Mortirolo on stage 15 in the programme: Giro d'Italia announces route change

Originally, the Giro d'Italia 2024 was to run over 220 kilometres from Manebra del Garda to Livigno (Mottolino) on the 15th stage on 19 May. A short detour to Switzerland was planned on this day. However, the authority for infrastructure, energy and mobility of the Swiss canton of Graubünden did not approve the passage over the Forcola di Livigno, which means that the 1st category mountain classification is no longer on the programme.

Giro d'Italia 2024: Mortirolo on 15th stage via "moderate" southern ramp

Instead, the route of the 15th stage will not turn west towards Aprica from kilometre 136 onwards, but continue directly north - and this route change is quite something. Instead of the gentle 3rd category climb up to Aprica, the legendary Mortirolo now awaits the peloton - but with one small caveat: this is the "moderate" southern ramp. The climb is 12.6 kilometres at 7.6 percent, with a maximum of 16. The legendary climbs via Mazzo di Valtellina, Grosio or Tovo di Sant'Agata are significantly more difficult.

>> All stages of the Giro d'Italia 2024 at a glance

After a rapid descent, you reach Grosio. From there, the route leads slowly but steadily up the Valltellina for almost 30 kilometres to Isolaccia-Valdidentro, where the ascent to the Passo di Foscagno (1st category) begins. It replaces the Passo Forcola di Livigno, which would have been 18 kilometres long with an average gradient of 7.1 per cent. The Passo di Foscagno has an average gradient of 6.4 per cent over 15 kilometres.

15th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2024 with more than 5000 metres of elevation gain

After another descent, the original final would have been 8.1 kilometres with an average of 6.6 per cent to the finish. The new final climb measures 4.7 kilometres with an average gradient of 7.7 per cent. The finish is at an altitude of 2385 metres. This means a total of 5300 metres of altitude difference over 230 kilometres.