It's back to climbing on stage 6 for a 145km race from Bellaria to Igea Marina that could see a breakaway of a one-day classics specialist succeed, but it's also a chance for the GC contenders to make up some ground on one another with only three stages to go.
The peloton will tackle a rolling stage that starts out flat before heading into the Romagna Apennines.
The riders will climb through San Marino, Mondaino, Monteciccardo and Beato Sante, followed by sections in Cartoceto, Saltara and Villa del Monte. The final climb leads to the first pass over the finish line, followed by a 15km circuit with a climb to Mondavio before the finish - not an easy finish.
Marlen Reusser (Movistar) has a hold on the maglia rosa, and stage 6 marks another test of strength before the race hits the stage 7 Monte Nerone summit on Saturday - sure to be the GC decider of this Giro d'Italia.
The Swiss rider is leading the classification by 16 seconds ahead of Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), and then there is a larger gap of 1:53 to third-placed overall Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime).
"In the coming days, I expect that those who want to win will have to attack me, because Elisa Longo Borghini and I have a good advantage over the others, who will need to try from far out," Reusser said.
However, there are plenty of riders who will want to take this stage as an opportunity for a breakaway or even a reduced group sprint. Outside of the stage 7 mountain finish, the only chances left for the puncheurs will be stage 6 to Terre Roveresche (Orciano di Pesaro) and the finale stage 8 to Imola.
