The race’s first stage, a 156km opener that starts and finishes at the beach resort of Lido di Camaiore, will be well suited to the fast wheels of the peloton. A bunch finish is by no means guaranteed however, as the sprinters will need to first negotiate the climb of Monte Pitoro three times in total early on in the stage. The next day will see the riders depart from Camaiore and finish in Chiusdino after 226km of riding. This long second stage takes place over undulating terrain, particularly after the halfway point, and will attract the race’s finisseurs. Stage 3 (189km), from Monticiano to Gualdo Tadino, begins with a series of ups and downs before a faster and flatter second half. Its finish is uphill however, although a bunch sprint shouldn’t be discounted as the gradient remains below 4% throughout.
A summit finish at Prati di Tivo awaits the riders on Saturday 13th, Stage 4. The stage will be brief at 148km in length, but intense. The first climb of the day will be the Forca di Arrone that leads onto the Rieti Valley. The peloton will then pass through the town of Rieti and begin the ascent up to Sella di Corno, followed by a long stretch of downhill that heads towards the outskirts of l’Aquila. From there, the penultimate climb of the day – the Passo Capannelle – will begin. The descent that follows, around 30km in length, is characterised by numerous bends and two long and well-lit tunnels. The final 14.5km climb to the finish at the Prati di Tivo ski station features 22 hairpin bends and an average gradient of 7%, with peaks at 12%.
Sunday 14th will play host to the ‘Tappa dei Muri’ (‘The Stage of the Walls’), from Castellalto to Castelfidardo (205km). The first 100km of the stage follows wide and straight roads (mostly along the coast) to reach the town of Castelfidardo where, after first passing through the Selva della Battaglia, the riders will enter a 23km circuit that’s set to be repeated 4 times. The circuit is characterised by a series of short but steep climbs (the ‘muri’) and corresponding descents, with one brief flat section around the half way point. The first of the ‘muri’ (or walls) hits gradients of around 18% for long stretches and is classified as a GPM on each of the four laps of the circuit. The final kilometers feature several ups and downs of course, with double-figure gradients to climb after San Rocchetto. The last kilometer takes place in Castelfidardo, entirely uphill.
Stage 6 is from Castelraimondo to Lido di Fermo (169km). It will be the last chance for the race’s sprinters to take a stage win before the final time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto. The 11.1km time trial – Stage 7 – follows an altered route compared to recent editions of the race. The race against the clock begins from the Stadio delle Palme and passes beneath the nearby railway before continuing along the well-ridden roads of the traditional route, but in the opposite direction. The route then drops down towards the Porto d’Ascoli and visits the Piazza Salvo d’Acquisto. The riders will then reach a turning point and rise back up to the seafront, heading north. After the port, the route rises slightly again towards Grottammare then traces around the old stadium and faces south to reach the finish line.
