Giro 2025 Route stage 20: Verrès

Giro 2025 Route stage 20: Verrès – Sestrière

Saturday, 31 May – The final mountain stage of this year’s Giro spans 205 kilometres. Featuring climbs up the Colle del Lys and the partly unpaved Colle delle Finestre, the races reaches its climax on the 8-kilometre ascent at 5.9% to Sestrière.

The first 100 kilometres are hardly worth mentioning. The riders travel on predominantly flat roads towards the Colle del Lys, a 13.7-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 4.7%.

After the descent, the riders navigate the valley floor for around 35 kilometres before tackling the undisputed giant of this Giro, the Colle delle Finestre. It’s an 18.5- kilometre beast, with gradients consistently hovering between 9 and 10%. To pep things further up, the second half is on gravel. The first rider to crest the summit takes the Cima Coppi, as it’s the highest point of this year’s Giro at 2,178 metres above sea level.

The descent off the Finestre is narrow and technical, and at Pragelato, the final climb to the ski village of Sestrière begins. It’s another long slog, but not as intimidating as the Finestre. The first part is a false flat, before the final 9.2 kilometres deliver a 5.4% gradient.

Back in 2018, the Colle del Lys, Colle delle Finestre, and the climb to Sestrière set the stage for one of the most spectacular finishes in Giro history. On 25 May 2018, pink jersey Simon Yates cracked on the Finestre, and Chris Froome launched an audacious attack moments later. It was a risky manoeuvre, as there were still 80 kilometres to go (the Jafferau was also included). The Brit soloed to victory and into the pink jersey, which he carried home two days later. In hindsight, it turned out to be the final victory of his career.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX 20th stage 2025 Giro d’Italia.

Another interesting read: results 20th stage 2025 Giro d’Italia.