The first 160 kilometres are played out on the flat before the Giro enters Il Lombardia. The race serves the Madonna del Ghisallo (8.6 kilometres at 6.2%) and Colma di Sormano (9.6 kilometres at 6.5%) inside the last 60 kilometres. A technical descent drops down to Nesso before the riders continue along the lake-shore to Como. A harsh climb to Civiglio – 4.2 kilometres with steady 10% gradients – is supposed to be decisive. A flying descent leads to fat run-in of 3 kilometres on the broad avenues of Como.
In 2015 and 2017, Nibali attacked just before the top of the Civiglio climb to extend his lead in the descent. Obviously, winning a Classic is not the same as wining a stage when fighting for GC, especially since Roglic will be on his wheel. The Slovenian is a good descender, just like Nibali, but a better sprinter, so a Shark-attack may be not such a good idea after all. It would be great to watch though.
Possibly, the breakaway will turn out to be successful.
Favourites 15th stage 2019 Giro d’Italia
*** Alexis Vuillermoz, Thomas De Gendt, Valerio Conti
** Vincenzo Nibali, Primoz Roglic, Davide Formolo
* Hugh Carthy, Simon Yates, Tony Gallopin, Pello Bilbao
Check out the route of stage 15.
Giro d’Italia 2019 stage 15: profiles, finish
Click on the images to zoom
Related articles Riders - Giro 2019 Withdrawals - Giro 2019 Favourites - Giro 2019 More articles Tour de France 2022: Yellow jersey Van Aert powers to glory
Giro Donne 2022: Balsamo wins in Reggio Emilia, Van Vleuten still leader
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 4: Dunkirk - Calais
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 5: Lille - Arenberg
Tour de France 2022 Favourites stage 5: Roubaix à La Grande Boucle
Tour de France 2022: The Route
Tour de France 2022: Riders
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 6: Binche - Longwy
Tour de France 2022 Favourites stage 6: Lumpy race for attackers
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 7: Tomblaine - Planche des Belles Filles
Tour de France 2022 Favourites stage 7: Attackers or GC clash?
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 8: Dole - Lausanne
Tour de France 2022 Favourites stage 8: Finale for puncheurs
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 9: Aigle - Châtel
Tour de France 2022 Favourites stage 9: Attackers in the Alps
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 10: Morzine - Megève
Tour de France 2022 Favourites stage 10: Breakaway day
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 11: Albertville - Col du Granon
Tour de France 2022 Favourites stage 11: GC clash at the Granon
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 12: Briançon - Alpe d'Huez
Tour de France 2022 Favourites stage 12: Attackers in Alpe d'Huez
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 13: Bourg d'Oisans - Saint-Étienne
Tour de France 2022 Favourites stage 13: Hilly specialists with fast legs
Giro Donne 2022: The Route
Cycling Calendar 2022
Vuelta 2022: The Route
Giro 2022 Route stage 18: Borgo Valsugana - Treviso