Giro 2020 Route stage 15: Rivolto

Giro 2020 Route stage 15: Rivolto – Piancavallo

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Sunday 18 October - The second week of action concludes with a race over three intermediate climbs before an uphill finish in Piancavallo. The finale of the Giro's 15th is a 15.5 kilometres climb at 7.3%.

The 15th stage will set off from the Rivolto Air Base to honour the 60th anniversary of the Frecce Tricolori. This aerobatic squad gave air-shows in the the Giro’s of 2009 and 2014.

The first part of the race is relatively flat and it’s only after approximately 50 kilometres that the first climb appears. The Sella Chianzutan is a steady test of 10.6 kilometres with an average gradient of 5.4%. The riders descend towards the Forcella di Monte Rest, which is preceded by a 3 kilometres uphill at 6.7%. Following a short downhill the road rises for 7.4 kilometres at 7.5% to an elevation of 1,050 metres.

The Forcella di Pala Barzana serves as penultimate ascent in the 15th stage of the Giro d’Italia. It’s 13.3 kilometres in length and the average gradient sits at 4.4%. This is biased statistic, as the climb is very irregular. The last 4 kilometres go up at 7.4% before the riders fly down a 27 kilometres descent into Aviano.

Aviano lies at the base of the finish climb to Piancavallo. The ascent kicks in hard, as the first 6 kilometres slope at 9.4%. The sixth kilometre even serves an intimidating average gradient of 11.6%. The climb continues to be merciless until kilometre 9 before the gradients become more mellow. The last 5 kilometres are relatively easy. The 500 metres before the flamme rouge are flat and the final kilometre into the ski resort is a false flat.

In 2017, Mikel Landa soloed to victory in Piancavallo, while maglia rosa Tom Dumoulin succumbed to repeated attacks and Nairo Quintana moved into the race lead.

The intermediate sprint at kilometre 135.9 come with 3, 2 and 1 seconds each, while time bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds are awarded to the first three riders on the line.

Another interesting reads: results 15th stage 2020 Giro d’Italia.