Giro 2023 Route stage 19: Longarone

Giro 2023 Route stage 19: Longarone - Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Friday 26 May - Possibly the hardest route of the entire Giro is saved until the last three days of action. Stage 19 climb to an elevation of 2,000 metres in the first half to serve five giant peaks in the second. The race adds up to 182 kilometres, while the finish line lies on Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

Stage 19 is the last chance for climbers without time trialing skills to move up on GC, as the last two stages are an ITT and a flat race in Rome.

The start and finish share the same story. Both haven’t been included in the Giro since 2013. But that’s really the only thing they have in common. Back them, the riders rode from Longarone to a sprint finish in Treviso, where Mark Cavendish took the win ahead of Nacer Bouhanni and Luka Mezgec.

After clicking into their pedals in Longarone the riders head for the high mountains this time. They climb slowly but steadily – and at very shallow gradients – to the base of the Passo Campolongo. They crest this 4 kilometres climb at 7% at the midway point.

The second half of the race is very clear. It’s either climbing or descending. The riders tackle the Passo Valparola (13.3 kilometres at 5.9%), Passo Giau (9.8 kilometres at 9.3%) and Passo Tre Croci (8.4 kilometres at 7.1%) before a minor descent precedes the big showdown on Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

The climb opens with a steep section from Lago di Misurina to Lago d’Antorno before continuing with the actual climb. Tre Cime di Lavaredo totals 9.5 kilometres and averages 7%, while the last 4 kilometres offer solely double digit material.

Ten years ago, Vincenzo Nibali took the spoils at Tre Cime di Lavaredo. In the pink jersey he appeared out of the fog and snow to claim the win.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX stage 19 2023 Giro d’Italia.