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Giro d’Italia in Bormio: Legendary climbs for the 100th edition

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The Giro d’Italia is the second most important multi-stage bicycle race in the world after the Tour de France. For the 100th time, road cycling pros will be racing through Italy. 3,572 kilometers / 2,219 miles and some very demanding mountain passes such as Stelvio, Mortirolo and Umbrail– will be on the agenda from May 5-28.

The Giro d’Italia will be returning to the Stelvio and to the Mortirolo. The contestants will however be heading to the Umbrail Pass for the first time ever in the history of the prestigious race. The Stelvio Pass is on the bucket list of road cyclists from all over the world and poses to be a great challenge for every professional athlete: the route from Bormio winds up in 40 hairpin turns which are spread out over a distance of 21 kilometers / 13 miles and a difference in level of 1,533 meters / 5,029 feet. The top of the “Queen of Alpine roads” reaches 2,758 meters / 9,048 feet above sea level.

Climbing the Mortirolo with a vertical drop of 800 meters / 2,624 feet and a length of around 10 kilometers / 6.2 miles is not to be underestimated, either. The climb from Monno with an average gradient of 7.5% and a maximum of more than 10% is rather unusual, but quite demanding, especially in the last part with the characteristic bends that lead up to the pass.

“The queen stage of the 100th Giro will be of utmost importance for the race“, says Luca Guercilena, General Manager of Trek-Segafredo. “With 227 kilometers / 141 miles, it is not only a long stage, the mythical Mortirolo and Stelvio will take their toll as well. However, the stage finishes with a long descent so this might benefit those who have perfected this technique of riding.”

Stage 16 will lead from Rovetta to Bormio on May 23; it is the longest stage of this year’s Giro and the Mortirolo (1,854 meters / 6,082 feet above sea level), Stelvio and Umbrail (2,502 meters / 8,208 feet above sea level) will push the cycling pros to their limits. From Monno, the route leads the cycling elite via the Mortirolo to Bormio, from where they will be fighting 40 hairpin bends on 21 kilometers / 13 miles on their way to the summit.

Once the fastest has reached the top, he will earn himself the mountain bonus „Cima Coppi“ which is awarded to the first rider who reaches the Giro's highest summit. On the way down to Prato and Glorenza, an altitude difference of 1,900 meters / 6,234 feet and 48 hairpin bends await the cycling pros. After having crossed the Swiss border, the athletes will climb up the Umbrail pass leading back to Italy for the first time in the history of the Giro. They will get back to the Stelvio Pass road just three kilometers from the summit and then descend to Bormio.

Back on the south ramp, it is downhill to the finish line in Bormio. Bauke Mollema (NED), team member of UCI WorldTeam Trek-Segafredo: “This stage will be after the last restday, so everybody will be refreshed and ready to go. And for this long and hard stage you also need it! It will be a crucial stage of this Giro including the Mortirolo and two times the Stelvio. We will not climb the Mortirolo from the steepest side, but it is still a very long climb. The length is also what makes the Stelvio a difficult climb. We have to overcome an altitude of 2,500 meters / 8,202 feet. In my opinion, it will be one of the hardest stages of the Giro.”

Fans who have always wanted to ride side by side with a pro can look forward to a special highlight: On May 22, ambitious cyclists will have the opportunity to climb the steep, meandering Stelvio in the company of former road cycling pro and winner of the Giro d’Italia 2006 and 2010 Ivan Basso (ITA). Since autumn 2016, Ivan Basso has been active in a consulting role for the UCI WorldTeam Trek-Segafredo. In this function, he will primarily focus on the development of young riders.