Giro 2021 Favourites stage 19: Double digit denouement

image: Cor VosThe Giro is approaching its conclusion. Climbers with the ambition to move up in the GC should grab every opportunity to do so. The last 6.8 kilometers of stage 19 are particularly brutal. (Slideshow route/profile)

The 19th stage does not serve the hardest route of the Giro. But just ask Wilco Kelderman about the damage that can be done in stages like this. Last year, the original route of the 20th stage ended up much easier than intended when the Colle del’Agnello and Col d’Izoard were cut. Still, the Dutchman was dropped when Rohan Dennis blew the GC field apart on the second of three ascents to Sestriere. Only Dennis’s team mate Tao Geoghegan Hart and Jai Hindley could follow, and Kelderman lost the pink jersey.

The penultimate mountain stage of this year’s Giro takes in a moderate climb to Gignese before the riders crest the Passo della Colma (7.5 kilometres at 6.4%) with almost 40 kilometres remaining.

After the descent the route continues on a false flat to the foot of the 9.7 kilometres long finish climb. The Alpe di Mera opens at shallow gradients, but the ascent becomes more demanding along the way. The second half slopes at 10.4%, which is perfect for mountain goats to put pressure on their rivals.