Giro 2025 Favourites stage 20: GC Battle on the Finestre

At 205 kilometres, it’s a long stage, but the first half is largely uneventful. The route is flat during this section, increasing the likelihood that the breakaway will consist of riders suited to that kind of terrain. But once the road begins to rise, they’re likely to struggle — especially on the Colle del Lys, a climb that starts with 5.4 kilometres at 7.1% and then continues to drag uphill for another 8 kilometres.

After the descent and more than 30 kilometres through the valley, the hardest climb of the Giro looms: the Colle delle Finestre. This beast serves up 18.5 kilometres at an average gradient of 9.2%, and the final 7.9 kilometres are on gravel. A perfect launchpad to put rivals under serious pressure.

The descent is narrow and technical, so even there things can still happen. Once at the bottom, it’s another 16.3 kilometres to the finish in Sestrière — a long stretch of false flat followed by 5.7 kilometres of climbing at nearly 6%.

Favourites 20th stage 2025 Giro d’Italia

*** Richard Carapaz, Simon Yates, Isaac del Toro
** Damiano Caruso, Derek Gee, Giulio Pellizzari
* Tom Pidcock, Max Poole, Romain Bardet, Wout Poels

Another interesting read: route 20th stage 2025 Giro.