Giro 2026 Route stage 9: Cervia – Corno alle Scale

Sunday, 17 May – At 184 kilometres, the 9th stage of the Giro d’Italia travels from Cervia to Corno alle Scale. The route is almost entirely flat until the final 28 kilometres rise at 4.4% to the line. The last 3 kilometres climb at almost 10%.

For: attackers, GC contenders
Key points: long summit finish, brutally steep finales

The route is extremely flat until a 3.2 kilometres bump at 5.2% appears at kilometre 107. After that, the race settles back into its familiar rhythm. Nothing suggests that we’ll be finishing on a 1st-category climb later today.

From Silla onwards, with 28 kilometres remaining, the character of the route changes with 4.4 kilometres at 5.7%. The gradient then eases slightly, but the full ascent to Querciola runs to 9.7 kilometres at an average of 4.3%.

Upon passing through Querciola, the riders still have 16.5 kilometres ahead of them. First comes a short descent, and then the irregular final haul up on the Corno alle Scale kicks in. The opening section climbs 3.4 kilometres at 6.4%, and after a flatter stretch — even a brief dip — the final 3 kilometres offer no rest for the wicked, averaging 9.9%.

Over its full length of 12.8 kilometres, the Corno alle Scale serves up an average gradient of 5.9%. Including the approach via Querciola, the final 28 kilometres serve up a 4.4% gradient, with the steepest ramps in the last 3 kilometres pitching up to 14%.

The Giro has finished on the Corno alle Scale once before. In 2004, Gilberto Simoni arrived at the line alone, followed 15 seconds later by the eventual winner of that edition, Damiano Cunego.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 9th stage 2026 Giro d'Italia.