It’s been quite a while since a Grand Tour last visited Prato Nervoso. In 2008, the 15th stage of the Tour de France finished in the ski and winter holiday resort that was created in the early 1960s. It’s not the hardest climb in the world and Simon Gerrans took the flowers. Prato Nervoso featured twice in the Giro d’Italia. In 2000 Stefano Garzelli climbed to victory and Pavel Tonkov did so in 1996.
Starting in Frabosa Sottana, the Prato Nervoso climb is fairly regular. The first 2.5 kilometres are going up at around 5.5% before the ascent toughens up a bit to gradients of around 8%. At 13.9 kilometres, the climb to Prato Nervoso is averaging 7%.
Actually, the last climb is the only climb of the day. So it will be a sudden transition from flat valley roads to a haul up to the line, a bit like last year’s race to Oropa.
The first three riders on the line win time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds, while the intermediate sprints (at kilometre 130.7 and at kilometre 169.9) come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds each.
Stage 18 in the 2018 Giro d’Italia starts at 12:10 and the expected finish is at 17:12 – both local times (scheduled times).
Giro d’Italia 2018 stage 18: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom.
Start in Abbiategrasso 
Details Prato Nevoso climb
Profiel final kilometres
Details Prato Nevoso climb in 3D 
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