STAGE 20: Guillestre – S.Anna di Vinadio 134 km
Stage start: 12.45 CET, 28 May
Technical Overview:
As it is tradition at the Giro, stage 20 is the final GC showdown. Very short but very high and demanding, with over 4100m of altitude gain... and almost completely in France, which is not traditional.
The road will go up from the very first km, with the first climb of the day, an old friend of the Giro: the Col de Vars (18.25 km at 6%, GPM1) is quite a tough climb, whose average gradient suffers from having a flat section in the middle (a remark I probably wrote too many times already in this analysis... don't worry, this is the last one). It also features the first intermediate sprint, Station de Vars, at km 14. After the top, a very short and beautiful descent will bring the riders down the valley, with 13 km of descending false flat to reach the town of Jausiers, where the Col de la Bonette (22.25 km at 6.7%, GPM1) starts. This is a long, very constant and very high pass, so high in fact that riding it to the top would make it the highest Cima Coppi ever. Which is obviously not cool. Therefore, they will ride only to the proper Col, at 2715m, avoiding the little loop that would bring them to the Cime, at 2802m. The descent of this giant is long and fast, and has some very technical sections, so it could be a factor. After it there are 15 km of another descending false flat to arrive to the town of Isola, where the second intermediate sprint is, and the last top category climb of the Giro starts. The Col de la Lombarde (19.85 km at 7.5%, GPM1), that will bring everyone back to Italy, is the last chance for the riders to make a difference. The first ramps are actually the most serious, followed by an easier middle section and a demanding final part. However, all sections include solid ramps and the altitude will be a factor of ever increasing importance. Finally back in Italian territory, the riders will face a short but technical (and narrow) descent of 8 km, before climbing the final GPM of the Giro, the climb to the sanctuary of S.Anna di Vinadio (2.35 km at 8.1%, GPM3). This is basically a high altitude wall, with its central 1.5 km at 9.7%, that flattens out a bit at the top.
The Climbs:
Col de Vars GPM1
An absolute classic in the Tour, this climb has been also climbed many times in the Giro, in particular in the most famous Cuneo-Pinerolo stage (but from the opposite side). This side is really tough, featuring long and steep ramps.
Col de la Bonette GPM1
The highest mountain pass in Europe (if ridden to the very top), it is a very long and quite constant climb, always around 7%, with easier slopes at the beginning and at the end. Quite rarely raced at the Tour, it will be at the Giro for the first time ever.
Col de la Lombarde GPM1
Another long and tough climb, with a easier middle section. It does not feature the crazy gradients that are common in the Giro, but it is still a worthy final GPM1 of the race.
S.Anna di Vinadio GPM3
The final climb of the Giro, a short and steep Alpine wall. The altitude will make it much harder than the profile (which can be seen in the final km graph) suggests.
What to expect:
The final battle, of course. The Col de Vars will be ridden at a blistering pace, due to the breakaway forming (and a huge lot of GPM points at stake) and the intermediate sprint being there. And then the Lombarde to decide the GC. Anything less than the GC guys attacking each other halfway the Lombarde would be massively disappointing, and anything more would be a huge surprise, since the false flat that surrounds the Bonette should discourage meaningful attacks there. The final wall will be good only to decide the winner in case no one is able to drop everybody else on the Lombarde, but it will not make any meaningful gaps.
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