After the second rest day of the Giro, action resumes with a flat stage from Modena to Salsomaggiore Terme, with a steady but unspectacular incline towards the finish unlikely to cause the sprinters any bother.

The next day features the longest stage of the race at 249km. Classed as a medium-mountain stage, it starts with a tough, category two climb of the Passo Cento Croci and also features the Naso di Gatto before a rapid, downhill finish.

Stage 12, the first of two individual time trials, is 41.9km, with an uphill start and a slight uphill finish. Several technical sections feature en-route, while two long straights – either side of the second time check in Alba – will offer the strongest time-trialists a chance to claim valuable seconds.

Respite is offered on stage 13, which is just 158km in length and appears set for a sprint finish with only one category four climb.

That’s in stark contrast to stage 14, just four kilometres longer but featuring the climbs of the Alpe Noveis and Bielmonte before a summit finish on the Oropa, an 11-kilometre ascent with pitches approaching 13 per cent in parts.

The final stage before the third rest day is almost entirely flat for the first 205 kilometres, but the last 20 tackle the Montecampione, at an average gradient of 7.8 per cent – a finale which could play a huge part on the shape of the race ahead of the final week.