22 Saturday, May 6, 2017 SPORTS Key stages

Alghero The key stages of the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia, to be Battle is on for the pink jersey held May 5-28:

After three days in Sardinia and a rest day, the peloton hops over to Sicily for the first of four mountain- top finishes, at . While Spanish ace Alberto Contado triumphed here in 2011, via a different approach, all eyes will be on Sicily’s favourite son . Nairo Steven Team Sky have gone for a two-pronged It has been 28 years since a Quintana approach to trying to win the Giro Kruijswijk Frenchman last pulled on the Giro Coming just before Quintana (Movistar) claimed d’Italia crown, with Welshman Geraint An untimely downhill crash two days d’Italia pink jersey, but Thibaut his maiden Giro title in 2014 Thomas and Spaniard Mikel Landa before the end of last year’s race Pinot will be doing his best to the race’s second rest and comes to the 100th edi- giving the British outfit some tactical meant lost the pink redress the balance and emulate day, the second moun- tion fresh from victory in the options on the three week-race. Landa jersey after five days in the lead, and deceased French legend Laurent taintop finish will be in Tirreno-Adriatico stage race last is an acclaimed climber, winning two all chance of beating Nibali to the 2016 Fignon, who won the race in 1989. stages on his Giro debut in 2015 to Giro d’Italia crown. It is no surprise the Flanked by a Swiss guard of FDJ the Abruzzo region, at month and fired up to add to a victory list that claim a commendable third-place fin- flying Dutchman, this time around, is climbing experts, Blockhaus (1,674 metres includes the 2016 Tour of ish. Thomas, fresh from winning the hoping to make amends: “After last and Sebastien Reichebach, the altitude). Belgian leg- title. “I’ve already won one Giro, Tour of the , guided fellow Briton year’s Giro, I can’t hide my ambition: 26-year-old has end won and I’m particularly attached to to overall victory on everybody will understand that I’m previous experience of fighting for this race, so I couldn’t miss the the Tour de three times and is aiming for a spot on the final podium. a podium place on the even more here in 1967. 100th edition,” he added. expected to provide crucial support I’ll try to reach the highest step pos- prestigious stage of the Tour de along the road. sible. Anyway it will become a special France. Three years after finish- Giro d’Italia, because of the jubilee ing third in the race for the yellow (100th edition). jersey, Pinot should be among the movers and shakers in the big mountain stages. The first of two time- trials takes place in the Umbria region follow- ing the second rest day. The pink jersey contenders will ride The peloton rides in Castelsardo through the Sagrantino al Porto during the first stage of wine-growing region. the 100th Giro d’Italia cycling race, Tour of , from Alghero to Olbia

This stage honours two of Italy’s biggest cycling champions in and . Starting in Castellania, the birth- place of five-time win- ner Coppi, it finishes at Oropa where tragic hero Pantani, wearing the pink jersey, won the stage in 1999.