‘There’ll be a big battle for positions’ – Ineos, Geraint Thomas take aim at Giro d’Italia gravel

Three years ago, the gravel stage to Montalcino proved the keystone in Egan Bernal’s Giro d’Italia victory, and the tone for the day was set by his Ineos guard’s infernal pace-making on the approach to the first sector, where the peloton was sundered into shards behind them.

RCS Sport has opted for a rather sparser spread of sterrato on the Giro’s return to the dirt roads on stage 6 to Rapolano Terme, but the same principles apply. The entry to the first of three sectors of gravel will be the day’s defining moment, and Ineos will again vie to lead the way on behalf of their leader.