16/04/2023

PREVIEW | Giro d'Italia 2024 stage 16

The 2024 Giro d'Italia will take place from the 4th to the 26th of May. The first Grand Tour of the season, the main goal of the season for many and one of the most spectacular and history-rich cycling races in the world. We preview the stage ahead.

The 16th stage kickstarts the third week and in what way. The start in Livigno is very explosive with two small ascents right from the starting line. The grupetto will start to form itself right away, and riders not only have 202 kilometers on the menu, but they will also need to be on the rollers before the start as the climbers will try to break away right away.

PREVIEW | Giro d'Italia 2024

This is the stage that was in the mouth of many upon the route reveal. Because the Passo dello Stelvio is featured, but in a location of the stage where it is unlikely to make any meaningful impact. However it will nevertheless be an interesting sight to behold. The beautiful Alpine ascent is always a highlight wherever it's featured... 20 kilometers at over 7%, the summit at 2758 meters of altitude... A brute. But it's summit comes with a whole 149 kilometers to the finish.

The riders then go down a very cold, very long and very technical descent. Flying down the Stelvio is not a common sight, but it will be the case here. After the descent the riders keep going down actually. The riders will lose a whole unbelievable 2500 meters in altitude, before tackling another set of climbs where the day should be decided.

Incredibly, the Stelvio is not the longest climb of the day. This will instead be the Passo Pinei. This ascent is 23.3 kilometers at 4.7%. The first 7.2 kilometers average 7.2%, they are hard but it's still rather far from the finish to make differences. A long false-flat section will follow. The final section of the climb is 5.5 kilometers also at 7.2%, it has a 15% ramp. On this section yes, attacks can absolutely happen, at this point in the day few riders will have the legs to push a higher gear. The climb ends with 12 kilometers to go.

But as the previous day of racing, the final ascent is yet to come and will be smaller, and steeper. The climb to Monte Pana is 6.5 kilometers long at 6.2%. The final 2 kilometers average 12%, an incredibly steep finale to a brutal day on the bike; many riders may in fact just wait for this location. It can, despite being short, make serious differences.