Since the climb to the line is not very long it remains to be seen if GC riders see it fit to go for the win. Especially, since the next stage is much more suited for a GC battle with consequences. So GC contenders are expected to keep their powder dry for the big final mountain stage to the Passo Fedaia. On the other hand, Landa promised to go all out for two days in a row…
Stage 19 opens with 70 kilometres on the flat. The route then includes two ascents within 20 kilometres – the first of 3.7 kilometres at 8%, the second of 12.1 kilometres at 4.6%. The riders then enter Slovenia to continue to the hardest climb of the day.
The Kolovrat is 10.3 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 9.2%. Which is impressive in itself, but it’s the gradients that go all over the place that will do the damage. Kilometres at 4.3% play leapfrog with kilometres at 12.5%.
The Kolovrat is not ging to be decisive, but the breakaway is sure to be decimated on the climb. From the summit the riders descend to a flat run-up of 10 kilometres to the finish climb.
The Santuario di Castelmonte climb is 7.1 kilometres long and averages 7.8%. Mostly the slope is steeper though, as a short descent biases the average gradient. A perfect spot for attackers to distance their last companions – if any – appears inside the last 1.5 kilometres with 500 metres at 11%.
Favourites 19th stage 2022 Giro d’Italia
*** Bauke Mollema, Lennard Kämna, Giulio Ciccone, Mauri Vansevenant
** Thomas De Gendt, Alejandro Valverde, Gijs Leemreize, Mathieu van der Poel
* Mikel Landa, Jay Hindley, Richard Carapaz, Joe Dombrowski, Santiago Buitrago
Another interesting read: route 19th stage 2022 Giro.