Stage 16 Preview: San Valentino Hosts the First Major Showdown

The third week kicks off with a monster of a stage: nearly 5,000 meters of climbing on terrain that defines why the Giro d’Italia is known as “the world’s toughest race in the world’s most beautiful country.”
The 203 km from Piazzola sul Brenta to San Valentino (Brentonico) feature four categorized climbs, three of them first-category beasts. There will be no hiding today – this is a day that will take prisoners. Stage 16 is a key crossroads, both for the Maglia Rosa and the battle for the Maglia Azzurra of best climber. If you’ve been waiting for the fireworks, they start here. Buckle up! It’s going to be a war in the mountains.

Climbs that hurt the legs and burn the lungs

After rolling out from the stunning Villa Contarini in Piazzola sul Brenta, the peloton heads toward Trentino via the Val d’Astico, taking on the Valico della Fricca – and from there, it’s full gas: no flat, no breathers, just a relentless chain of climbs and descents.
It all starts with La Fricca (cat. 2 – 13 km at 4.5%), a warm-up climb before things get serious. Next up is Candriai (cat. 1 – 10.1 km at 7.6%), effectively the tougher half of the legendary Monte Bondone.
A short descent leads to Vigo Cavedine (cat. 3), but the big test comes with Santa Barbara, also known as Monte Velo – a brutal cat. 1 climb, 12.7 km long with an unforgiving 8.3% average gradient.

At that point, just 35 km will remain to the finish, and by then the race should already be deeply fractured. But it’s the final climb to San Valentino di Brentonico that’s expected to decide the outcome of the stage. This final ascent stretches 18.2 km with an average gradient of 6.1% – a number that hides the real bite of the climb due to a few false-flat sections.
The real damage is likely to come in the heart of the climb, between kilometers 9 and 13.5, where the gradient kicks up to a punishing 9.2% average. And just when the riders think it’s easing off, the road rears up again in the final 2 km at 8.9%.

Del Toro faces the moment of truth

First and foremost, all eyes are on Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates–XRG). He’s looked incredibly strong so far, but now he faces the real test: the high mountains. Today will tell us whether he’s a true GC leader in a Grand Tour, or if the pink jersey starts to slip from his shoulders.
Then there’s his teammate Juan Ayuso, who has kept a relatively low profile despite his win in Tagliacozzo. He’s clearly biding his time—and may have circled this stage to make his move.
And let’s not forget the two aggressors of the second week: Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education–EasyPost). Both have shown attacking intent and are climbing into form. Expect them to turn up the heat again today.
Stage 16 isn’t just a queen stage – it’s the stage that could finally draw the battle lines for the Maglia Rosa.

It will also be a crucial test for several riders still in the mix, or hoping to be.
Simon Yates (Visma | Lease a Bike) sits in a strong position on GC and has the pedigree for big mountain stages, but today will show whether he’s truly in contention for the overall or fighting for the podium.
Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) continues to impress in his breakout Giro, and Stage 16 will be his first real exam in the high mountains against the top guns. And Derek Gee (Israel–Premier Tech), ever consistent and versatile, will aim to prove he belongs among the contenders—not just in breakaways, but in the thick of the GC fight.
As for Primož Roglič (Red Bull–Bora–hansgrohe), the biggest disappointment of the race so far, today may well decide whether there’s still a Giro left to salvage – or if the crash in Siena has taken him out of the running for good.

San Valentino: timetables and Key Infos

Piazzola sul Brenta – San Valentino (Brentonico)
Length: 203 km
Elevation gain: 4,900 meters
Start: 11:20 a.m.
KM 0 (official race start): 11:35 a.m.
LIVE coverage begins: 09:50 a.m.
Estimated finish: Around 5:15 p.m.