Stage 20 | Saturday, 25 May | Alpago - Bassano del Grappa | 184 kilometres
On the southernmost edge of the Dolomites, the penultimate stage of the Giro d'Italia 2024 gets really serious again. There is actually only one mountain worth mentioning. However, this is Monte Grappa (1st category). And it will be climbed twice. Unlike the Passo Brocon a few days ago, which was also crossed twice but from different directions, the same route will be taken twice for the Grappa.
Race organiser RCS is playing a bit of poker here. In theory, it could become extremely confusing if lapping is on the cards. However, the first 90 kilometres from Alpago towards the south-west do not present any major difficulties. A gruppetto before the first climb is unlikely, as is a breakaway group with an extreme lead.
And yet Monte Grappa itself offers enough potential to create really big gaps. 18 kilometres long and an average gradient of eight per cent, significantly more on the last 2000 metres. It is the southern side that the peloton takes uphill. It then descends via the north, with a small counter-climb, Il Pianaro - 1500 metres at nine per cent - to master. There are almost 30 kilometres of descent before the race starts all over again.
To avoid riding the mountain a third time, the peloton then turns right in Romano d'Ezzileno instead of left again and tackles the last four kilometres to Bassano del Grappa. They are fairly flat and not too twisty. After more than 20 years, the Giro once again ends in the town of 40,000 inhabitants, which is only 130 metres above sea level. Monte Grappa peaks at 1675 metres - which explains another 4200 metres in altitude over the course of the day.
Monte Grappa was last on the Giro programme in 2017, when Thibaut Pinot won the 20th stage. Four other times, including a time trial in 2014, the route led over this mountain, first in 1968.
Sporting assessment of the 20th stage
The last mountain stage of the tour is unlikely to be one for the breakaways. The climb is simply too steep for that. What's more, all those who are not aiming for the overall classification will probably be at the end of their tether. So if the classification riders don't take it too easy, they will probably decide the victory among themselves. And that will quickly bring up the name Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) again - even if there is still a long descent on the programme after the summit.
Giro d'Italia 2024 - Stage 20: The most important information at a glance
- Mountain stage over 184 kilometres
- Mountain classifications: 3, sprint classifications: 3
- Start time: 11:40 am
- Estimated arrival time: between 16:54 and 17:39
- TV: from 11:30 a.m. Eurosport 1
- Live stream: from 11:30 a.m. Discovery Plus
- More info on TV broadcast & live stream
