Giro d’Italia Week Two Route Preview: Tadej Pogačar may have dominated the result in the first week of the 2024 Giro d’Italia, but the race has hardly been stagnant. The third week of any Grand Tour is always the hardest, but what can we expect from week two? Here is a closer look at stage 10 to stage 15 with the Mortirolo.
Tadej Pogačar might not win the second Giro’24 TT, but everything else….
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Giro d’Italia 2024 | The Route
This year, the furthest southerly point is the start of the tenth stage, in Pompeii. From stage 10 the peloton heads back to the north, via the Adriatic coast. The final week (apart from stage 21 in Rome) is in Northern Italy, taking in the Alps and the Dolomites, here the GC men will fight for the 2024 Maglia Rosa. Once the battle has been decided in the mountains, the Giro peloton will fly south for the final stage in Rome, for a flat processional stage on the famous Roman roads.
Stage 10 to stage 15
Stage 10
Tuesday May 14, Pompeii – Bocca della Selva (142km)
The tenth stage of the Giro d’Italia is the third summit finish. The short stage of 142 kilometres starts Pompeii, just outside Naples. From the ancient Roman town on the coast, the peloton heads inland over a rolling course towards the final climb in Cusano Mutri. There are 2,850 metres of climbing. The climb of the Camposauro (6.1km at 7.8%), comes in the middle of the stage. The Bocca della Selva, the final climb, is 17.9 kilometres long with an average gradient of 5.6%. On the steepest sections, it ramps up to 10%.
Bocca delle Selva
Composauro
At 6.1 kilometres, the first climb of the day will hurt the rested legs. The average gradient is 7.8%, with ramps of up to 14%. The climb between Naples and Benevento is located in the Parco Regionale del Tasburo-Camposauro. The area is located in the province of Benevento and is part of the Apennine mountain massif. The park consists of two groups of mountains. The Tasburo, with the highest point of the park, in the north and the Composauro in the south.
There were echelons in 2021, the last time the Giro passed through here
Cusano Mutri (Bocca delle Selva)
After a steep descent, a section of 30 kilometres follows over rolling terrain, before the final climb of Cusano Mutri (Bocca della Selva), starting in the town of Cusano Mutri. The village has around 4,000 inhabitants and has only featured in the Giro once before in 2021 on stage 8.
From Cusano Mutri the peloton climbs to the 967 metre higher Bocca della Selva. The length of the final climb of stage 10 is 20.9 kilometres long, but with an average gradient of 4.6%. The final climb of the stage isn’t too hard, but is irregular in profile. There are sections of flat and even downhill, although there are ramps of 14%.
Stage 10 profile
Stage 11
Wednesday May 15, Foiana di Val Fortore- Francavilla al Mare (207km)
Stage 11 goes from Foiana di Val Fortore to Francavilla al Mare. The 207 kilometre stage is for the sprinters, their first chance of a victory in the second week. The stage is largely flat with 1,850 metres of climbing. The first part of the stage, inland, is slightly undulating. There is a Cat.3 climb, the Pietracatella. The route follows the Adriatic coast before reaching the finish. Two intermediate sprints and the final gallop is in Francavilla al Mare.
Stage 11 profile
Stage 12
Thursday May 16, Martinsicuro – Fano (190km)
Stage twelve goes along the Adriatic coast and takes in several short climbs. The first 50 kilometres are completely flat, but then hits a succession of short climbs with the Osimo (1.3km at 5.5%), Monsano (1.8km at 6%), Ostra (1km at 9.2%) and La Croce (1.5km at 6.7%), but there are also many uncategorised climbs with total of 2,100 metres of climbing. The stage is made for the ‘puncheurs’. The stage has many unclassified climbs that will wear down the peloton and give the attackers plenty of opportunities.
Monte Giove
Osimo
The Osimo is the first official climb of stage 12. It is 1,300 metres and an average gradient of 5.5%, so not too difficult. It is a Cat.4 climb and should get the day going.
Stage 12 of the 2018 Giro started in Osimo
Monsano
The second categorised climb of the day is the Monsano. It is longer and steeper than Osimo, at a length of 1.9 kilometres and a gradient of 7.1%, it is also a Cat.4 climb. At 220 metres, the Monsano is the highest classified climb on the route along the Adriatic coast.
The Adriatic coast
Ostra
The Ostra is only 1000 meters long, but is a Cat.4 climb and the most difficult of the day. The average gradient is 9.2%. It is short and steep, but the summit is more than 50 kilometres from the finish, so shouldn’t make any difference to the final result.
Fano has seen may race finishes – Marcel Kittel in Tirreno-Adriatico in 2018
La Croce
The last categorised climb of stage 12 is La Croce, but at only 1,500 meters and with an average gradient of 6.7%, it’s not difficult enough for a final attack, but might put a struggling sprinter in trouble.
Back to the beach – Stage 12 profile
Stage 13
Friday May 17, Riccione – Cento (179km)
The 13th stage is 179 kilometres from Riccione to Cento. Only 150 metres of uphill, so a bit of an extra rest day before the tough final week. The stage is also nearly straight without any corners. A perfect stage for the sprinters, unless a break goes all the way.
Map and profile of stage 13
Stage 14
Saturday May 18, Castiglione delle Stiviere – Desenzano del Garda (31.2km)
The second individual time trial of this Giro d’Italia is on the fourteen stage. The route that finishes at Lake Garda will have some beautiful views. The 31 kilometre race against the clock is a flat loop from Castiglione delle Stiviere to Desenzano del Garda. Due to the lack of a climb, the time trial is even more for the pure power rider. No climbs, so that should suit Filippo Ganna more than the first TT.
Stage 14 profile
Stage 15
Sunday May 19, Manerba del Garda – Livigno (220km)
Stage 15 could be one of the decisive days for the GC men of the 2024 Giro d’Italia. Despite a forced route change, it’s still a tough day in the saddle. The first categorised climb of the day is the Lodrino (7.3km at 4.5%), followed by the Colle San Zeno (13.9km at 6.6%). In the final there are the tough climbs of the Passo del Mortirolo (12.6km at 7.6%), Passo di Foscagno (15km at 6.4%) and the finish in Livigno is on the Mottolino ski area (4.7km at 7.7%). The last two climbs are above 2,000 meters. There is a total of 5,400 metres of climbing.
The start is from Manerba del Garda
Lodrino
The first categorised climb of the day is the Lodrino (7.3km at 4.5%). The climb has already been in the giro route twice before. The last time was in 2018, that stage was won by Elia Viviani. A sprinter won’t on this stage.
San Zena
Colle San Zeno
Each of the mountains on the fifteenth stage becomes gradually more difficult. After the descent of the Lodrino, the peloton climbs the Cat.2 Colle San Zeno. 13.9 kilometres long, with an average gradient of 6.6% and ramps of up to 14%, one for the real climbers. Any rider in trouble here, can only get worse.
Mortirolo
Passo del Mortirolo
The top of the Passo del Mortirolo is 67 kilometres from the finish. This climb has been part of the Giro route eleven times, the last time was in 2022. Jan Hirt managed won on that occasion, ahead of Thymen Arensman and the eventual overall winner, Jai Hindley. The Mortirolo has never hosted a stage finish of the Giro. With a length of 12.6 kilometres, an average gradient of 7.6% and steep sections of up to 16%. The riders have not finished climbing yet, there is still a tough finale to come.
Foscagno
Passo di Foscagno
The Passo di Foscagno is the main part of the finale. Officially, this mountain pass only starts after the third intermediate sprint at 25 kilometres from the finish, but the riders will have already climbed more than 600 metres by that point. With 14.6 kilometres, the penultimate climb of the day is the longest of the fifteenth stage. With an average gradient of 6.5% and has ramps of up to 12%, it is not any more difficult than the climb of the Mortirolo, but the day has been hard enough. The Passo di Foscagno takes the peloton to 2,291 metres altitude. After a short descent of 4 kilometres there is a short final climb to the summit.
The Passo di Eira
Passo di Eira (Livigno (Mottolino)
The Giro arrives in Mottolino (Livigno) at an altitude of 2,385 metres via the Passo di Eira. It is a climb of 4.7 kilometres at 7.7%, with sections of up to 19 percent. A very hard finish. The last two climbs have previously been part of a Giro route. In 2010, the mountain passes were passed in the opposite order. The passage through Mottolino was not in the finale, but halfway through the stage. ON that occasion the stage was won by Johann Tschopp, ahead of Cadel Evans and Ivan Basso.
Stage 15 – A day for the climbers
2024 Giro d’Italia map
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