“Friday, 19 May
Riders will climb more than 5,000 metres in altitude over 208 kilometres on the 13th Giro stage as they cycle from Borgofranco d’Ivrea to the ski resort of Crans-Montana. So the Giro leads into Switzerland. On the way there, the Great St. Bernard Pass and the Croix de Coeur are in the way, while the last climb is 13.1 kilometres long.
Crans-Montana was the scene of a great cycling race ten years ago, when Bauke Mollema rode solo to victory in the Tour of Switzerland. The eventual Tour stage winner finished 11 seconds ahead of a chasing group that included Thibaut Pinot and the sadly deceased Michele Scarponi.
The route from Borgofranco d’Ivrea to Crans-Montana is clear. The peloton heads north through the Po Valley. The only obstacle at the beginning is a 5 kilometre climb at 4% to Saint-Vincent. The route then heads west to Aosta, where the seemingly endless Colle del Gran San Bernardo begins.
The Gran San Bernardo pass is at an altitude of 2,472 metres. To get there, you have to climb 34 kilometres at an average of 5.5%. Via a descent of about the same length, the riders reach the foot of the Croix de Coeur. Another giant: 15.4 kilometres long and with an average gradient of 8.8%. On the last 4 kilometres below the summit, the road even climbs at 10.3%.
The stage then leads down to Riddes, and after just under 23 kilometres on the flat, the final climb begins. To reach the winter sports resort of Crans-Montana, the riders ride uphill for 13.1 kilometres with an average gradient of 7.2%.
The Great St. Bernard Pass is the Cima Coppi (the highest point) of the 2023 Tour of Italy.“
( & Routes ’n’ Maps ’n’ Flags)
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