Stage 16 | Tuesday, 23 May | Sabbio Chiese - Monte Bondone | 203 kilometres
For the majority of the first 60 kilometres, the route runs in a northerly direction directly along the shores of Lake Garda and is flat. The number of kilometres underground is not insignificant, as more than 30 tunnels are passed through on this section.
Only then do the riders encounter the difficulties of the day. After almost 77 kilometres, the summit of the Passo di Santa Barbara is reached. But to get there, it's all uphill for 12,700 metres. And that at an average of 8.3 per cent, with the upper section being the flatter part. All in all, this is a 1st category mountain. After a three-kilometre descent, the next climb is the Passo Bordala. But because the peloton starts relatively high up there and only needs a little more than four kilometres to reach the highest point, this is only a 3rd category climb.
Once at the top, the route continues downhill into the Adige valley. And then straight back up to Matassone - 13 kilometres at around five per cent - and after a short up and down to Serrada. That's another 17 kilometres of climbing at 5.5 per cent. Once there, two 2nd category climbs are completed.
The only thing missing is the final climb to Monte Bondone south-west of Trento. Over 21.4 kilometres, the riders gain 1430 metres in altitude - that's an average of 6.7 percent and a maximum of 15 percent. The last three kilometres are only moderately steep at just under four percent.
Sporting assessment of the 16th stage
After the shortening of the 13th stage without the Cima Coppi on the Gran San Bernardo, this stage together with the 19th stage is the non plus ultra of this year's Giro. 5200 metres in altitude, 203 kilometres - only the best can be at the front at the end.
That's why the eventual overall winner of the tour will be one of the first to cross the finish line. This is where the favourites have to lay all their cards on the table.
Schedule, TV coverage & live stream of the 16th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2023
At 10:50, the riders will gather at the start line to tackle 6.5 neutralised kilometres. For the 203 kilometres that follow, average speeds of between 31 and 35 km/h are expected for the winner, which corresponds to a finish between 16:50 and 17:43.
Eurosport will broadcast all stages of the Giro d'Italia 2023. The 16th stage will be shown free-to-air on Eurosport 1 from 10.30am. Including post-stage coverage, the broadcast will run until 17:45. The paid providers GCN+ and Discovery+ will also be showing a live stream on the internet from 10.30am.
Giro d'Italia 2023 - Stage 16: The most important information at a glance
- High mountain stage with mountain finish over 203 kilometres
- Start of the stage: 10:50 am
- Estimated arrival time: between 16:50 and 17:43
- TV broadcast: 10:30 - 17:45 Eurosport 1
- Live stream: GCN+ and Discovery+ from 10:30 a.m.
