The tough test in the Apennines opens rather gentle with a flat section on the Adriatic coast, but after about 40 kilometres the pink caravan heads inland. Following a warm-up climb to Guardiagrele the riders face a string of huge mountains: Passo Lanciano, Passo San Leonardo and Bosco di Sant’Antonio.
After this brutal trio there are 27 kilometres left to race. The first part travels on an undulating plateau before that road starts to go up again. The finish climb is almost 10 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 5.7%. That statistic is biased though, as the ascent evens out a couple of times. The last 2 kilometres to the line slope at 7%, while the last kilometre serves a number of double digit ramps.
The finish lies at an elevation of 1,658 metres, which is almost 100 metres higher than the 2016 finish. Back then, Tim Wellens soloed to victory near the Roccaraso refugio.
The intermediate sprint at kilometre 194.0 comes with 3, 2 and 1 seconds, while time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds are awarded to the first three riders on the line.
Another interesting read: results 9th stage 2020 Giro d’Italia.
Giro d’Italia 2020 stage 9: routes, profiles, more
Click on the images to zoom
