Stage 19 | Friday, 26 May | Longarone - Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Rifugio Auronzo) | 183 kilometres
From Longarone, the route initially makes a small turn to the south - but only to take a run-up and then head northwards into the Dolomites. From kilometre 20, the route climbs steadily until the highest point of the Passo Campolongo is reached after just over 87 kilometres of racing. However, the climb to Campolongo is only measured at four kilometres, which is why it is only rated as a 2nd category climb.
Unlike the Passo Valparola and the Passo Giau (both 1st category), which seamlessly follow directly after a descent. While the Valparola has a few flatter sections over its 14 kilometres and therefore has an average gradient of 5.6 percent, the Giau is much more demanding with a gradient of almost ten percent over ten kilometres.
There is no respite after that either. Because after the descent, which is just as steep, winding and therefore dangerous as the previous ones, the route leads straight back up Passo Tre Croci, which has 7.2 per cent to offer over eight kilometres. Once the summit is reached, the route descends again briefly before tackling the final ascent to the Tre Cime, the Three Peaks. After the Gran San Bernardo was removed from the programme due to the risk of avalanches, the finish line at 2304 metres at the Auronzo Hut is the Cima Coppi of this year's Giro d'Italia.
But to get there, the last 1st category mountain, which is ridden in the peloton, must also be climbed. The last 3,200 metres in particular are a challenge on the 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2023, which is not an everyday occurrence even for mountain specialists, with an average gradient of 11.7 per cent - 18 per cent at the top.
Sporting assessment of the 19th stage
5400 metres in altitude in one day - that's as high as it gets in this Giro. The final climb is particularly tough. If you are in the red too early after the difficulties of the stage and the entire tour, you can lose everything. This applies to the battle for the overall classification, but also for the stage win.
Attacks that aim to achieve a top result in the stage classification - and therefore also in the overall classification - and are mounted before the climb to the Giau are sporting suicide. The favourites for the overall classification will probably wait until the last climb of the day to minimise the risk - if anyone dares to do so.
But even if the gaps in the classification widen on this monster stage, this will only be a preliminary decision at best. Because just as this stage can turn everything upside down, so can the mountain time trial the following day.
Schedule, TV coverage & live stream of the 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia 2023
After covering 8.2 kilometres after a neutral start at 11:35, the average speed for the winner is expected to be between 32 and 36 km/h over the course of the stage. The expected arrival time is therefore between 16:52 and 17:36.
Eurosport will broadcast all stages of the Giro d'Italia 2023. The 19th stage will be shown free-to-air on Eurosport 1 from 11:15 am. 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 11.15am.
Giro d'Italia 2023 - Stage 19: The most important information at a glance
- High mountain stage with mountain finish over 183 kilometres
- Start of the stage: 11:35 am
- Estimated arrival time: between 16:52 and 17:36
- TV broadcast: 11:15 - 17:45 Eurosport 1
- Live stream: GCN+ and Discovery+ from 11:15 a.m.
