At 149km Stage 15 was always going to be a short stage. Now it will try to climb the Galibier but will stop short of the top of the pass because of the bad weather. Instead the finish will be near the Granges du Galibier, a collection of a couple of rough looking barns and also home to a small tribute to the late Marco Pantani.
Tectonic forces have combined with rain, snow and ice to make the Alps what they are today. These forces continue to sculpt the landscape. It’s what makes racing or riding in the Alps so attractive. Only nature is always bigger than a race, even the Giro. If snow and ice block the road, so be it. We can’t have these mountains without the forces of nature. Perhaps opting for the Galibier in mid-May was a gamble but it’s worth a try.
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The Giro heads into the Alps and crosses the threshold of 2,000 metres above sea level for the first time. Round numbers aside, it means the race is heading to high altitude which brings new challenges as well as the potential for bad weather as snow is forecast.
A finish on steep slopes offers another mountain showdown as part of the weekend’s festival of climbing.
Update: snow and bad weather means the climb to Sestriere is off the route. Instead the race will be diverted north via the Val di Susa, a long valley road that drags up to Oulx where the race will rejoin the planned route. If the climb to Sestriere was fast, this route is faster with no major climb before the final ascension of the Jafferau.
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Every sponsor of this site gets a note of thanks and it’s now time to say thanks to travel company Velo Veneto who are here for May. The company offers a range of trips to Italy and beyond with a focus on the Dolomites.
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