The final weekend of the Giro d’Italia starts on Saturday with the queen stage, which will determine the proportions for the final time trial. The twentieth stage is the last chance for the lesser time trialists to hurt their competitors in the standings.
The first 60 kilometers are still a warm-up with some hills, because after that the climb of the Passo San Pellegrino starts. The 9.6 kilometer climb with an average gradient of 8 percent is the first serious test of the day.
After the descent of the Passo San Pellegrino, the peloton starts the climb to the highest point of the Giro d’Italia. The top of the Passo Pordoi is 2,229 meters above sea level and is therefore this year’s ‘Cima Coppi’, or the ‘roof of the Giro’.
With the Passo Pordoi under their feet, the last climb of the Giro awaits the riders: the Passo Fedaia of 12.9 kilometers at 7.8 percent. The second part of this final climb is especially tough, because the slope does not fall below 10 percent in that part.
At the top of the Passo Fedaia it will become clear with which time differences the favorites will enter the final time trial. It seems likely that one of the GC guys will double up here with both the stage win and time gain over the competition.
The profile of the twentieth stage.
The profile of the twentieth stage. Photo: Giro d’Italia
Bouwman does not have to worry
Koen Bouwman normally does not have to worry about all the violence between the classification men. The Jumbo-Visma rider can no longer be traced in the mountains classification and only has to complete the stage within the time limit.
In the final weekend, a maximum of 133 points (of which 130 in the penultimate stage) can be earned in the battle for the mountains classification. Bouwman starts the stage with a lead of no less than 191 points over number two Giulio Ciccone.
Official start: 12.15 pm
Expected finish time: 5.30 pm
Favorites for day success:
⭐⭐⭐ Richard Carapaz
⭐⭐ Mikel Landa, Lennard Kamna
⭐ Jai Hindley, Thymen Arensman, Giulio Ciccone