient of 8% and a maximum gradient of 14%. However, the first 7km (4 miles) are more or less flat.

In most individual time trials riders obviously go for a time trial bike where the bike itself, along with the rider’s position, are designed to be as aerodynamic as possible.
But time trial bikes are heavier than road bikes so they’re not always the better option when the route is uphill. Plus, riders might spend a lot of time out of the saddle during a mountain time trial, and that’s easier on a road bike.

Then there’s that initial flat 7km (4 miles) to consider. It would definitely be quicker to tackle that on a TT bike. We might only be talking about seconds here, but an individual time trial is likely to be decided by seconds, as might the entire race.

All that means that the riders and their teams – or at least those wanting to make an impact today – have some important choices to make. Road bike or time trial bike, or swap bikes along the way? Normal bars or the addition of clip-on aero bars? Deep-section or lightweight wheels? Aero helmet or standard helmet? And will all the riders on the team follow the same strategy?
Check out the video to see what they’ve decided.
The UCI bores strike again... once done a 1/2/3 cat race and even then then where truly unrelentless
Tend to agree with you however it's a simple fact of life for people who are in the public eye....
But not as the Grand Depart, both 74 and 94 were stages after the 1st stage had happened, only 07 and 14 started Le Tour. I think that's why Cav...
I get pullouts like that more regularly than 1 in 10 years for sure. ...
The fallback of conspiracy theorists everywhere, the official figures don't accord with the theory I am trying to promulgate and therefore the...
What the Frankenbike needs is some good old L-shaped cranks
right, there aren't double yellows, no loading kerb marks, regulation signs at designated intervals, no policemen witness me parking......
'I've had tons of death threats on email because I drive a Tesla'...
Never mind the PPE, what about Rishi's chopper?
I decided to delete my posting immediatley after it was made....