From @Eshnar's excellent 2022 Giro d'Italia: Stage-by-stage Analysis thread: https://forum.cyclingnews.com/threads/2022-giro-ditalia-stage-by-stage-analysis.37819/#post-2691578
Stage 19: Marano Lagunare – Santuario di Castelmonte 178 km
Friday, May 27th, 12:10 CET
Technical Overview:
The best stage of the whole race for long range attacks comes on the last Friday, with one big MTF still looming on the horizon, which is not ideal. Starting from Marano Lagunare, on the Adriatic coast, the peloton will make a detour in Slovenia, just like they did last year, but this time on a much tougher course. The first 67 km of this stage are mostly flat, with only the intermediate sprint in Buja spicing things up. Upon entering the mountains, the riders will hit the first climb of the day, Villanova Grotte (GPM3, 3.7 km at 8%) a short and quite steep climb that brings to the famous caves of the same name. The descent is also short, but it is very narrow and quite tricky, as it is often the case in this part of Italy. There will be no respite at the bottom, as the second climb of the day begins immediately. Passo di Tanamea (GPM3, 9.7 km at 5.3%) is a much gentler climb, with wide roads and a simple descent. The descent brings to the Slovenian border, and after another small climb and a longer descent the peloton will finally enter a flattish valley, around 15 km long. The riders will then reach the town of Kobarid, known in Italian as Caporetto, and very famous as our most ruinous defeat in WW1. Here they will start the biggest climb of the day, perhaps the hardest of the whole race: Kolovrat (GPM1, 10.3 km at 9.2%) a very steep climb that will cause havoc in the peloton and would be the perfect spot for an all-or-nothing attack. The descent is tricky as well, although it is not particularly steep, and in some section is little more than a false flat, but the road is always twisty and it will be hard to chase there. The only problem of this stage is the 15 km long valley at the bottom to reach the intermediate sprint of Cividale del Friuli, where the final climb will begin. Santuario di Castelmonte (GPM2, 7.1 km at 7.8%) is definitely easier than the previous climb but it is still a good climb to decide the stage winner.
Final km:
The Climbs:
Villanova Grotte: GPM3, 3.7 km at 8%
A short but tough climb, with some scenic caves at the top.
Passo di Tanamea: GPM3, 9.7 km at 5.3%
The easiest climb of the day in terms of gradient.
Kolovrat: GPM1, 10.3 km at 9.2%
A great climb with some huge ramps. After a rather disappointing Slovenian stage last year, this time they have gone for it.
Santuario di Castelmonte: GPM2, 7.1 km at 7.8%
A very irregular climb that might prove much more selective than it looks.
What to expect:
Solo attacks are probably going to get killed by those 15 kms, but very small groups should definitely form on Kolovrat, and then who knows what is going to happen…
Santuario di Castelmonte
Stage 19: Marano Lagunare – Santuario di Castelmonte 178 km
Friday, May 27th, 12:10 CET
Technical Overview:
The best stage of the whole race for long range attacks comes on the last Friday, with one big MTF still looming on the horizon, which is not ideal. Starting from Marano Lagunare, on the Adriatic coast, the peloton will make a detour in Slovenia, just like they did last year, but this time on a much tougher course. The first 67 km of this stage are mostly flat, with only the intermediate sprint in Buja spicing things up. Upon entering the mountains, the riders will hit the first climb of the day, Villanova Grotte (GPM3, 3.7 km at 8%) a short and quite steep climb that brings to the famous caves of the same name. The descent is also short, but it is very narrow and quite tricky, as it is often the case in this part of Italy. There will be no respite at the bottom, as the second climb of the day begins immediately. Passo di Tanamea (GPM3, 9.7 km at 5.3%) is a much gentler climb, with wide roads and a simple descent. The descent brings to the Slovenian border, and after another small climb and a longer descent the peloton will finally enter a flattish valley, around 15 km long. The riders will then reach the town of Kobarid, known in Italian as Caporetto, and very famous as our most ruinous defeat in WW1. Here they will start the biggest climb of the day, perhaps the hardest of the whole race: Kolovrat (GPM1, 10.3 km at 9.2%) a very steep climb that will cause havoc in the peloton and would be the perfect spot for an all-or-nothing attack. The descent is tricky as well, although it is not particularly steep, and in some section is little more than a false flat, but the road is always twisty and it will be hard to chase there. The only problem of this stage is the 15 km long valley at the bottom to reach the intermediate sprint of Cividale del Friuli, where the final climb will begin. Santuario di Castelmonte (GPM2, 7.1 km at 7.8%) is definitely easier than the previous climb but it is still a good climb to decide the stage winner.
Final km:
The Climbs:
Villanova Grotte: GPM3, 3.7 km at 8%
A short but tough climb, with some scenic caves at the top.
Passo di Tanamea: GPM3, 9.7 km at 5.3%
The easiest climb of the day in terms of gradient.
Kolovrat: GPM1, 10.3 km at 9.2%
A great climb with some huge ramps. After a rather disappointing Slovenian stage last year, this time they have gone for it.
Santuario di Castelmonte: GPM2, 7.1 km at 7.8%
A very irregular climb that might prove much more selective than it looks.
What to expect:
Solo attacks are probably going to get killed by those 15 kms, but very small groups should definitely form on Kolovrat, and then who knows what is going to happen…
Santuario di Castelmonte
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