Stage 17 Preview: Tonale and Mortirolo await those bold enough to attack

Passo del Tonale and Passo del Mortirolo – these two legendary climbs alone are enough to capture the allure and prestige of Stage 17, which the peloton will tackle today: 155 km from San Michele all’Adige (Fondazione Edmund Mach) to Bormio, with 3,800 meters of elevation gain.
After yesterday’s feast of climbs en route to Brentonico, the Giro d’Italia still isn’t satisfied and serves up another stage packed with drama, a day to be raced, read, and interpreted, with a finale open to multiple scenarios.

Tonale and Mortirolo in the central part of the Stage

A short but intense stage awaits as the peloton travels from Trentino to Valtellina. The first major climb comes after 55 km, with the Passo del Tonale (cat. 2, 15.2 km at 6%), topping out at 1883 meters above sea level. After the descent, riders will face the legendary Passo del Mortirolo from Monno (cat. 1, 12.6 km at 7.6%), which crests 48 km from the finish.

Once down, the road begins to rise again steadily, leading to the sharp ascent of Le Motte (cat. 3, 3 km at 8.2%), likely to serve as the decisive launching pad in the battle for the stage win.

Another GC battle?

The profile of the stage favors stage hunters, so we can expect a fierce battle to make it into the day’s breakaway. However, after what unfolded in San Valentino (Brentonico), it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the GC contenders make a move – testing once again the resilience of Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates–XRG) and clarifying who the true power players of this Giro really are.

Richard Carapaz (EF Education–EasyPost) and Derek Gee (Israel–PremierTech) looked the sharpest on the climbs, but keep an eye on Michael Storer (Tudor) and Simon Yates (Visma | Lease a Bike), as well as the resurgent Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe), now unshackled from domestique duties.

Timetables and Key Infos

San Michele all’Adige (Fondazione Edmund Mach) – Bormio
Distance: 155 km
Elevation gain: 3,800 meters
Start time: 12:50 p.m.
KM 0 (official race start): 1:00 p.m.
LIVE coverage begins: 11:15 a.m.
Estimated finish: around 5:10 p.m.