Organizers give clearance to include highest climb
The organizers declared the Gavia clear to be ridden in today’s final mountain stage in the Giro d’Italia, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Late snow had threatened the cancelation of the penultimate big climb of this years’s Corsa Rosa. After the descent of the Gavia, the stage finishes with another KOM in Tonale, after 178km.
Snow had made the Gavia famous when a blizzard raged in 1988. Erik Breukink had won the stage, while second-placed Andy Hampsten went on to win the overall. This time, the organizers were prepared to cancel the climb with the snow on the top, despite the whole road being paved now. That wasn’t the case in the 1980’s.
The Gavia is 2618 meters high and this year’s Cima Coppi, the highest point in the race. Eliminating it would have been a shame, but some riders may have liked the idea. A total of almost 4000 meters – more than 13,000 feet – of climbing are going to be covered today.
If Ivan Basso shows the same strength he showed yesterday, he will have no trouble taking the pink jersey all the way into Verona. Due to his weaker time trialing, he won’t be able to afford too lose much time. The best rider against the clock in the general classification top is Cadel Evans, and he is already four minutes back.
Then time trial will also have a KOM, as the riders have to go up the Torricelle climb in Verona. That climb was already used during the 1999 World Championships.
But today all eyes are on the Gavia, a mountain that easily can provide drama anytime it is included in the Giro.