The stage doesn’t include anywhere near the number of gravel sectors featured in the actual Strade Bianche, where riders face usually fifteen gravel sectors. The Giro pares it back to just five. Still, the finale is an exact replica of the illustrious spring classic.
From 4 kilometres to go, the road descends before rising again in the last 1.7 kilometres. It starts gently, but as the riders enter Siena’s old town, the gradients ramp up sharply. On the rough paving stones of the Via Santa Caterina, the road climbs 500 metres at 12.4%, with a brutal stretch hitting 16%. Then it’s a sharp right-hand turn, a left, and another right before crossing the line at the Piazza del Campo.
But it all begins in Gubbio, a medieval town in Umbria. The first 50 kilometres are fairly straightforward, giving the legs a chance to wake up. Then comes La Cima, a 4.3- kilometre test at 7.5% to warm up the climbing muscles. The terrain becomes more rolling after that, with the Poggio del Castagnolo standing out – a 3.6-kilometre hill with an averag gradient of 4.7%.
The first gravel sector, Pieve a Salti, comes 70 kilometres from the finish. This 8-kilometre stretch combines both climbs and descents, including an 1.8 kilometres at 5.3% stretch halfway. Following a few kilometres of tarmac, the 9.3-kilometre long Serravalle sector opens with a short descent and steep downhill, before continuing on the flat. Almost seamlessly, the riders hit San Martino in Grania, another 9.3-kilometre stretch, but this time predominantly uphill. The sterrato features a 660-metre ramp at 9.1% early on and concludes with an 1 kilometre slog at 7%. At the top, there’s still 34 kilometres to race.
The fourth gravel sector is short but fierce – 800 metres and packed with double-digit gradients. Soon after, the riders face the Strade di Colle Pinzuto, a dusty 2.4-kilometre stretch with several punishing ramps.
When the riders leave the last gravel sector, there are 14 kilometres left. The rolling terrain leads them to the dramatic finale described earlier.
Last year, the Giro also featured a stage with some gravel sectors. Though it wasn’t as demanding as this one, it still delivered plenty of excitement. Pelayo Sánchez triumphed in a gripping battle, beating Julian Alaphilippe and Luke Plapp to the line.
Giro d’Italia 2025 stage 9: routes, profiles, videos
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