Giro 2015 Route stage 15: Marostica

Giro 2015 Route stage 15: Marostica – Madonna di Campiglio

Sunday, May 24, 2015 – Stage 15th takes the riders through the Dolomites, leading in 165 kilometres from Marostica to Madonna di Campiglio. After cresting La Fricca and Passo Daone they are set to finish atop near Rifugio Patascoss in ski resort Madonna di Campiglio.

Right after the start the road is gradually rising towards the Passo della Fricca. The 1,096 metres summit is reached after 60 kilometres of climbing, whilst the climb officially is ‘only’ 10.55 kilometres. The official average gradient is 5.7% and the steepest section is over 12%.

In a 21 kilometres descent riders drop to Trento and then the route is calm until the Passo Daone looms with 126 kilometres done. The first three kilometres are tough with an average grade of 11.3%, next comes a kilometre of modest climbing and then the steepest section of 14% appears. Passo Daone is no pussy with 8.4 kilometres at 9.2%.

Following a steep descent in 7 kilometres the ascent to Madonna di Campiglio awaits the riders. It’s a 15.5 kilometres climb at 5.9% with the first 10 kilometres being a perfect example of a regular ascent – almost without exception the road rises at 6.4%. Until Madonna di Campiglio the climbs flattens with a section at 2.8% and then the finale seems tailor made for born attackers.

Patascoss is 3 kilometres up the road after Madonna di Campiglio. It’s located at 1,715 altimeters and in order to get there a 12% section welcomes the riders. The climb is irregular and after a less steep middle section the finale is made to hurt. It’s not the average 6.7% grade of the section to Patascoss that’s shocking, it is the length of the total ascent and the irregularity near the top making this top finish a tough one.

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