This is the last stage before the high mountains of the closing weekend. After a long and flat ouverture the roads start to go up slighty after 170 kilometres in the saddle – that’s 20 kilometrs after the passage through Turin. Near Cumiana a small climb puts the legs to a first test in a 3.8 kilometres section at 6.3%.
With 211 kilometres done the first passage in Pinerolo is a fact and straight away the climb up the Via dei Principi d’Acaja appears, an inhumanly steep stretch that will also have an impact on the finale. Then the riders tackles the Pramartino climb. At an elevation of 925 metres the hill offers a 4.65 kilometres toil at 10,5% with steepest stretches of up to 17%. In 2009 the Pramartino featured in the Giro and in 2011 in the Tour de France, albeit it on both occasion the climb was tackled from other sides.
After the drop the route turns left and climbs up Via Principi d’Acaja: a 540 metres ramp with an average garde at 14% and peaks of 20%. Complicating factors are the narrow road and sets of cobbles. A steep and harsh descent takes the riders into Pinerolo, where the last 1,500 metres of stage 18 run on level roads.
At the line, time bonuses at 10, 6 and 4 seconds lay waiting, while intermediate sprints come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds each.
Race report/race report stage 18, 2016 Giro d’Italia.
Giro 2016 Stage 18: Route maps, height profiles, etc.
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