The Giro last went into Puglia in 2008 when Giovanni Visconti, now leader at ISD-Neri, took the maglia rosa on a similarly long stage into Peschici. But that finish suited climbers more than this one, where strong rouleurs should be prominent, especially if it's road-meltingly hot. They will want to get into a group that has a decent advantage once the bumps of Italy's spine are behind them, consequently giving them a good chance of success as the road drops down towards the coast.
Procycling's favourite to win:
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Tour de Suisse stage 5 Live – Hardest mountain test of the race brings GC battle into spotlight
Four tough category 1 climbs line 183.8km route from La Punt to Santa Maria in Calanca, with João Almeida looking to take more time -
Ceremony for new memorial in Gino Mäder's honour held before Tour de Suisse stage 5
Memorial erected on Albulapass where Mäder had fatal crash two years ago in race -
Michael Woods suffers another setback as lung infection rules him out of Tour de Suisse
Canadian champion forced out of first race back from a collarbone break just weeks ahead of Tour de France -
Tom Pidcock, Mattias Skjelmose and other locals headline new mountainous one-day race in Andorra
Andorra residents and Tour de France hopefuls among startlist for tough first edition of Andorra MoraBanc Clàssica on June 22
