Like it or not, the presentation of the “stew” model of the Giro d'Italia 2022, if nothing else, filled the days of the off-season for cycling enthusiasts. Today was the turn and the high mountain stages, those that presumably will make the difference for the final victory.

The winner of the 2021 edition, Egan Bernal , commented on the route: “With these six high mountain stages it is clear that the 2022 Giro d'Italia will also be tough. Already the first uphill arrival, the one on Etna, will be important and could cut out from the fight for the Maglia Rosa who will not be found 100%. Then there will be mythical climbs such as Mortirolo where great champions have written important pages, such as Pantani and many others. It will be a beautiful Giro to see and do, and the six mountain stages will be decisive for the general classification ”.

Tomorrow, however, the Grand Arrival and the general floor plan will be unveiled.

Here are the stages in detail:

AVOLA - ETNA (Rifugio Sapienza): 166 km - 3590 m - From Avola you touch the center of Sicilian Baroque in Noto to arrive in the areas of Pantalica and Vizzini as you approach the volcano. The final climb, which ends at the Sapienza refuge, faces a new route in its own way. We approach the climb from Ragalna (like 2018), to move on the classic side of Nicolosi (like 2011) for the last 14 km.

ISERNIA - BLOCKHAUS: 187 km - 4990 m - Upward route from the first kilometers from Isernia towards Rionero Sannitico. It only touches the historic Macerone and then reaches the first brow in Roccaraso. Up to Guardiagrele, which is only touched upon, the only fairly quiet stretch is covered. Then begins the double climb to the Blockhaus. From Pretoro you reach Passo Lanciano and then descend to Lettomanoppello and, after having surrounded the base of the Majella, climb on arrival from Roccamorice as in 2017, with the final with double-digit slopes along the final series of hairpin bends.

RIVAROLO CANAVESE - COGNE: 177 km - 4030 m - Departure from Rivarolo Canavese and classic approach along the Dora Baltea to enter the Vallée until reaching the capital. You then climb in rapid succession Pila up to Le Fleurs, a climb that rejoins the Giro after an absence of thirty years, Verrogne (already climbed in 2019) and Cogne to finish in the Gran Paradiso National Park which turns 100 years old. Over 46km of the last 80 will all be uphill.

SALÒ - APRICA (Sforzato Wine Stage): 200 km - 5440 m - Departure from Salò to go into the Sabbia valley and after Bagolino climb the Goletto di Cadino (last passage in 1998 on the occasion of Pantani's victorious ride to Montecampione). Going up the Val Camonica you climb the Mortirolo da Monno (as in 2017) to go down to Grosio and walk the Sforzato wine roads to which the stage is dedicated, climbing Teglio (the place that gives its name to the valley) and then reaching Aprica through the Valico of Santa Cristina on which the last passage was in 1999.

BRIDGE OF WOOD - LAVARONE: 165 km - 3740 m - Departure towards Passo del Tonale followed by a stretch of over 70 km always substantially downhill. After crossing the Adige, the climb to Palù di Giovo (fief of the Mosers) is climbed, passing through the Mocheni Valley to reach Pergine Valsugana and the final which alone deserves all the stars of difficulty of the stage. After Pergine you climb the Passo del Vetriolo from an unprecedented slope and the ascent of the Menador with its narrow hairpin bends and the typical tunnels of the roads carved into the rock for war reasons (it was called Kaiserjägerweg). At the top of the Monte Rovere GPM, a few undulating kilometers will bring a very small group to the finish.

BELLUNO - MARMOLADA (Passo Fedaia): 167 km - 4490 m - Classic Dolomite stage: the last uphill arrival of the Giro d'Italia 2022. Departure from Belluno with a short digression along the Piave valley between Sedico, Santa Giustina and the Charterhouse of Vedana. You then enter the Cordevole valley which climbs up through Agrodo and Cencenighe. There begins the triptych of final climbs with the San Pellegrino Pass (slopes over 15% after Falcade) followed by the Pordoi Pass (Cima Coppi 2022) and finally from the Fedaia Pass with the famous Malga Ciapela drittone which always reaches above 10% slopes of 18%. You do not go through the Serrai di Sottoguda whose road was canceled by the Vaia storm, of which the stage touches many symbolic places. After 14 years, the Marmolada is once again the place of arrival.

FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt2w6w8A2Xw&t=304s

FOLLOW THE NEW INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT   ? https://www.instagram.com/fantacycling_official/

RIDE WITH SPECIALIZED ? https://www.specialized.com/it/it/shop/bikes/road-bikes/performance-road-