From flat to medium to high, the next three stages set up the peloton for the final climbing stage on Saturday.

Friday 29 May: Stage 19 – Gravellona Toce to Cervinia, high mountain, 236km

This is the second longest stage in the Giro and the longest in the mountains. The peloton will while away its time on the flat for the first 150km before hitting the 20km climb of Saint-Barthélemy. From then on, the stage is effectively uphill until the finish at Cervinia.

There have been more difficult climbs in earlier stages but the length of the stage, the fact that it’s nearly the end of an eventful and arduous three weeks, and the quick succession of these three cat 1 climbs means this will be a hard day for everyone in the peloton. Alberto Contador looks set fair in the pink jersey, but can Andrey Amador break Astana’s stranglehold on the other two podium spots?

Stage 19 profile; Giro 2015

Link: Official race website

Header image: Cervinia ski resort