After the second day, the cycling caravan takes a break at 106. One of the three most difficult stages of the race across Italy awaits today. Stage 16 from Sabbio Chiese to the finish on Mount Bondone: five categorized climbs for a total of 5,275 meters of altitude in 203 kilometers.
Monte Bondone is a legendary mountain above Trento, which provided the most difficult stage in the history of the Tour of Italy. The 21st stage of the 1956 Giro took place on 8 June amid thunderstorms, hail and blizzards, with winds of over 70 km/h. 83 riders started the day and 42 finished it. The legendary day from Dante’s frozen hell was celebrated by one name. Charlie Gaul from Luxembourg won by a huge margin, took the lead and eventually won the pink jersey.
At the finish line at 5 p.m., storms are forecast
This year’s cycling tour of Italy also does not spare the cyclists and after a beautiful sunny day on a free Monday, showers and thunderstorms are forecast in the Alps in the afternoon. Otherwise, it will not be cold, or the heat in the valleys (up to 30 degrees Celsius) will be an additional obstacle. On the target climb to Monte Bondone (1632 masl; 21.4 km with 6.7%) will rain the heaviest right around 5 p.m., when the real showdown of the candidates for overall victory is finally expected there.
But the course of the Giro 2023 so far has not brought an excess of action between the captains: two flat time trials, the attack of Roglič on I Cappuccini in the 8th stage with the finish in Fossombron and the race of the legs at the entrance to the old Bergamo in the 15th stage called little Lombardy.
From Lake Garda to the mountain above Trento
Currently third overall Primož Roglič and all the remaining riders started the first five-star stage from Sabbio Chiese near Lake Garda. Next to the famous lake, the first flat 60 km will be driven through a bunch of tunnels, and then there will be four passes on the way to Trentino.
- Passo di Santa Barbara (12.5 km at 8.2%)
- Passo Bordala (4.5 km with 6.9%)
- Matassone (11.6 km at 5.5%)
- Serrada (17.3 km with 5.6%)
After a technically demanding descent, there is 10 km of flat land along the Adige River, and then the final climb:
- Monte Bondone (21.4 km with 6.7%).
An uneven climb that starts steeply, then flattens out quite a bit, but then comes an 8km section with an average of 8.2 percent and a maximum gradient of 15 percent, while the last three are gentler again.
Start at 11.05and the best are expected at the finish line around 5:15 p.m. We will monitor the difficult mountain stage with the MMC app live.
Source: Rtvslo
