The stage kicks into gear in Castel di Sangro before the first 13.1 kilometres run false flat uphill on the unclassified Colle della Croce. The first classified climb begins after 22 kilometres. The Passo Godi – also known as the Valico di Monte Godi – is 15.5 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 3.8%.
A long descent leads onto an unclassified climb of 12 kilometres at 4% before the route plunges down to Castel di Ieri to enter the Forca Caruso. This ascent comes with virtually the same statistics – 12.7 kilometres at 4.3% -, but KOM pretenders will be able to gain points at the summit.
Another downhill leads onto the penultimate ascent of the day. The climb to Ovindoli is 12.4 kilometres long and averages 5.31%. After moving through the mountain village the riders continue on an exposed plateau towards Rocca di Cambio, a village on a hill.
A short drop ushers in the finish climb to ski station Campo Felice. The ascent is 6.6 kilometres long and slopes at 5.8%, but that’s just part of the story. The riders disappear into the Galleria Serralunga, which is a tunnel, in the last 3 kilometres. Shortly after coming out of it the tarmac turns to gravel and the final 1.6 kilometres go up 8.6.
The second intermediate sprint – in Rocca di Combia – 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 2021 Giro.
Giro d’Italia 2021 stage 9: routes, profiles, more
Click on the images to zoom
