Giro d’Italia Stage 19 preview: Battle of the Dolomites

The Queen stage of the Giro is here. The 183 km race from Longarone to Tre Cime di Lavaredo is an absolute leg-breaker. Riders will have 20 km of flat riding in the Longarone valley, before some lumpy riding leading up to the first main climb of the day, the Passo Campolongo (3.9k, 7 per cent grade.) There is an intermediate sprint at 64 km in Caprile, so Canada’s Derek Gee (Israel – Premier Tech) may be going for it. He did say he figured that Stage 18 was his last gasp for a result, but he can still snag some points.
The riders will then take in the (14.km at 5.6 per cent), Giau (9.9km at 9.3 per cent) and Tre Croci (7.9km at per cent) before finishing on the brutal Rifugio Auronzo (7.2km climb at 12.5 per cent).

Geraint Thomas looked strong in Stage 18, but things can always change. Will Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) attack again? Or is it up to João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) to redeem himself after falling off the pace on Thursday?