Giro d'Italia 2024: Without Stelvio, but with Cima Coppi - this is the 16th stage
Sebastian Lindner
· 21.05.2024
Stage 16 | Tuesday, 21 May | Livigno - Santa Cristina Valgardena (Monte Pana) | 206 kilometres
After the rest day, which the peloton spends at an altitude of over 1900 metres in Livigno, it's straight back to business. And immediately uphill, because the first two climbs are the Passo di Eira and the Passo di Foscagna, which were ridden in the opposite direction before the break on stage 15. They are significantly shorter and do not have a mountain classification, but still whet the appetite for what follows. Because after the descent to Bormio, one of the longest climbs of the tour awaits.
We head up towards the Passo dello Stelvio. However, the peloton does not ride the entire 20 kilometres, but takes - different than originally planned - Three kilometres less ascent, but a small diversions because there is a risk of avalanches at the top of the Stelvio Pass. The average gradient is therefore "only" seven per cent up to the Umbrail Pass, which connects Italy with Switzerland. Turning left instead of straight over, the pass summit is at 2500 metres instead of 2758, which is still enough for the Cima Coppi - the highest point of the tour, which is rewarded with a particularly well-paid mountain classification. The Umbrail receives this honour for the first time in history.
First on long and well-paved straights, then through a few chicanes, the route descends into Switzerland, where 18 kilometres are completed on Swiss territory before reaching Italian soil again in the Adige Valley. This is travelled through from west to east. Bolzano is then reached after a good 160 kilometres, the last 110 of which are almost completely downhill.
But that's over now, because this stage also comes with 4000 metres of climbing and has to deliver accordingly. No less than 1100 of them in one go await on the Passo Pinei (1st category) over more than 23 kilometres. The mountain starts at seven per cent, then flattens out in the middle section before rising again to seven per cent for the last five kilometres. However, the finish is not yet reached.
After a short descent, the final climb to Monte Pana awaits, another 6.5 kilometres long. This is the first time the Giro has reached the top. The first part up to Santa Christina is still relatively flat, but the last 2000 metres have an average gradient of 11.8 per cent.
Sporting assessment of the 16th stage
A profile for breakaway riders with good climbing ability. And the Italians in particular will endeavour to get into the group early on. Because the Cima Coppi is already up for grabs after 50 kilometres. And after last year's title on the Three Peaks went to Santiago Buitrago in Colombia, it is high time to bring the trophy back home.
If the group that forms on the Umbrail works well together, it has a good chance of building up enough of a cushion for the finale thanks to the long, downhill middle section. Although the climbs there are long, they are only really steep in the absolute finale. The time loss should therefore be limited.
But of course only if Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) doesn't decide to win the stage at all costs. If that is the case, the Slovenian is unlikely to be able to hold on, even on slightly uphill terrain.
Giro d'Italia 2024 - Stage 16: The most important information at a glance
- Mountain stage with mountain finish over 206 kilometres
- Mountain classifications: 3, sprint classifications: 3
- Start time: 11:20 am
- Estimated arrival time: between 16:53 and 17:38
- TV: from 11:15 a.m. Eurosport 1
- Live stream: from 11:15 a.m. Discovery Plus
- More info on TV broadcast & live stream
