The Giro resumes hopefully given the mix of bad weather and some beef between the riders, their union and race organisers RCS.The Route: pending the weather with talk that the Umbrail could be crossed in team cars 206km and 4,350 vertical metres. Its out of Livigno via the road the race rode in on Sunday, the Eira and then the Foscagno, unmarked climbs but really passes and hard work from the start. Probably insufficient as well for the breakaway to go.Then its onto the Passo Umbrail to reach the Cima Coppi. The Umbrail is 85% of the Stelvio, still a monster of a pass. Only the summer cheer of this years Giro is now a DNF as the weather looks grim. Over the top to Switzerland and a long descent of the Val Mstair and then back out on the valley road to Bolzano.The Passo Pinei is as it looks, a steep start then things back off before some 7% to to the top, its all on a wide road.The Finish: up the main valley road out of Ortisei on the lower slopes of the Passo Sella and Passo Gardena and once in Santa Cristina, a right turn. From here its only two kilometres but a complete change, 12% average and much steeper at the start and all on a narrow road with hairpins that are steep on the inside line so if theres a group them positioning counts.The Contenders: Whether the Umbrail features or not the winner has to handle the climbing in the final hour. So Tadej Pogaar (UAE) again? Normally today should be for the breakaway but if the move doesnt have the right blend of teams they those that missed it will chase and before we know it Pogaar and a large group led by the UAE team is 90 seconds behind the breakaway starting the Passo Pinei, the move is mown down and Pogaar takes his fifth stage.Theres 14 seconds in the team competition between Ineos and Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale, with UAE third at 27 minutes. While Ineos can climb high thanks to Thomas and Arensman, Decathlon might want to put a rider or two in the breakaway for a shot at a second stage win and the team GC so Valentin Paret-Peintre comes to mind while the GC bid of Alex Baudin ended on Sunday, too many climbs in one go for him but if hes recovered today might suit more.The winner doesnt have to be a climber, someone able to exploit hesitation in places or descents can build up a buffer. Can Bora-hansgrohe spare Max Schachmann? Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quickstep) sort of fits the bill with a short climb at the finish but his long raid to Fano suggested endurance rather than the famous acceleration of old, a win here would be a huge boost to his value. If the Umbrail is on then Michael Storer (Tudor) chances increase as barging away on the flat could just be harder.Pogaar, APP, RubioVPP, Schachmann, Alaphilippe, Scaroni, VelascoWeather: the big issue of the day. Itll be 10C and raining for the finish, the issue is whether the Umbrail is rideable, both up and down, and if measures are needed.TV: KM0 is at 11.20am CEST and the finish is forecast for 5.15pm CEST. Bolzano hosts a sprint just before the climbing resumes for the finale and is around 3.40pm.Postcard from the StelvioTodays stage doesnt reach the Stelvio but with the Umbrail it climbs the same road before taking a left turn a couple of kilometres short of the Stelvio. The Umbrail is the original way here, its been a mule pass for centuries, although very new for the Giro as it was only tarmacked over the top in 2015 and the race first crossed in 2017.The Stelvio existed too for centuries but just as a narrow perilous path and probably only of use in the summer for individuals. All this changed in the 19th century. Napoleon explored the idea but it was when the Lombard-Veneto kingdom came under Francis I of the Austro-Hungarian empire that plans accelerated and works were started on the Stilfser Joch to use the then German name. This was a military project to enable troops to be moved and horses to haul cannons. Carlo Donegani had overseen the construction of the Splgenpass and was hired for the Stelvio in 1819. By 1825 it was completed. About a century later it was tarmacked.Italys post-war boom saw skiing and motoring become accessible to many and the Stelvio reflected this. While many mountain passes can be empty places with only a sign at the top, plenty of construction happened at the Stelvio pass with hotels, bars, shops, a ski school and more popping up. The Giro helped here too although visits are sparse, first in 1954 and today would have been the 14th time.For a long time it was celebrated as Europes highest paved road until the Col dIseran in France was paved seven metres higher. Youd think the Italian authorities could build up the pass to reclaim the record, maybe their French rivals would not respond as the Iseran isnt a business location.Its a remarkable climb for the open space and enormity of the mountains but the buildings at the top are a defining feature of the pass. Its like walking out of the Sahara and into a souq, only the waft of fried food from street vendors is a bit Germanic with sausage and cabbage. It even has Europes highest ATM, handy to pull out cash for the range of snacks and souvenirs on offer. Its a strange place for the cyclist, a place where it can feel like youve longed to arrive but reach the Stelvio and you may want to get the hell out in the time it takes to pull on a windproof jacket. But at least what was once built for battle is now for reserved for leisure.The post Giro dItalia Stage 16 Preview first appeared on The Inner Ring.