STAGE 9 GIRO PREVIEW

Dan Jones
3 days ago
2 min read

State of Play

The Young Bucks didn’t just land a big call this Giro, they hit one of the calls of the race, and the fallout has been glorious. After tipping Narváez at $7.50, Dan and Angus have spent the last 24 hours carrying themselves like two blokes who’ve just inked a fragrance deal with Dior.

Meanwhile, the Old Bull Iffy has snapped, slammed $300 on the table, and is now officially in the red, a man betting like he’s trying to restore order to the universe. Stage 9 arrives with the Bucks flying, the Old Bull fuming, and the Giro finally tilting into terrain where the strongest legs and sharpest instincts take over.

THE DETOUR SHORTLIST

Three Categories. Three Riders Each. Real Odds. Real Insight.

Genuine Contenders

These riders win if the GC teams decide today is a day to make statements rather than calculations.

Jonas Vingegaard — 2.10 Still the benchmark. If he wants to squeeze the race again, nobody stops him. The final climb suits his diesel‑into‑detonation style.
Giulio Ciccone — 4.50 Looked sharp on Stage 8 and thrives on these mid‑mountain ramps. If Jonas doesn’t light the fuse, Cicco becomes the most dangerous finisher.
Giulio Pellizzari — 21.00 The kid is flying. If the favourites hesitate for even five seconds, he has the punch to jump them and the courage to commit.

Breakaway Wildcards

These riders win if the peloton collectively shrugs and the GC teams decide to save their legs for the next block.

Javier Romo — 23.00 Strong enough to survive a long move, smart enough to pick the perfect moment. A classic Giro breakaway engine.
Jan Christen — 23.00 Has the freedom, the legs and the tactical sense to turn a loose day into a career‑defining win.
Christian Scaroni — 41.00 Always dangerous on rolling terrain and thrives when the finale becomes messy rather than structured.

Reduced Group Finishers

These riders win if the pace is high but not destructive, leaving a group of 10–20 to fight it out.

Lennert Van Eetvelt — 23.00 Perfect for a selective but not savage finale. Has the kick to win from a trimmed group.
Felix Gall — 34.00 Climbing well, finishing well, and trending upward. A danger if the favourites mark each other too closely.
Ben O’Connor — 81.00 A long shot, but if the group is small and the GC riders hesitate, he becomes a very real threat.