The riders are set to clock up a calf-destroying total of 168,600 ft of altitude gain over the course of the three week tour, with this year's final stage featuring a flat procession rather than the individual time trial finish we've come to expect from the event. Covering 2168 miles, this year's schedule includes a brief trip through the Swiss region of Valais which dovetails Stage 13 and 14. Kicking off in the picturesque eastern coastal town of Ortona in Abruzzo, before winding its way through the Italian mainland, this year's race features 176 riders representing 22 teams. With 2021 champ Egan Bernal and 2022 winner Jai Hindley both absent, choosing to focus on the Tour de France instead, reigning world champion Remco Evenepoel, three-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic, and Tour de France-winner Geraint Thomas are among the bookies favourites to taste glory this time out.

There are three intermediate climbs with a spectacular finish at 2130m above sea level – not that high, maybe, but the ascent involves around 1.8km of vertical distance to conquer and a 13% gradient as the riders race for the line. After a couple of days of fun for the sprinters this is definitely a stage for them to endure, rather than enjoy, while the climbers unzip their shirts and get panting. Today is Stage 7 of the Giro which sees the riders get right up and into the Gran Sasso d’Italia, a massif in Italy's spine-like Apennine mountain range. The fight for the pink jersey is on, as the world's best riders take on the 106th edition of the Giro d'Italia. Paid streams: GCN+ (US, Canada and the UK) TV channel: Eurosport (UK) | GCN+ (US/CAN) | SBS Viceland (AUS)

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