Giro 2023 Favourites stage 20: Thomas vs Roglic vs Almeida

foto: Cor VosGiro director Mauro Vegni had a dream. A furious battle for the pink jersey on Monte Lussari. And that dream came true. The last of three ITTs pits man versus mountain on a route that includes 1,050 metres of climbing in the last 9.8 kilometres. (Slideshow route/profile)

And every cycling fan dreams along with Vegni. Roglic and Thomas and possibly a third to go head to head in the 7.3 kilometres finish climb at 12%.

The route of the last ITT is very clear. The riders race on the slightly rolling Via Alpi Giulie to turn left after 11 kilometres and tackle the Monte Lussari. Which is a monster. The climb snakes through the woods on narrow concrete-surfaced roads with many switchbacks. The first 5 kilometres go up at 15% on average. Once out of the forest, the gradient falls to 3.9%, only to ramp back up again after crossing a bridge.

In the last 1.5 kilometres the gradient jumps to 22%, then back to 8%, while the gradient reaches 16% in the final 150 metres.

In short, Monte Lussari demands wonder legs. The rider with such a pair on Saturday 27 May wins the stage and probably the maglia rosa.

Favourites 20th stage 2023 Giro d’Italia

*** Primoz Roglic, Geraint Thomas, João Almeida
** Jay Vine, Thymen Arensman, Ben Healy
* Damiano Caruso, Ilan Van Wilder, Lennard Kämna

Another interesting read: route 20th stage 2023 Giro.

Giro d’Italia 2023 stage 20: profiles, route finale

Click on the images to zoom

profile

Monte Lussari

route finish

profile finish

Giro Stage 19

Giro Stage 21

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1 comment(s)

Elisabeth says:

26 May, 2023 at 21:37

I live just across the border in Austria and visit Tarvisio regularly (great food) and walked to Monte Lussari from where the riders will turn left and can confirm it’s a monster indeed . I really hope Geraint will win .

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