2022 Giro d'Italia Mountain Stages include the climbs of Etna, Mortirolo, Pordoi and Marmolada

The organisers of the Giro d’Italia have revealed the key mountain stages of the 2022 Corsa Rosa, with four mountain top finishes and ascents such as Mount Etna, Blockhaus, the Mortirolo, Santa Cristina, the little known but steep Menador, the Passo San Pellegrino and Passo Pordoi all to be climbed during the three week race.  

The final mountain stage finishes atop the Marmolada at 2057m, with a final time trial to Verona expected to crown the winner of the 2022 Giro d’Italia. 

Here are the high mountain climbs that promise action packed racing; Avola-Etna (Rifugio Sapienza), Isernia-Blockhaus, Rivarolo Canavese-Cogne, Salò-Aprica with the Mortirolo and Santa Cristina, Ponte di Legno-Lavarone and Belluno-Passo Fedaia (Marmolada) with San Pellegrino and Pordoi as Cima Coppi (2239 meters) will be the great climbs of the 105th edition of the Corsa Rosa.

Winner of the last Giro, Egan Bernal said, “With these six stages it is clear that the Giro d’Italia 2022 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 pink jersey those 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 ”.

The first real confrontation between the GC men will take place in the 4th stage, with start in Avola and arrival at the top of Etna. A ride of 166 kilometers, which is uphill at the starttoo. The final climb starts from Ragalna – as in 2018 – but then follows the route as in 2011 for the last 14 kilometers to finally finish again at Rifugio Sapienza.

Five days later – in stage 9 – it is again a summit finish with an arrival at the top of Blockhaus, the mythical climb that was also on the menu in 2017, exactly 50 years after Eddy Merckx achieved his first stage victory in the Giro. The stage is considered heavy, because Passo Lanciano (1st category) must also be climbed to arrive at Blockhaus.

If these two stages are served as an aperitif and starter, the main course follows six days later, with three mountain stages in four days. Starting with the stage from Rivarolo Canavese to Cogne on Sunday, followed by a rest day.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the GC riders have to work hard again. First in the stage from Salò to Aprica, with the climb of the Mortirolo en route, then during the stage from Ponto di Legno to Lavarone, with two first category climbs in the final.

Finally, there is the penultimate stage in 2022 Giro d’Italia, with start in Belluno and finish in Marmolada, at the top of the Passo Fedaia. On the way, the peloton also has to cross the Passo Pordoi, Cima Coppi of this 105th edition of the Giro d’Italia.

Tomorrow the grand arrival and the 2022 race map will be unveiled.