How to watch Stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia as more bad weather forecast

A daunting day in the Dolomites features five climbs and practically zero kilometres of flat, with the riders tackling the Cat. 2 Passo Sella (8.9km at 7.4%) from the gun. For those who find themselves quickly off the back, there’s a chance to recalibrate and return to the fold with a long descent towards the intermediate sprint ahead of the second climb, the Cat. 1 Passo Rolle, whose average gradient of just under 5% over almost 20km is skewered by a flattish section halfway up.

Another long descent follows ahead of the easiest test of the day, the Cat. 3 Passo Gobbera. Things then get mighty serious with a dual ascent of the Passo Brocon, which is tackled from both the east and west sides. The first is a Cat. 2 of 13.3km at 6.5% peaking at 12%. This is followed by a harder Cat. 1 effort of 12.2km at 6.4% but with a maximum tilt of 14%.

Although only the Passo Sella is above the 2,000m mark, the succession of climbs will make this one of the key tests in the final week – if the stage goes ahead in full…

The UK coverage will be bookended by The Breakaway, presented by Orla Chennaoui, who has a string of esteemed guests joining her across the three weeks.

Usual suspects Dan Lloyd, Adam Blythe and 12-time Giro stage winner Robbie McEwen will return, with former Jumbo-Visma star Nathan van Hooydonck swooping in for the final week as Blythe (Stages 16-21) resumes his duties on the motorbike in Italy, bringing fans closer to the action.