Route: Another stage that looks like RCS Sport has dropped a piece of string on a map and designed the day around it. These climbs are much harder than those of the two previous days. Monte Nerone and Monte Catria feature long, steep ramps that favour climbers with a rapid turn of speed. The hardest section of Monte Petrano is near the bottom, and there will be major splits there.
Local Hero: The Michele Scarponi fan club will be out in force, assuming they haven't deserted him after his involvement in the Puerto scandal. The Diquigiovanni rider is having a resurgence this season, exemplified by his stage and overall victory at Tirreno-Adriatico.
Procycling's top tip: The overall contenders will be at the fore, but this stage will also suit a flyweight climber with a rapid change of pace such as Scarponi's team-mate José Serpa.
Stage profile
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‘My number one goal is the Classics but also the sprints' - Paul Magnier
Tour de France ‘doesn't seem like a priority right now' for 21-year-old French rider -
Marc Madiot praises Tadej Pogačar's 'sense of history' of cycling, but picks Wout van Aert as his favourite
Groupama-FDJ manager finds that the world champion has a deep understanding of the sport -
'A truly dramatic year' - Lotte Kopecky reflects after a sub-par 2025 season where the Tour of Flanders was the only highlight
The Belgian superstar once again asserts that another Tour de France GC bid is highly unlikely -
Mattias Skjelmose's Amstel Gold triumph over Pogačar and Evenepoel gave 'hope to other riders in the peloton'
After a difficult year, Dane returns to the biggest victory his career
