Giro 2023 Route stage 18: Oderzo

Giro 2023 Route stage 18: Oderzo - Val di Zoldo

Thursday 25 May - The 18th stage 18 of the Giro opens a trilogy of decisive high mountain races with a lot of vertical metres. The 161 kilometres long route takes in a series of intermediate climbs before a promising finale in Val di Zoldo.

The race sets off from Oderzo to enter a flat phase of 30 kilometres. Then La Crosetta kicks in with its 11.6 kilometres at 7.1%. Following an undulating phase shortly after the summit the route descends towards the foot of the hill on which Pieve d’Alpago is perched. This is a 3.4 kilometres climb at 5.4%.

Back in the valley, in Ponte nelle Alpi, the race enters a more quiet phase. For tens of kilometres the route climbs false flat to the ascent to Pieve di Cadore, which is – at 7.3 kilometres and averaging 4.8% – a gentle reminder that the finale is about to begin.

First up, the Forcella Cibiana. The 9.6 kilometres climb at 7.8% is crested with 25.8 kilometres remaining. The first half of it goes downhill, the second half is the finish climb. Which is an interesting one.

The first 5 kilometres climb at 9.8% to Coi before a sharp descent makes way for a more moderate climb to Refugio Palafavera in Zoldo Alto. It’s 2.7 kilometres long and goes up at 6.4%.

The Zoldo Alto climb hasn’t been used as a Giro finish since 2005. Back then, Paolo Savoldelli bested Ivan Basso in a two-up sprint at the top.

The second intermediate sprint comes with time bonuses of 3, 2 and 1 seconds, while 10, 6 and 4 seconds are awarded to the first three riders on the line.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 18 2023 Giro d’Italia.

Another interesting read: results 18th stage 2023 Giro.