Giro 2017 Route stage 12: Forlì

Giro 2017 Route stage 12: Forlì - Reggio Emilia

Thursday, 18 May 2017 - At 234 kilometres, stage 12 in the 2017 Giro d'Italia is the longest in this year's edition. Travelling from Forlì to Reggio Emilia, the route is perfect for a bunch sprint. Yet, if the pack falls asleep the race could boil down to a chance for attackers.

The 12th stage in the Giro d’Italia is a two-faced challenge. The first half of the route travels over two climbs while the second half is played out on flat roads leading to arrival place Reggio Emilia.

After leaving Forlìo the stage travels steadily uphill until Colla di Casaglia is crested at kilometre 63.4. The pass, at an elevation of 913 metres, lies in between Toscane and Emilia-Romagna.

Following the descent, the Valle Appenninico comes next. The summit at 731 metres lies at the end of a stretched false flat, so the ‘climb’ really is nothing to worry about. A gentle drop takes the riders to the last 80 kilometres. These are merely flat.

For arrival place Reggio Emilia it’s a first in the Giro d’Italia, but not so for Forlì. The first time the town hosted a Giro stage was in 1925. Back then Costante Girardengo powered to glory, while Nicola Boem is the last winner when he brought an early break home in 2015. Mark Cavendish uncorked the champagne in 2013.

Ercole Baldini, 1958 World Champion and winner of the Giro d’Italia that year, hails from Forlì.

The first three riders on the line take time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the last intermediate sprint (at kilometre 153.0) comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds.

Results/race report 12th stage 2017 Giro d’Italia