Giau, Tre Croci, Tre Cime, Lussari. The decisive climbs – Corriere.it

From Thursday 25 May to Saturday 27, the 128 survivors of the 106th Giro d’Italia will face 10,020 meters of vertical difference in altitude (a thousand more than Everest) divided into three stages and eleven mountain Grands Prix, not to mention the unclassified climbs, hills and flyovers, because even flyovers hurt after 17 days of racing. A vertical hangover with few precedents that will wipe out any form of tactics.

When the slope exceeds 15% talking about sprints and attacks no longer makes sense, the only one who doesn’t break away wins. Terrible effort for everyone, especially for the sprinters who climbed to heaven in the 17th stage (Alberto Dainese burned Jonathan Milan by millimeters, third blue success in the 2023 Giro) and today will give up a few kilometers after the start by invoking the clemency of the maximum time. the day of the mysterious climbs. Of the difficulties of Forcella Cibiana and Coi only the toughest cyclists from Belluno know. They are both low mountains (we are around 1,500 metres) with the Cibiana reaching 15% several times and the Coi from the Rutorbol slope (starter of the arrival in Val di Zoldo) which has 10% in the last 5 kilometers with peaks of 20% : between the two climbs there is zero space to recover breath and lucidity.

On Friday the Dolomites will present themselves in their most classic and epic form, with passes revered by cyclists from all over the world. After the start from the Longarone, here is the Campolongo da Caprile (false friend), the Valparola from Val Badia (eternal) and the Giau da Selva di Cadore, very tough with its 10 kilometers reaching almost 10% and a brow at an altitude of 2,200. finished? Macch: you hit Cortina, then the Tre Croci pass and immediately the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, a paradise that can be conquered with terrible efforts because at an altitude of 2,300 m oxygen is rare and precious: the last three kilometers at 13% with peaks of 18% they never end.

After a few hours of rest, the epilogue before the Roman catwalk: the Monte Lussari time trial, eleven kilometers of very light uphill then seven and a half along a narrow strip of road torn from the mountain. The average gradient (hear, hear) of 12% including the short flat stretch at the end but in the first part reaches 22%: if you stop (and some sprinters risk doing so, the public, usually generous with pushes with the last ones), you risk rolling downhill. Whatever sin the riders may have committed in the first two weeks (towing, pushing, the wait-and-see attitude we have often accused the big names of), acquittal will come for everyone on the top of Lussari.