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2012 Giro d'Italia Stage 6 Route: Cyclists Experience 1st Mountain Stage

The 2012 Giro d'Italia continues on Friday with the events first mountain stage, a 210 km ride from Urbino to Porto Sant’Elpidio. This is a continuous up-and-downhill route that offers two tough climbs during the middle portion of the race. At 95.4 km, the riders face Cinguli, which reaches 746 m in elevation, but there won't be much time to recompose after that challenge. At the 118th km, the Passo della Cappella looms at 772 m in elevation, a Category 2 climb.

But those aren't the end of the climbs for the cyclists. There will be three quick climbs over a span of 22 km before a few rolling hills and then a descent to the finish line.

We will likely see Garmin-Barracuda's Ramunas Navardauskas surrender the Maglia Rosa (pink jersey) at the end of this stage since he is not a great rider in the mountains. But this could favor his teammates, Ryder Hesjedal and Christian Vande Velde. As Podium Cafe observes in its Stage 6 preview:

Expect Garmin-Barracuda also to take an interest in the finale of this stage. Ryder Hesjedal sits 11 seconds off the race lead, while Christian Vande Velde is eighth at :26.

Will Garmin retain the Maglia Rosa with Hesjedal wearing it? Stay tuned.

Start Time: 3:40 a.m. MT
Expected Finish
(all racers): 9:11 a.m. MT
Television Coverage
: Universal Sports begins coverage at 7:30 a.m. MT, but Steephill.tv provides online streaming links

Here is the top 10 as we enter Stage 6 (complete standings here):

Pos. Name Country Team Time d
1 Ramunas Navardauskas LTU GRM 14:45:13 0:00
2 Robbie Hunter RSA GRM 14:45:18 0:05
3 Ryder Hesjedal CAN GRM 14:45:24 0:11
4 Matthew Harley Goss AUS OGE 14:45:26 0:13
5 Mark Cavendish GBR SKY 14:45:27 0:14
6 Geraint Thomas GBR SKY 14:45:29 0:16
7 Manuele Boaro ITA SAX 14:45:32 0:19
8 Christian Vande Velde USA GRM 14:45:39 0:26
9 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver ESP KAT 14:45:43 0:30
10 Alexander Kristoff NOR KAT 14:45:43 0:30

For more on the 2012 Giro d'Italia, stick with SB Nation Denver and visit cycling blog Podium Cafe.