Preview: Giro d'Italia Stage 16

Featuring challenging climbs, the peloton will be glad Stage 16 from Bressanone (Brixen) to Andalo is only 132km.

(ANSA/RCS sport) Source: RCS Sport

Giro d'Italia Stage 16 profile (Supplied) Source: RCS Sport

Starting easy with 40km downhill until just past the intermediate sprint at Bolzano, the peloton faces the category two 14.8km long Mendel Pass with an average gradient of 6.9 per cent, and maximum of 10 per cent. 

Other than a couple of bumps once this climb is crested, it's 47km of descending until the foot of the category two Fai della Paganella. Don't be fooled by the fun of descending; long descents can be energy sapping. 

The category two Fai della Paganella is a 10.25km doozie with an average gradient of 7.9 per cent but 200 metres before the summit, there's a 15 per cent ramp. 

Then comes the final 10km with a fast and sharp 4km descent and a 6km climb becoming steeper 2km from the finish line.

Trek-Segafredo will try and force the bunch to stay together until after the first intermediate sprint (38km mark) for their points jersey leader Giacomo Nizzolo. 

As for the overall contenders: shorter stages often mean attacks. Expect them with this stage's finale.

Nibali in rest day press conferences has talked about the final mountain stages at the end of this week, but don't be surprised if he tries to claw back time here.

Or Valverde for that matter who the finale could suit. The pair may even form a shaky alliance.