If the three time trials were enough to say that this is a Giro designed for Remco Evenepoel, then it certainly will be so. However, the feeling, browsing the altimetry and reading the data, it is that even the very strong Remco will have his work cut out for him to manage a solid path as the Tour of Italy when he decides to tie himself to his story.
Three time trials and a lot of climbing
Three time trials, okay, for a total of 70,6 kilometres from which the last 18,6 could be covered by climbing up to Monte LussariBecause at that point, since it's stage 20, being a time specialist might not count for much anymore.
«There are two philosophies behind this path – he said Mauro Vegni one is sporting and the other is linked to the promotion of our territory and our cultureWe cannot separate the race from the territory in which it takes place. It is too early to think about who will run this Giro, but whoever wins it will surely be a great championAmong those who will be missing from next year's Giro, there will certainly be Vincenzo Nibali, a great rider who made thousands of Italians happy and who this year decided to get off the bike."
Contador's 10
Alberto Contador, who knows a thing or two about Giro, gave a nice 10 for the route revealed in the late afternoon at the Giorgio Gaber Lyric Theatre, at the opening hosted by Cristina Fantoni (journalist for La7) and Paolo Kessisoglu (actor and cycling enthusiast). Joining them on stage were the editors of Corriere della Sera, the Spanish newspaper Marca, and Gazzetta dello Sport. In the audience some well-known faces, such as Jai Hindley, Arnaud Demare and Koen Bouwmann, respectively the pink, the cyclamen and the blue jersey of 2022. And then Daniele Bennati, Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali, fresh from 9th place at the Capoliveri Legend Cup MTB race and still boasting the eye-catching qualities of an athlete.
«For me – Contador said – the Giro d'Italia is always special. The first part will already be very interesting with the initial time trial and then the uphill finish on the Gran SassoFrom the very first stages, it's important to have intuition and seize every opportunity. If you realize you're doing well right away on the climb, you have to attack, because the final part of the Giro is very demanding."
From the 6 28 May
It starts on May 6th from Abruzzo, with an 18,6 kilometre time trial that will take place on the Trabocchi cycle path: the cycle path that retraces the disused Adriatic railway, following an idea of the 2012 GiroBio which started with the time trial from Giulianova to Alba Adriatica, also on a cycle path.
It's a democratic process. Any advantage granted to the time trialists will be compensated by the first Apennine stage, which with its 3.500 meters of altitude difference will take the group to Lago Laceno, land conquered by Pozzovivo, but also by Alex Zulle who in 1998 bent and angered Pantani.
The total difference in altitude is 51.300 metres, for a daily average of 2.443 to make it clear that it will still be a demanding course for the sprinters' legs: there are very few opportunities for… relaxing sprints. This serves as an example the Naples stage: it will probably be a sprint, but first the Valico del Chiunzi will have to be crossedAnd right from Capua, at the gates of Naples, we will set off for the second uphill finish at Campo Imperatore, a climb that young Evenepoel shouldn't mind.
Stage 14: Sierre-Cassano Magnago: 194 km
Long stages only
Let's forget about the short stages, the stages that reward explosive riders to the detriment of more resistant onesPerhaps this is why Contador and Nibali, watching videos and profiles scroll by, were left scratching their heads, recalling some editions of short, tense stages.
Two more stages after the Gran Sasso before arriving at the rest and one of these is that of Fossombrone, dedicated to the treacherous walls of the Marche region. If they race as they usually have lately, the standings could be shaken up that day too, given that they'll be tackling the formidable walls of the Marche region, with gradients approaching 20 percent. The only thing to remember: handle them with care. The next day, in fact, the 33,6 kilometre time trial could be a difficult pill to swallow..
Cima Coppi in Switzerland
The first Alpine stage will be Stage 13, arriving in Crans Montana, Switzerland, will be the only stage crossing the border of the 2023 Giro.He will tackle the Gran San Bernardo (2.469 metres – Cima Coppi, for the fourth time abroad) and the Croix de Coeur. The time for a sprinter's passage is Cassano Magnago, hometown of Ivan Basso and the late Panizza, and the nervous stage in Bergamo and then the second rest will allow us to recharge our batteries in view of the third week, in which we will see the witches.
It's hard to say what the ranking will be at that point, but certainly At this point, it will not be easy to tackle the arrival of Monte Bondone (a stage with 5.000 metres of altitude difference) with the Santa Barbara Pass, the Bordala Pass, the Folgaria plateau and the Bondone from the Aldeno side.
The final ride
And then, after the Caorle stage which is truly tailor-made for pure sprinters, the Giro begins its final ride.
The Val di Zoldo stage involves 3.700 meters of elevation gain: a short one, if 160 kilometers of mountain can be considered short. And the next day, May 19th, the real Dolomite stage will take place, from Longarone to Three peaks of Lavaredo (182 kilometers and 5.400 meters of altitude difference), with Campolongo, Valparola, Giau (Selva di Cadore side), Passo Tre Croci and Tre Cime di Lavaredo with gradients of up to 18 percent. And only at that point, if someone has saved their legs and attitude for the time trial, will they be able to attempt to make the difference in those 18,6 kilometers from Tarvisio to Mount Lussari, with the finale on a 7,5 kilometer climb and slopes around 12 percent on average with the first 4,8 at 15 percent.
The grand finale in Rome will be the only way (perhaps) to get to the end with some sprinters: if anyone will have survived the lottery of the mountains.
«If I had to choose a stage – commented Arnaud Demare – I would like to win the last one in Rome, it would also mean having been able to complete this race!
