There will be little time for respite after the individual time trial, with the following stage finishing atop the Madonna di Campiglio ascent.

Famously the scene of Marco Pantani’s 1999 solo stage win, before Il Pirata was disqualified for a high haematocrit level, the 15.5km climb rises to 1,715m above sea level.

An average gradient of 5.9 per cent belies the brutal ramps which make up the final 2.5 kilometres, where the big contenders could certainly gain on their rivals.

And it is not the only fierce Dolomite climb to be encountered on the stage either, with the gruelling Passo Daone peaking just 15 kilometres before the final ascent is to be tackled.

After taking on the brutal hairpins on the lower slopes of the 8.4km climb, where the gradient rarely drops below double digit, the ascent then ramps up fiercely before a rapid descent.

Though much will be made of the Madonna di Campiglio, the Passo Daone – where the average gradient for the whole climb is more than nine per cent – should certainly not be understated.