PREVIEW | Giro d'Italia 2024 stage 19

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.

Stage 19 is a mixed day. Most likely to the breakaway opportunists, it lacks serious climbing to make difference among the big GC riders. However, the combination of three climbs before the finish in Sappada will ensure that this remains a day for the climbers.

However, many will be thankful that the first half of the stage is flat. The pace isn't expected to be crazy over the first hours of the race, allowing the riders to recover a bit from a very hard race. However in the second half of the day things get serious when it comes to deciding the outcome of the day.

The Passo Duron is the toughest climb of the day; 4.4Km at 9.6%... But it ends with 52 kilometers to go. Perhaps too early to go all-in for the stage contenders, both in the head of the race and peloton. It will split the race with no doubt. A quick descent then leads the riders into the Sella Valcalda which is 8.9Km at 3.7%, summitting with 35Km to go. A fast descent and then a gradual rise into the final climb follow.

This will all lead to the Cima Sappada, which is 8.5Km long at 4.7%, a climb of two halves but the final 2.8Km average 8.5%. This can create differences, meaningful ones, and the stage should be decided here. If not, there are still 6 kilometers to the finish - mostly flat - where riders can unite or be caught before what could be a flat sprint.

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Prediction Giro d'italia 2024 stage 19:

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