Giro 2025 Favourites stage 16: GC showdown at high altitudes

Whether they’ll accept that invitation remains to be seen. There’s no doubt they’ll attack each other on the final climb(s), but it’s also possible that a strong breakaway group forms early and fights for the stage win.

Predicting how a race unfolds so far in advance is difficult, but for the sake of simplicity, let’s assume the riders with pink ambitions go all-in for the stage win. In the final 140 kilometres, they’ll have to conquer four giants and a smaller climb. These are the Carbonare (12.9 kilometres at 4.6%), Candriai (10.1 kilometres at 7.6%), Vigo Cavedine (9.1 kilometres at 2.9%), Passo di Santa Barbara (12.7 kilometres at 8.3%), and the climb to San Valentino (17.4 kilometres at 6.4%).

The approach isn’t much to speak of, which might tempt lesser climbers to give it a go. In that case, it’s possible a breakaway group with limited climbing ability forms, leading to a scenario where a GC showdown at high altitudes comes into play. Jumping on the flat to join the break is one thing, but actually finishing it off in the high mountains is a whole different ball game. Enter our favourite scenario: a battle between GC riders.

Wishful thinking? Definitely! Let’s see what happens…

How the race unfolds depends on the standings, so we’ll update this article during the Giro.

Favourites 16th stage 2025 Giro d’Italia

*** Primoz Roglic, Juan Ayuso, Adam Yates
** Thymen Arensman, Richard Carapaz, Michael Storer
* Egan Bernal, Derek Gee, Giulio Ciccone, Simon Yates

Another interesting read: route 16th stage 2025 Giro.

Giro d’Italia 2025 stage 16: profiles & finale route

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profile

Passo di Santa Barbara

San Valentino climb

route, finale