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Rouleur predicts... Giro d'Italia 2020, Stage 21

Nick Christian and Ian give their picks for stage 21 as Tao Geoghegan-Hart and Jai Hindley go into the Milan time trial separated by hundredths of a second.

By Nick Christian

Photography by LaPresse

Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'Italia 2020Rouleur predicts

25 OCTOBER 2020 | UPDATED 11.39 PM BST

Nick and Andy not only correctly called that yesterday's stage would come down to the GC contenders, but that the young man from East London would be the one to triumph. As the rider with the weaker record in time trials, Hindley knew it was up to him to attack his opponent and TGH matched him pedal stroke for pedal stroke, easily keeping on terms with the young Australian. That can't have hurt his chances in the sprint as Ineos' plan B (if we're generous) took the stage by a bike length as the two finished on the same time.

We often say a competition "couldn't be closer" but that phrase has never been quite as true as it is going into the final stage of a Grand Tour as it is today. For Jai Hindley and Tao Geoghegan Hart to be separated by hundredths of a second after 20 stages and 3482.2km is unprecedented.

All the attention will be on the final two riders down the ramp, but there is the small matter of the stage as well. Will Ganna make it three out of three or could his team-mate spring a surprise?

Cernusco sul Naviglio to Milan

Ian
Filippo Ganna - Ineos Grenadiers
Sorry, much as I’d love to finish off with some wild and wacky outsider, this one is Ganna all the way. Now for a nice glass of Chianti and some fava beans. Ciao.

Nick
Rohan Dennis - Ineos Grenadiers
I hate to talk about "deserve" but the Australian has shown in this Giro what kind of team-mate he can be when he's in a good place. That ride on the Stelvio was astounding and Sestriere was almost its equal. Surely they've earned him leadership of a stage race or two next season? Before then however, I hope he rounds out this one by taking one back from his team-mate.

Andy
Victor Campenaerts - Team NTT 
Ganna and Dennis are in top nick, but will helping out tiptop TGH in the mountains take a small toll? Yes is my guess. Step forward the Hour record holder. This corner-light route is all about flat power - and who’s got any left to burn.

Olivia
Filippo Ganna - Ineos Grenadiers
On a pan flat course like this, there’s no way I’d bet against Filippo Ganna winning again, though that would almost inconceivably be the Ineos team’s 7th stage victory. Not only that, but they’ll be going for the overall as well. I’m not a statistics expert, but I can’t remember a team ever winning so many stages and the overall, especially with multiple riders. Nor can I ever remember the top two riders being separated by just 10ths of a second with only a 15km time trial to pry them apart. But of course, this is 2020 so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

The Cycling Mole says
Well done everyone who picked Tao, he really deserved that one. Special mention for Rohan Dennis, one of the best domestique performances you’re likely to see.
Stage 21 and a 15km ITT through Milan. Hardly any corners, this is all about power. Ganna is the best TT rider by a country mile, but will he start to show signs of fatigue after a tough couple of stages in the mountains?
Nick and Andy are both hoping so, they’ve gone with Dennis and Campenaerts. If anyone was starting to feel the strain it has to be Dennis, he’s put in a double shift in recent days. Campenaerts doesn’t win enough, I wouldn’t bother picking him. Ian and Olivia are both going with Pippo - it really is the obvious pick.
And me? Ganna all the way.
Peace out.

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