- Apr 30, 2011
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From @Eshnar's excellent 2023 Giro d'Italia: Stage-by-stage Analysis thread: https://forum.cyclingnews.com/threads/2023-giro-ditalia-stage-by-stage-analysis.38851/post-2828625
Stage 14: Sierre – Cassano Magnago 193 km
Saturday, May 20th, 12:05 – 17:10 CEST
Technical Overview:
The third weekend starts in Sierre, from where the peloton will head immediately back to Italy across the Alps for an unusual kind of stage. After 35 km of flat terrain, the riders will face the third 2000+ altitude climb of this Giro, the Simplonpass (GPM1, 20.2 km at 6.5%), another huge one, although not as tough as yesterday’s climbs. The top is at 138 km to go and the descent is very long but also very fast. It gradually eases off and ends at about 100 km to go… and that’s about it. All the rest is flat along the valleys and then along the coast of Lake Maggiore, with the final 25 km being on a somewhat ragged terrain but still without any notable ramps.
The Climbs:
Simplonpass: GPM1, 20.2 km at 6.5%
Passo del Sempione in Italian, but it is all in Switzerland so I use the Swiss name. Unlike the Gran San Bernardo, the border is not at the top but almost at the end of the descent. It does have 4.7 km at 8.7% average near the start, but after that it gets easier. If it was closer to the finish it would be a big threat, but like this it will only be important for the breakaway.
What to Expect:
A huge breakaway probably, or maybe even a mass sprint. It depends on how the Simplonpass will be raced, of course, and on how many sprinters are willing to hang on.
Simplonpass
Stage 14: Sierre – Cassano Magnago 193 km
Saturday, May 20th, 12:05 – 17:10 CEST
Technical Overview:
The third weekend starts in Sierre, from where the peloton will head immediately back to Italy across the Alps for an unusual kind of stage. After 35 km of flat terrain, the riders will face the third 2000+ altitude climb of this Giro, the Simplonpass (GPM1, 20.2 km at 6.5%), another huge one, although not as tough as yesterday’s climbs. The top is at 138 km to go and the descent is very long but also very fast. It gradually eases off and ends at about 100 km to go… and that’s about it. All the rest is flat along the valleys and then along the coast of Lake Maggiore, with the final 25 km being on a somewhat ragged terrain but still without any notable ramps.
The Climbs:
Simplonpass: GPM1, 20.2 km at 6.5%
Passo del Sempione in Italian, but it is all in Switzerland so I use the Swiss name. Unlike the Gran San Bernardo, the border is not at the top but almost at the end of the descent. It does have 4.7 km at 8.7% average near the start, but after that it gets easier. If it was closer to the finish it would be a big threat, but like this it will only be important for the breakaway.
What to Expect:
A huge breakaway probably, or maybe even a mass sprint. It depends on how the Simplonpass will be raced, of course, and on how many sprinters are willing to hang on.
Simplonpass
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