Giro d'Italia: Stage 5 Preview - Modena to Fano 209Km

It’s a straight run down the Via Emilia today towards the Adriatic, and it’s likely to be a fast one – as befits a stage for which the riders sign on in the house in which Enzo Ferrari was born and close to the town where the cars that bear his name are still made.

After hitting the coast, there are shades of Milan-San Remo with some short climbs hills just inland to negotiate, but the last of those is crested nearly 20 kilometres out and it will be a surprise if a break denies the sprinters from contesting the win.

GT: I’m pretty sure it will be a sprint day. For sure we’ll want it to be a sprint. I’d have to go with Cav for this one. Other than Cav, the guys who will challenge in the sprints will be people like Matt Goss, Tyler Farrar, Thor Hushovd - although he doesn’t seem to get involved in sprints so much now – Francesco Chicchi and Mark Renshaw; now he’s got that first win, I’m sure he’ll be looking for more.

For more on this year's race read our full Giro d'Italia Preview.