The biggest climb is tackled early in the race. It’s the Valico di Valcava, which is an ascent of 11.6 kilometres with an average gradient of 8%. The battle for the breakaway is likely to rage big time in the Valcava climb. The summit is situated at kilometre 46.4 before three lesser tests – Selvino (11.1 kilometres at 5,6%), Miragolo San Salvatore (5.2 kilometres at 7%), Roncola Alta (10 kilometres at 6.7%) will add to the fatigue in the next 120 kilometres.
The riders move through Roncola Alta with more than 30 kilometres remaining. The route then descends to the Po Valley around Bergamo before the finale of Il Lombardia – when finishing in Bergamo – appears out of thin air.
Bergamo’s historic Città Alta (Upper Town) is perched on a bluff overlooking the Po Valley and that’s exactly where the riders are heading in the finale. The Colle Aperto is a 1.6 kilometres climb at 7.9%, partly cobbled, with the summit 3 kilometres before the finish on the Viale Roma in the Città Bassa (Lower Town).
Favourites 15th stage 2023 Giro d’Italia
*** Ben Healy, Jay Vine, Davide Formolo, Filippo Zana
** Thibaut Pinot, Koen Bouwman, Bauke Mollema, Toms Skujins, Lorenzo Fortunato
* Alessandro De Marchi, Michael Matthews, Brandon McNulty, Joe Dombrowski
Another interesting read: route 15th stage 2023 Giro.
Giro d’Italia 2023 stage 15: profiles, route finale
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