After spending the first two days after the rest day with flat stages for the sprinters, the 2019 Giro d’Italia moves back into the mountains with a 158km stage from Cuneo to Pinerolo.
The stage serves up the first Category 1 climb of the 2019 race as the the route enters the city of San Maurizio after 90km to take a first pass of the “muro” (or wall) of via Principi di Acaja. This climb is new to the race, with slopes at 9.4% for 8.9km (with gradients exceeding 10% for over 6km, and topping out at 14%). After a fast running descent, Pinerolo is 16km away.
Just 2.5km before the finish, the route takes a sharp left-hand turn and climbs up the narrow Via Principi d’Acaja (450m with an average 14% gradient and peaks of 20%, on road pavers). Next is a steep and harsh descent leading into Pinerolo. The last 1,500m are on level roads, with just a few bends and a short stretch on stone-slab paving. The finish line sits at the end of a 350m long home stretch, on 8m wide tarmac.
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