Giro 2014 Route stage 12: Barbaresco – Barolo

Thursday, May 22nd – Stage 12 is an individual time trial through the wine Mecca of Italy. The 41.9 kilometre route is a mix of flat roads and (modest) climbs, with the emphasis on the latter. But the real climbers time trial is saved for stage 19. (Slideshow route/profile)

Giro 2014 route stage 12: Barbaresco > Barolo (ITT)

The stage ambles through the wine regions of Piedmont, from a good red wine in Barbaresco to the great red wine of Barolo. Both wines are made from the Nebbiolo grape. A nice glass awaits the stage winner, but first comes an hour of pain in the race of truth.

Route

Right from the start the road goes up towards Boscasso, a 12.6 kilometre climb with a vertical gain of 388 metres. Being the highest point of the route it's the first intermediate time check as well. The climb is labelled as category-4.

Speeding down the hill riders arrive 13.6 lightning fast kilometres later at the lowest point of today, the truffle town of Alba, located at an altitude of 168 meters and second intermediate time check.

For the next 8 kilometres, the riders travel on a flat, straight road in the direction of Gallo and then arrive at the foot of the second climb. The riders gain 158 metres over the following 3.4 kilometres, meaning an average gradient of 4.7%. Upon cresting in the hamlet of Castiglione Falletto,a short and relatively steep descent follows before the final climb of 1.6 kilometres at 4.5%.

The area around Alba suits the powerful time-trialers best. The route is flat (or descending) and the roads straight, so they need to gain time in this area if they are to win the stage.