Favorites stage 21 Giro d'Italia 2023 | Last straw for Cavendish, Gaviria and Marit, but that darn Milan

Not all riders are happy about the transfer from Monte Lussari to Rome, but well, it's up to the RCS, and it will always be that way. Therefore, all riders have made the crossing by plane.

So we start in Rome, from where we head towards the coast. There will be a turning point, after which we continue in the opposite direction towards the Italian capital. There will be seven local laps in Rome, so there is plenty of time to lead the race past the Colosseum and other tourist attractions.

There isn't much to say about this stage, but for the sprinters, the final few kilometers are particularly interesting. The phase between five and two kilometers from the finish can be considered quite technical, with five bends. Some wider than others, but everyone needs to stay vigilant here.

At 1.7 kilometers, there's a 350-meter stretch of cobblestones, before we enter a long sweeping turn at one kilometer from the finish. The final straight line is 700 meters long, with the last 400 meters on Champs-Elyseés-like cobblestones. We finish on Viale dei Foire Imperial.

Times
Start: 3:30 p.m.
Finish: 6:43 p.m. 

Ohhhh, how wonderful it must be to be in Rome on Sunday. 28 degrees Celsius, some small clouds in the sky, breeze in the side and then getting to parade around. Andiamo!

A final stage in a Grand Tour is often a celebration for the sprinters, and that will not be any different for this final stage of the Giro d'Italia. Among those sprinters, Jonathan Milan, the powerhouse of Bahrain Victorious, is definitely the sprinter to watch in this Giro. The sturdy Italian has won one stage and the points classification, and he has also finished second four times, narrowly missing out on victory.

Among the sprinters still in the race, Alberto Dainese (Team DSM) and Pascal Ackermann (UAE-Team Emirates) have managed to beat Milan head to head, and they will also aim for the top spot in Rome. Ackermann might receive support from more than one teammate for the first time in Rome, as the position of their team leader, Almeida, in the general classification has now been secured.

The fact that Mark Cavendish is still in the race can be considered a miracle. The British rider of Astana Qazaqstan Team has one goal in mind: to win in Rome. And let's be honest, how amazing would it be if Cav could win his last Giro stage ever in Rome? Fernando Gaviria of Movistar is also without a stage victory so far, but carries a lot of disappointment in his bag as he heads to Rome. Vamos, Fernando!

At Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, they also have Arne Marit, a Belgian rider who can aim for a stage victory. In Caorle, he was devastated due to chain problems, but who knows, sweet revenge might await him in Rome. Other fast riders to watch out for are Simone Consonni (Cofidis), Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla), Vincenzo Albanese (EOLO-Kometa), Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ) and Filippo Fiorelli (Bardiani) - although they seem to lack pure speed.

In the Giro, it is not uncommon for a cunning breakaway rider to snatch the stage win in the final stage. In that regard, riders such as Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost), Stefano Oldani (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Alex Kirsch (Trek-Segafredo) and two-time stage winner Nico Denz (BORA-hansgrohe) stand out, especially because their teams have little to lose.

Top favorites: Jonathan Milan (Bahrain Victorious) and Pascal Ackermann (UAE-Team Emirates)
Shadow favorites: Alberto Dainese (Team DSM), Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) and Arne Marit (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty)
Longshots: Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Simone Consonni (Cofidis), Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla), Magnus Cort (EF Education-EasyPost), Jake Stewart (Groupama-FDJ) and Stefano Oldani (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

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