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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Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana stage 1: Biniam Girmay takes first victory in over a year on dream debut for NSN Cycling Team
Late attacker Giulio Pellizzari caught in final kilometres by charging peloton -
'There will be a point that I will be beaten in a sprint' – Lorena Wiebes aiming to extend invincible streak in UAE Tour season debut
Dutch sprinter already has six stage wins at the race, but remains hungry for even more -
Exact Cross: Niels Vandeputte takes over for teammate Mathieu van der Poel atop podium in Maldegem
Joran Wyseure, Felipe Orts round out podium -
Étoile de Bessèges-Tour du Gard stage 1: Late move on hilly finale nets promising Belgian racer Tom Crabbe first win of career
Lukáš Kubiš places second behind 20-year-old Belgian as bunch crumbles on uphill finale.
