Col du Grand Saint Bernard - Giro d'Italia longest and highest climb cut due to risk of avalanches

The Col du Grand Saint Bernard was one of the surprises of the 2023 Giro d'Italia route and was the Cima Coppi - the highest point in terms of altitude of the whole route. It has now been cut due to the high risk of avalanches towards it's summit.

The news come as somewhat of a heartbreak for fans, who hoped to see the exceptional 34-kilometer climb in all it's glory in the upcoming stage 13. Into Crans-Montana, the pass sees the peloton cross the border into Switzerland, and would be the first of three brutal ascents in a day that featured over 5000 meters of climbing and is to be the first big mountain clash. The climb has not been removed from the soute, but it's final kilometers have due to the snow that remains built up at higher altitude.

The summit was placed at 2469 meters of altitude, with that being another factor to add towards the day's toughness. Now it is at 1878, as the riders will cross the border in a tunnel lower in the mountain. The day has lost 8 kilometers in distance because of this, and is now 199 kilometers in length.

The stage will see the riders still climb the Croix de Couer which is also at over 2000 meters of altitude, and the summit finish at Crans-Montana. Currently as it stands, the GC riders are likely to save as much energy as possible for that key day in the race.