From the start, the road climbs gently. Not steep, more of a persistent drag. After about 10 kilometres, the road rises at a steady 5% for a while, but most of the time it’s a false flat drag that goes on for dozens of kilometres. All in all, it’s a perfect setting for a fiery battle for a spot in the breakaway.
Then again, given the current state of affairs, the attackers might not be given much leeway…
After 55 kilometres, the false flat gives way to serious climbing. The Passo Tonale rises for 15.2 kilometres at an average of 6%. In a descent of over 20 kilometres, the riders then reach the foot of the Passo del Mortirolo, a brutal 12.6-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 7.6%. The last 2.6 kilometres kick up to 9.6% — on average!
Obviously, that’s a great spot to gauge your rivals’ condition… The descent is even steeper than the climb, and it’s technical too – another perfect opportunity to intensify the pressure…
Once in the Adda Valley, the route continues upstream towards Bormio. But just before entering the finishing venue, the riders take a detour. A short climb to Le Motte spices up the finale, with 3.1 kilometres at 8.2%. As the riders pass through the village, only 8.9 kilometres remain, mostly downhill.
The Giro last finished in Bormio in 2017. That stage became memorable when pink jersey Tom Dumoulin was forced to make an emergency roadside stop just before the final climb, the Umbrail Pass. Will we see a similarly dramatic finale this time? After the carnage of stage 16, expect the likes of Richard Carapaz and Giulio Pellizzari to unleash chaos on the Mortirolo — maybe even earlier..
Favourites 17th stage 2025 Giro d’Italia
*** Richard Carapaz, Derek Gee, Giulio Pellizzari
** Simon Yates, Isaac del Toro, Michael Storer, Damiano Caruso
* Tom Pidcock, Romain Bardet, Wout Poels, Max Poole, Carlos Verona
Another interesting read: route 17th stage 2025 Giro.
Giro d’Italia 2025 stage 17: profiles & finale route
Click on the images to zoom
