Although the route runs mainly downhill, the riders tackle a climb to the Cathedral of Monreale in the first kilometre. The gradients hover around 6%.
The first time check is located near the cathedral before the riders plunge down a descent of 8 kilometres into Palermo. The second time check is located on the Via Roma.
The last part of the route is virtually flat and bike handling is not a talent that’s needed per se. A couple of 90-dregees turns and then a U-turn before the riders enter the 2.7 kilometres home straight on the Via della Libertà. On the other hand, the section in Palermo’s old centre features some very narrow roads indeed.
Last year’s Grande Partenza was in Bologna, also with an ITT, although the route was something else entirely. The finish was situated atop a 2.1 kilometres climb at 9.7% to the Santuario della Madonna di San Luca. Primoz Roglic powered to the first maglia rosa of that edtion.
Another interesting read: results 1st stage 2020 Giro d’Italia.
Giro d’Italia 2020 stage 1: routes, profiles, more
Click on the images to zoom
You’ll find starting times underneath our stage descriptions.