Take Tom Pidcock, winner in 2023 and runner-up behind the imperious Pogacar earlier this year. Or Wout van Aert, who took the Strade Bianche crown in 2020.
Of course, stage 9 is not a carbon copy of the Strade Bianche, but with five gravel sectors totalling almost 30 kilometres in the final 70, the gravel specialists will be licking their lips.
The first 110 kilometres are entirely asphalt. Following a gently descending and then flat opening phase, the riders reach a hilly section with two notable climbs. The first rises for 4.3 kilometres at 7.5% after about 50 kilometres, and the second kicks in roughly 50 kilometres later, climbing 3.6 kilometres at 4.7%. From the summit, it’s a rolling descent towards the sterrati.
The first three gravel sectors are the longest — measuring 8, 9.3, and another 9.3 kilometres. While the first two are largely flat to undulating, the third opens with a steep 660-metre ramp at 9.1%, and finishes with an uphill gravel kicker of 1 kilometre at 7%. At the top, 34 kilometres remain.
The final two gravel sections are much shorter — but far steeper. One is just 800 metres long but climbs at double-digit gradients. Not long after comes the Strade di Colle Pinzuto, the very stretch where Pogacar dropped Pidcock in March. It’s 2.4 kilometres long and begins with a punishing ramp of 15%.
When the riders exit Colle Pinzuto, they’ll have 14 kilometres to go. The road rolls up and down before the grande finale into Siena begins. First, the gradient is a gentle false flat, but after passing beneath the Porta di Fontebranda, just beyond the flamme rouge, it kicks up sharply. The Via Santa Caterina climbs for 500 metres at a brutal 12.4% before flattening out, with the last 300 metres dropping downhill into the heart of the old town.
It looks like a breakaway day on paper, but Q36.5 and UAE Emirates might be motivated to keep things under control for Pidcock and Ayuso respectively.
Favourites 9th stage 2025 Giro d’Italia
*** Tom Pidcock, Wout van Aert, Mathias Vacek
** Juan Ayuso, Romain Bardet, Filippo Zana, Paul Double
* Wout Poels, Egan Bernal, Primoz Roglic, Corbin Strong
Another interesting read: route 9th stage 2025 Giro.
Giro d’Italia 2025 stage 9: routes & profiles
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