Time trials, summit finishes… the key stages of the Giro 2023

Step 1: Fair winds!

Saturday May 6
Fossacesia Marina – Ortona
(19.6 km time trial, 100 m drop)

No observation round to open this Giro. Along the Adriatic, the 20 kilometers of time trial, flat but exposed to the wind, will launch from the first day the battle between the favorites for the general and the long-awaited duel between the Olympic champion of the exercise Primoz Roglic (Jumbo – Visma) and Belgian time trial champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal – Quick Step). At home, the double world champion in the specialty Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) will be the big favorite.

Step 4: Altitude lake

tuesday may 9
Venosa – Lake Lacene
(175 km, 3,500 m elevation gain)

A mountain sample. From the fourth day, the peloton will ride the rough roads of the Apennines and will successively cross the passo delle Crocelle (16 km at 4.5%), the Valicio di Monte Carruozzo (19.4 km at 4.2%), before the final climb, Colle Molella (9.6 km at 6.2%). In its ramps over 10%, the favorites could test their opponents and watch for difficult warm-ups. Once they’ve crossed the summit, they’ll have 3 flat kilometers left, the only ones on the stage, to reach the finish at lago Laceno.

Step 7: Already head in the clouds

Friday May 12
Capua – Gran Sasso of Italy
(218 km, 3,900 m elevation gain)

One of the two longest stages of this Giro will take the riders to the top of the Gran Sasso d’Italia (26.4 km at 3.4%), above the symbolic 2,000 meter mark. After the climb to Roccaraso (7.3 km at 6.1%), the peloton should be skimmed by the big armadas in the final ascent. The last four kilometers at 8.2%, including a passage to 13%, could give ideas to the outsiders for the general. The unstable weather conditions at this altitude will spice up the first explanation between the top 10 contenders.

Thibaut Pinot finished second there in 2018 behind Simon Yates, relegating the future winner, Chris Froome to more than a minute.

Step 9: Evenepoel’s Luck

Sunday May 14
Savignano sul Rubicone – Cesena
(35 km time trial, 50 m drop)

On the eve of the rest day, the favorites will change gears to set off on 35 timed kilometres, all flat and on very wide roads. A specialist effort that will condemn the worst riders among the contenders for the pink jersey. Remco Evenepoel should notably take the opportunity to take off before the terrible third week. Last year on the Vuelta, the Belgian took nearly 50 seconds from Primo? Rogli, his direct opponent, over a slightly longer distance. Thibaut Pinot will try to limit the damage.

Stage 13: Riders in Crans

Friday May 19
Borgofranco d’Ivrée – Crans Montana
(207 km, 5,100 m drop)

Impossible to hide. With three long steep climbs, this Swiss-toned stage is one of the highlights of this edition. First highlights of the day, crossing the Grand-Saint-Bernard pass (34 km at 5.5%) at an altitude of 2,469 m, the Cima Coppi (highest point) of this Giro, before the brutal Col de Croix de Heart (15.4 km at 8.8%) and its finish at more than 10%. In the long descents, between the snowdrifts, the cold could tyrannize the organisms. Already technical, they will be made very dangerous if the weather conditions are not mild. Watch out for the less skilled. The final climb in the direction of Crans Montana (13 km at 7.2%) is a pedestal for one of the great favorites of this Giro.

Stage 16: Chaos in the Air

tuesday 23 may
Sand Churches – Monte Bondone
(203 km, 5,200 m elevation gain)

The day after the second day of rest, the peloton enters the third week through the great gateway to the Alps. Before the summits, the first sixty flat kilometers and around thirty tunnels could transform the start of the stage into a placement war. Before the peloton shattered on the slopes of Passo di Santa Barbara (12.7 km at 8.3%) and its passages at 14%, Passo di Bordala (4.5 km at 7%), Matassone (13 km at 5%) and the Serrada (17.7 km at 5.5%). A game of elimination before the big piece of the day, the Bondone mountain (21.4 km at 6.7%). Irregular, with 15% parts, it has everything from the perfect Stations of the Cross for favorites in distress.

Stage 19: Queen stage and visit of the Dolomites

Friday May 26
Longarone – Three Peaks of Lavaredo
(183 km, 5,400 m elevation gain)

The difficulties of the day (take your breath): passo Campolongo (4 km at 7.2%), passo Valparola (14.1 km at 5.6%), passo Giau (10 km at 9.3%), passo Tre Croci (8 km at 7.2 %) and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (7.2 km at 7.6%). With three peaks over 2,000 meters, the program is titanic. In the 14% ramps of Giau, Remco Evenepoel, if he is still fighting for the pink tunic, will measure the progress made since his failure in this same ascent in 2021. But no rejoicing, the hardest is yet to come. The terrible climb to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, whose 18% slopes had sacred under the snow Merckx in 1968 and Nibali in 2013, could smile on a Slovenian.

Step 20: Climbing competition

Saturday May 27
Tarvisio – Mount Lussari
(18.6 km time trial, 1,050 m drop)

The day after the queen stage, this last round of lactic acid could intoxicate some favorites. Before marching in Rome, the organizers have reserved for them an 11 km time trial, then 7.6 km of climbing up to Monte Lussari which has the particularity of being a winter sports resort at one summit.

Point of vacation for the runners because the Monte Lussari is a bit of hell which shows the first 5 kilometers at 15.3%, then passages at 22% under the red flame. The slightest weakness on this concrete portion will be counted in minutes. Cruel.