It's the longest stage of the race, so the combination of distance, accumulated fatigue, and a brutally steep final climb should make this a major day for the general classification.

It will take place on Friday, May 15, with the stage expected to start at 18:00 (AEST) and finish at around 01:00 (AEST) on Saturday, May 16.

Quick Picks

• Our pick: Vingegaard to win
• Value bet: Pellizzari to win
• Long shot: Storer to win

Betting Preview

The day starts with a long, relatively tame opening along the coast before the race turns inland and the climbing begins in earnest after roughly 130 km.

The key build-up comes through Rionero Sannitico, Roccaraso, and the exposed plateau roads before the descent to Roccamorice, where the final ascent begins. That means riders will already have spent hours under strain before they even hit the finishing climb.

The final climb is 13.6 km at 8.4%, with the last 10 km averaging about 9.4% and ramps up to 14% in places. The road is narrow with lots of hairpins, and there's only a tiny false flat near the end, so it's a proper grind rather than a climb where riders can recover. Because the final straight is still uphill, any late attack or small gap can stick.

Betting Markets to Watch

The most important tactical question is whether GC teams keep it controlled early or allow a strong breakaway to go the distance.

If the break is too dangerous, the stage should turn into a pure GC showdown on the final climb; if not, a climber from the escape could steal the win while the favourites mark each other behind. The exposed plateau sections and the long run-in after Roccaraso also make positioning and pacing important before the decisive ascent.

If looking for a rider to consider, Jonas Vingegaard stands out as the most likely Stage 7 winner because he combines elite climbing power, proven Grand Tour form, and a team built specifically to control the race on a day like Blockhaus. He's already shown sharp legs early in the Giro, attacking aggressively on Stage 2's final climb and staying with the leaders despite chaos.

Giulio Pellizzari is a value bet as he has strong high-mountain talent and is well-suited to a steady, brutal climb.

Our Prediction

You can check out our latest cycling outrights for this race.

We think Vingegaard is the most likely to win Stage 7.

Our long shot is Michael Storer, who offers big value as a proven climber who can survive a long, attritional day and exploit any GC hesitation. He's a specialist for exactly this type of summit finish, and has podiumed or won similar Giro stages before. For those interested in sports betting, the Blockhaus stage presents compelling opportunities across the field.