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-2828631
Stage 19: Longarone – Tre Cime di Lavaredo 183 km
Friday, May 26th, 11:35 – 17:10 CEST
Technical Overview:
The queen stage, finally. A grueling high mountain raid in the Dolomites, the type of stage every Giro should have. From Longarone, on the Piave River, the day will start with a long neutralized section down the valley before the actual start in Fortogna. The riders will then follow the Piave until Belluno, at which point they will head north into the Dolomites. The road will only slightly rise at first, going upstream along the Cordevole valley. All in all, 44 km of gentle uphill roads will bring to the intermediate sprint of Caprile, the town at the foot of Passo Fedaia, but unfortunately we are not headed there. Instead, the peloton will keep north through very tough false flat and a few minor climbs, including one of 1.5 km at 8% and one of 3.5 km at 7.1%, before they hit the first categorized climb of the day, Passo di Campolongo (GPM2, 3.9 km at 7%), one of the Sella Ronda peaks. The descent is very short and twisty up to the town of Corvara in Badia, after which it devolves into a descending false flat to reach La Villa, where the next climb begins. Passo Valparola (GPM1, 14.1 km at 5.6%) is a tough climb at a relatively high altitude, a statement that will only get more accurate for each of the following climbs of this stage. It starts as an irregular climb, with 9% ramps scattered here and there, and then becomes a very consistent climb with the last 6 km at 8% average. The top is at 2192m above sea level and at 71 km to go… but the fun has just begun. The descent is basically straight down until the Passo Falzarego, where the riders will turn south and the descent becomes quite technical. There is no respite at the bottom: the uncategorized Colle Santa Lucia (2.2 km at 7.5%) and its equally short descent leads to the next climb, one of the most famous of all the Dolomites. The mighty Passo Giau (GPM1, 9.9 km at 9.3%), with its very regular and very steep slopes will be one of the key points of this stage and perhaps of the whole Giro. It starts at 49 km to go and ends at 40.5, plus the peak is at 2236m above sea level. Its descent is long and technical, so GC riders will have to consider that too. At the bottom there is also the intermediate sprint of Cortina d’Ampezzo, at 22 km to go. There is no flat here, as the road will rise again immediately once out of town, to head towards one of the most iconic climbs the Giro has to offer. But first, the Passo Tre Croci (GPM2, 7.9 km at 7.2%), with its top at 13.5 km to go, will bring the riders onto a 6.5 km false flat section along the Lake of Misurina, the last breath before the grand finale. The legendary climb to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (GPM1, 7.2 km at 7.6%) will decide the winner (if still necessary), not with its puny overall statistics, tainted by the first irregular section, but with its killer final section of 4 km at 11.7% bringing to the 2304m above sea level of Rifugio Auronzo, where the finish line is located, like always.
The Climbs:
Passo di Campolongo: GPM2, 3.9 km at 7%
One of the four passes of the famous Sella Ronda, it is a short and fairly easy one, but is preceded by some really hard terrain.
Passo Valparola: GPM1, 14.1 km at 5.6%
Quite irregular but does get tough towards the end.
Passo Giau: GPM1, 9.9 km at 9.3%
One of the greatest climbs of the Dolomites, last time it was ridden we barely saw live pictures of it. Hopefully this year will be different. It is a rather short but really hard climb, always between 9-10%, and the altitude, even if not sky high, will also play a factor.
Passo Tre Croci: GPM2, 7.9 km at 7.2%
A medium sized climb that at this point of the stage (and of the race) will surely do a lot of damage. See below for the profile.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo: GPM1, 7.2 km at 7.6%
Possibly the most iconic finish of the Dolomites, its very steep gradients, high altitude and stunning views will be one of the key points of this Giro. Last time the race came here was in 2013 under the snow.
What to Expect:
All out GC battle obviously, the only question is from which point. Tomorrow is still a big day but letting this one pass would be a grave mistake. I would expect at least a significant selection on the Giau, and maybe a desperate attacks from a top 5 contender. For any pure climber, this is it. They have to make it count.
Vincenzo Nibali winning on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Giro 2013
Stage 19: Longarone – Tre Cime di Lavaredo 183 km
Friday, May 26th, 11:35 – 17:10 CEST
Technical Overview:
The queen stage, finally. A grueling high mountain raid in the Dolomites, the type of stage every Giro should have. From Longarone, on the Piave River, the day will start with a long neutralized section down the valley before the actual start in Fortogna. The riders will then follow the Piave until Belluno, at which point they will head north into the Dolomites. The road will only slightly rise at first, going upstream along the Cordevole valley. All in all, 44 km of gentle uphill roads will bring to the intermediate sprint of Caprile, the town at the foot of Passo Fedaia, but unfortunately we are not headed there. Instead, the peloton will keep north through very tough false flat and a few minor climbs, including one of 1.5 km at 8% and one of 3.5 km at 7.1%, before they hit the first categorized climb of the day, Passo di Campolongo (GPM2, 3.9 km at 7%), one of the Sella Ronda peaks. The descent is very short and twisty up to the town of Corvara in Badia, after which it devolves into a descending false flat to reach La Villa, where the next climb begins. Passo Valparola (GPM1, 14.1 km at 5.6%) is a tough climb at a relatively high altitude, a statement that will only get more accurate for each of the following climbs of this stage. It starts as an irregular climb, with 9% ramps scattered here and there, and then becomes a very consistent climb with the last 6 km at 8% average. The top is at 2192m above sea level and at 71 km to go… but the fun has just begun. The descent is basically straight down until the Passo Falzarego, where the riders will turn south and the descent becomes quite technical. There is no respite at the bottom: the uncategorized Colle Santa Lucia (2.2 km at 7.5%) and its equally short descent leads to the next climb, one of the most famous of all the Dolomites. The mighty Passo Giau (GPM1, 9.9 km at 9.3%), with its very regular and very steep slopes will be one of the key points of this stage and perhaps of the whole Giro. It starts at 49 km to go and ends at 40.5, plus the peak is at 2236m above sea level. Its descent is long and technical, so GC riders will have to consider that too. At the bottom there is also the intermediate sprint of Cortina d’Ampezzo, at 22 km to go. There is no flat here, as the road will rise again immediately once out of town, to head towards one of the most iconic climbs the Giro has to offer. But first, the Passo Tre Croci (GPM2, 7.9 km at 7.2%), with its top at 13.5 km to go, will bring the riders onto a 6.5 km false flat section along the Lake of Misurina, the last breath before the grand finale. The legendary climb to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (GPM1, 7.2 km at 7.6%) will decide the winner (if still necessary), not with its puny overall statistics, tainted by the first irregular section, but with its killer final section of 4 km at 11.7% bringing to the 2304m above sea level of Rifugio Auronzo, where the finish line is located, like always.
The Climbs:
Passo di Campolongo: GPM2, 3.9 km at 7%
One of the four passes of the famous Sella Ronda, it is a short and fairly easy one, but is preceded by some really hard terrain.
Passo Valparola: GPM1, 14.1 km at 5.6%
Quite irregular but does get tough towards the end.
Passo Giau: GPM1, 9.9 km at 9.3%
One of the greatest climbs of the Dolomites, last time it was ridden we barely saw live pictures of it. Hopefully this year will be different. It is a rather short but really hard climb, always between 9-10%, and the altitude, even if not sky high, will also play a factor.
Passo Tre Croci: GPM2, 7.9 km at 7.2%
A medium sized climb that at this point of the stage (and of the race) will surely do a lot of damage. See below for the profile.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo: GPM1, 7.2 km at 7.6%
Possibly the most iconic finish of the Dolomites, its very steep gradients, high altitude and stunning views will be one of the key points of this Giro. Last time the race came here was in 2013 under the snow.
What to Expect:
All out GC battle obviously, the only question is from which point. Tomorrow is still a big day but letting this one pass would be a grave mistake. I would expect at least a significant selection on the Giau, and maybe a desperate attacks from a top 5 contender. For any pure climber, this is it. They have to make it count.
Vincenzo Nibali winning on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Giro 2013
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