Giro d’Italia management has made the choice to reroute Stage 16 of the race. Recent snowfalls on the Stelvio, followed by rising temperatures, increased the risk of avalanches.
In order to ensure the safety of the caravan, the organization has replaced the Stelvio with the Giogo di Santa Maria/Umbrailpass at 2489 m. The length of the stage will be 206 km.
This is a high mountain stage passing through the Adige and Eisack Valley; the route puts together a mountain section featuring Foscagno and Giogo di Santa Maria (Cima Coppi), a flat drag from Giorenza to just past Bolzano, and another mountain section featuring Passo Pinei and the finish in the Val Gardena, past Santa Cristina.
Final kilometres
Barring a short descent that leads from Santa Cristina to the bridge (2 km, the foot of the closing climb), the last 3 km point uphill. The average gradient is around 12%, with peaks reaching 16% in the first part with tight hairpins.
The home straight (100 m) is on 6 m wide tarmac.
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