Let’s hope the time gaps between the big guns are still small at this stage. If so, the final weekend of the Giro could turn into an epic battle for the pink jersey. First stage 20 with roughly 4,500 metres of climbing, and then the Verona ITT.
The stuff of legends, that’s stage 20 for you. After 17 kilometres on the flat a minor climb precedes a false flat that goes on for miles. It’s the run-up to the real work. With 100 kilometres to go the riders tackle the Passo San Pellegrino – 18.5 kilometres at 6.2% – and after the Passo Pordoi – 11.8 kilometres at 6.8% – the Grande Finale is played out on the Passo Fedaia.
The Fedaia is a 14 kilometres toil at 7.6%. Obviously, the preceding climbs have added to the fatigue before the last 5 kilometres are sheer agony with the gradients never dropping below 10%.
Favourites 20-th stage 2022 Giro d’Italia
*** Richard Carapaz, Jai Hindley, Mikel Landa
** Wilco Kelderman, Thymen Arensman, Hugh Carthy, Jan Hirt
* Wout Poels, Pello Bilbao, Santiago Buitrago, Gijs Leemreize
Another interesting read: route 20th stage 2022 Giro.