Giro 2024 Favourites stage 12: Hilly race with wall in finale

foto: Cor VosFollowing a flat opening, the middle section of the 12th stage of the Giro is teeming with short and sharp hills. The last 30 kilometres are deceptively flat, as a sheer wall opens the finale. Odds are that a breakaway artist rides away with the win. (Slideshow route/profile)

The wall climbs over 1.2 kilometres at 9.2% to the Hermitage of Monte Giove. The route descends false flat for 1 kilometre and then plunges down into the historic centre. The last 5 kilometres take place on flat urban roads. A promising finale, that’s for sure.

As mentioned, the middle section of the race is dense with short climbs. It begins after over an hour in the saddle with a 2.8-kilometre ascent at 4.7% to the hilltop village of Civitanova Alta. This sets the tone, as the subsequent 100 kilometres feature ten more similar tests. In order of appearance, these uphills add the following challenges to the mix: 1.9 kilometres at 5.8%; 2.3 kilometres at 8%; 2.3 kilometres at 3.6%; 6.7 kilometres at 2.5%; 1.9 kilometres at 7.1%; 1.2 kilometres at 6%; 4.3 kilometres at 4%; 900 metres at 9.9%; 2.2 kilometres at 4.2%; 4.8 kilometres at 3.4%; and 1.2 kilometres at 5.1%

The latter climb leads to the intermediate sprint for time bonuses in Mondolfo, with 30 kilometres to go. That part of the route is mostly flat, with the exception of the ascent to the Hermitage of Monte Giove.

The route from Martinsicuro to Fano totals an elevation gain of 2,100 metres. It’s unlikely that a sprinter’s team would bother to take charge, and there’s little to be gained for the riders eyeing the GC. This paves the way for a successful breakaway.

Favourites 12th stage 2024 Giro d’Italia

*** Jasper Stuyven, Julian Alaphilippe, Jhonatan Narváez
** Maximilian Schachmann, Mauri Vansevenant, Andrea Bagioli, Nicola Conci
* Attila Valter, Marco Frigo, Ewen Costiou, Michael Valgren, Andrea Piccolo

Another interesting read: route 12th stage 2024 Giro.