Giro d’Italia live, live from today’s stage, the 13th from Borgofranco to Crans Montana

It’s time for the big mountains on the Giro. Today I arrive uphill in Crans Montana, Switzerland, after three Gpm in the first category. Geraint Thomas is in the pink jersey, but the stage is destined to deeply mark the race, thanks to the expected bad weather along the way.

Giro d’Italia, today’s stage

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The 13th stage of the Giro d’Italia borders on Switzerland, the only foreign state touched in this edition number 106. It starts from Borgofranco d’Ivrea and arrives in Crans Montana (Valais) after 199 km. The kilometers of the original version were 207 but due to the snow and the risk of landslides, the Colle Gran San Bernardo, the original Cima Coppi del Giro at 2,469 meters (married to the 2,304 meters of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo) will not be done. The peloton will pass under the tunnel (it remains first category Gpm), but before the uphill finish at 1,456 meters in Crans Montana the unprecedented climb of the Croix de Coeur is very demanding, 15.4 km at 8.8% slope, max 13%. The descent is also very demanding, and you will pass through Sion before going back up towards the finish: the final climb measures 13.1km at 7.2% gradient. At the start, meeting point in Piazza Alpini/Piazza Mercato in Borgofranco d’Ivrea at 9.40, departure at 11. Arrival around 17.15. The sprint with bonuses – 3”, 2” and 1” to the first three – is in Verbier, after 141 km. Upon arrival, as in every stage in line, 10”, 6” and 4” bonus for the first three. Also pay attention to the weather, because rain is forecast.