It’s a mammoth final mountain stage today. Will Alberto Contador finally get his stage win? Will the GC top ten change again? 

Saturday 30 May: Stage 20 – Saint-Vincent to Sestriere, high mountain, 196km

The first 150km are flat. The final 45km are not and these final two climbs of this year’s Giro d’Italia should provide quite a spectacle.

Stage 20 profile; Giro d’Italia 2015

This year’s penultimate climb is the Colle Delle Finestre. With almost 20km of climbing, it’s leg-sapping already, but add to that the fact that it’s the Cima Coppi (the highest point of this Giro) and has an average gradient just shy of 10% and you’re looking at suffering territory. Oh! But there’s more! There’s also an unpaved section of 8km to tackle before they get to the top. Riding up a dirt road sounds fun after three gruelling weeks, doesn’t it? This is going to be a test for everyone and we might very well see the selection for the stage win here.

Colle delle Finestre; Giro 2015

After that climb has been crested, it’s right into the final climb up to Sestriere. Not nearly as steep as Finestre, this has an average gradient of 5.4% with the steepest part at 9%. It’ll feel like a holiday for them! Well, no it won’t – but there’ll be a lot of sighs of relief from the peloton when they finish this stage. Just one more in Milan and then the pink confetti will descend on the Giro champion, which will be, barring anything untoward, Alberto Contador.

Sestriere profile; Giro 2015

Link: Official race website

Header image: Fausto Coppi