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Giro d'Italia 2020, stage 19: Morbegno › Asti (258k)

I changed the profil to the new one. I really like the idea of long stages in Grand Tours. But this? A seven hour snore fest? Or are there any chances of echelons?


Stage 19: Morbegno – Asti 258 km
Friday, October 23rd, 10:05 CEST


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Technical Overview:
The longest stage of this edition comes on the last Friday and it’s a pan flat stage sandwiched between the two biggest mountain stages. The riders will go from Morbegno, in Valtellina, to Asti, at the foot of the Langhe hills, crossing the Po Valley again. The first intermediate sprint is in Vigevano, at km 145, while the second one is in Masio, at only 26 km from the finish.

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What to expect:
A bunch sprint, if there are still sprinters left and teams willing to chase the break of the day, that otherwise will take an easy win. Everyone else will treat this just as a long transfer and will save any drop of energy for the last weekend.

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Asti, Cathedral
 
I used to like the idea of long stages (particularly in inclement weather) as they may fatigue the lightweight climbing specialists and lead to more excitement in the mountains. These days I believe it has little to no effect, rendering long, pan flat stages useless.
 
I think it’ll be mostly Sunweb controlling the peloton, and their top 2 spots, FDJ maybe helping a little, if Demare is feeling great tomorrow... Sagan is probably be on his own throughout the day, Bora won’t commit anybody to help him much. They are focusing on Konrad now... Hopefully, he can score an opportunistic win in the end... Too flat for a breakaway, unless the GC teams decide on a truce tomorrow and rest for the stage 20.
 
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For those interested in a bet, I feel strongly that the market is wrong on this one. It is priced as though it's highly likely to be a sprint finish, which I think is very unlikely. FDJ will get little or no assistance (why chase to give another win to Demare) and 258km in bad weather is too much for the 5 remaining FDJ domestiques. Also Demare leads Sagan in the points competition so FDJ may well be happy to let the break take the points rather than risk that something goes wrong with Demare and Sagan can close right up in the points comp.

It's a day to spec some really long odds riders. Preferably someone with a big engine on a day the weather could make pretty hard . Sobrero and Cerny two good options.

So yes, I agree it's a boring stage overall but at least the first and last half hour should be ok.
 

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