Stage 2 of the Giro d'Abruzzo covers 143 kilometres from Popoli Terme to Caramanico Terme, finishing atop a hilly summit that rewards punch and hill-climbing ability over pure climbing legs. The 2.1-class stage race context means domestique support is meaningful, but ultimately the finish will come down to whoever can follow the hardest accelerations on the final ascent. With no previous stages to filter form, the pre-race hierarchy is shaped almost entirely by recent similar-profile results and raw hills ability.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Christophersen is set apart from this field by one decisive factor: he has actually won a stage in a similar-profile race very recently, demonstrating that his current form and punch perfectly suit a hilly summit finish. No other rider in this startlist can match that combination of form evidence and terrain fit.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Cedrik Christophersen is the standout pick here: his recent win in stage 4 of the Arctic Race of Norway on a similar hilly profile is the single strongest signal in this field, and he backs it up with solid hills ability. With real winning form over terrain like this, he is the man to beat at Caramanico Terme.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Vauquelin leads the field on hills ability and arrives with two recent top-10s on comparable terrain, while Fancellu's consistency — a top-3 and multiple top-5s in similar races — makes him the most reliable threat from outside the top team. Both are capable of winning if they get the right race situation.
MBH Bank CSB
MBH Bank CSB
Alessandro Fancellu has been the most consistent performer among the non-winners in similar-profile races, posting a top-3 and multiple top-5 finishes recently on comparable terrain. Racing on home roads at MBH Bank CSB gives him additional motivation, and his hills ability sits among the best in this field.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Kévin Vauquelin is the top-rated hills rider in this startlist and arrives fresh from preparations that include this race on his calendar, with a pair of top-10s in similar-profile races recently confirming his readiness. INEOS's team strength around him makes him a genuine contender for the stage win.
★★
Dark Horses
Berasategi, Ulissi, and Rondel form a credible second tier: each has demonstrated repeated top-10 form on similar terrain recently, and all three arrive with team support or personal motivation that keeps them in the mix. Any of them could step up if the favourites cancel each other out on the climb.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Diego Ulissi is a seasoned hills and stage-race operator whose two recent top-10s on similar terrain show he still has the legs, and his experience on Italian climbs cannot be discounted on a finish like Caramanico Terme. He also has World Championship ambitions ahead, suggesting strong current form.
Tudor Pro Cycling
Tudor Pro Cycling
Mathys Rondel has accumulated three top-10 finishes in similar-profile races recently and has one of the better climbing stats in this field to complement his hills ability. The Tudor Pro Cycling rider is building toward Il Lombardia, suggesting his peak form coincides with this window.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Xabier Berasategi has quietly built a strong recent record on hilly terrain, landing two top-5 finishes and four top-10s in similar-profile races, making him one of the more reliable dark-horse picks here. His Euskaltel-Euskadi team has numbers in the race to set a tempo on the climb.
★
Ones to Watch
Crescioli's impressive hit-rate in similar races makes him a genuine sleeper pick, while Poels and Godon bring experienced hill-finish nous alongside recent comparable-terrain form. Conci rounds out the quartet as a rider who can exploit the XDS Astana team structure and has already shown he belongs at this level on hilly terrain.
INEOS Grenadiers
INEOS Grenadiers
Dorian Godon arrives alongside Vauquelin as part of a two-pronged INEOS threat and has a top-10 in a similar-profile race recently to his name, giving him legitimate credentials beyond pure team support duties. If Vauquelin is marked, Godon is well placed to exploit any hesitation.
Polti
Polti
Ludovico Crescioli has shown genuine punch in hilly races recently, with a top-3, two top-5s, and four top-10s in similar-profile events — an impressive hit-rate that earns him a place to watch despite his lower profile. A home-roads Italian finisher who could easily sneak onto the podium.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Nicola Conci combines solid hills ability with a top-10 in a similar-profile race recently and brings the tactical backing of XDS Astana alongside Ulissi. As a rider who can punch above his billing on the right terrain, he is a credible outsider for the top five.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Wout Poels is a seasoned hills specialist who has posted two top-10s in similar terrain recently, and on his best days he can trouble far more fancied names on a summit finish. His upcoming European Championships appearance suggests he is in a strong training and racing block right now.
Verdict
Cedrik Christophersen enters as the top favourite on the back of his recent stage win on identical terrain at the Arctic Race of Norway, with Kévin Vauquelin and Alessandro Fancellu the most dangerous challengers should the Norwegian be marked or caught out by race dynamics.