Heartbreak incoming? Giro d'Italia may not be able to race through snow-filled Colle delle Finèstre

Every single year there are causes for concern regarding the weather in the Alps and how it affects the Giro d'Italia. Snow is often an issue, which has led the organizers to choose less high-altitude mountains for this year's edition. However, that may still not be enough, and the year's most famous climb may be removed from the route.

The Corsa Rosa starts in just over a week in Albania but reports coming from the western Alps point towards a looming danger of the cancellation of the Colle delle Finèstre. The mountain is situated at 2178 meters of altitude and is the Cima Coppi - the highest point - of this year's race, and is the decisive climb of the 20th stage of the race, the final 'competitive' day of racing.

Removing the climb would be a catastrophic situation for race organizers, who have here not only one of the queen stages, but also the final challenge for the overall classification contenders, in a brutal mountain that holds a lot of history.

Over the last few days there has been quite a lot of snowfall in the region and in the area of the Colle delle Finèstre, as much as 40cm of snow have fallen in a matter of days. Being a gravel road for it's final and decisive kilometers, the presence of snow, or perhaps more importantly a lot of snowmelt, can turn the road into a mud track which would make it very hard for logistically and safely move the race and it's caravan through the mountain. IlMeteo reports that the decision on whether to keep the climb in the race or not should be made in the coming days. The Giro will be hosting climbers such as Primoz Roglic, Juan Ayuso and Adam Yates who are expected to be amongst the strongest in the climbs.