CYCLING: Giro d’Italia 2.UWT Stage 17 2025 (ITA)

Giro d’Italia 2025: Stage 17 Preview – The Mortirolo Looms

Stage 17 of the 2025 Giro d’Italia, set for Wednesday, May 28, 2025, promises another demanding day in the high mountains. This 155-kilometer “hilly” stage from San Michele all’Adige to Bormio features a significant 3,800 meters of altitude gain and includes the legendary Passo del Mortirolo.

The Route:

The stage starts in San Michele all’Adige, and after a gradual uphill drag through Val di Non and Val di Sole, the peloton will hit the categorized climbs.

• Passo del Tonale (Category 2): The first major ascent, this climb starts around kilometer 58.8 and is 15.2 kilometers long with an average gradient of 6%. While the final kilometers are gentler, the initial sections can be steep, reaching up to 9%.
• Passo del Mortirolo (Category 1): This is the day’s marquee climb. Although it’s approached from its “easier” Monno side, it remains a formidable challenge: 12.6 kilometers long with an average gradient of 7.6%. Crucially, the final 3 kilometers are consistently in double-digit gradients, reaching up to 16%. The summit of the Mortirolo is at approximately kilometer 107.2, leaving about 48 kilometers to the finish.
• Le Motte (Category 3): After a technical descent from the Mortirolo and some valley road, this shorter, sharp climb appears closer to the finish, at around kilometer 146.1. It’s 3.1 kilometers long with an average gradient of 8.1%, hitting a maximum of 13%. From the summit, there’s a 9-kilometer descent into Bormio.

The Finish:

The last 3 kilometers into Bormio are mostly downhill, with a slight uphill kick in the final 100 meters and a few sharp corners that will require careful navigation.

Race Dynamics and GC Implications:

Despite being officially “hilly,” this stage is a tough mountain test. The Mortirolo’s summit being 48 kilometers from the finish means that while it will certainly cause significant selection, a solo move from there might be difficult to maintain. However, the punishing gradients, especially in the final kilometers of the Mortirolo, could open up substantial gaps among the General Classification (GC) contenders.

Following the dramatic Stage 16, where Primož Roglič abandoned and Isaac del Toro clung to the pink jersey, this stage presents another opportunity for GC rivals to attack. Richard Carapaz and Simon Yates, who gained time on Del Toro yesterday, will be looking to capitalize. Giulio Pellizzari, who impressed on Stage 16, could also be a rider to watch.

Giro d’Italia 2025: Stage 17 Overview – The Mortirolo Looms

Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Route: San Michele all’Adige to Bormio Distance: 155 km Type: Hilly (though heavily mountainous) Altitude Gain: Approximately 3,800 meters

This stage is a significant mountain test, despite its “hilly” official classification. It’s set to be a crucial day for the General Classification (GC) battle and will also offer substantial points for the King of the Mountains (KOM) classification.

Stage Profile:

The stage begins with a gradual uphill drag before entering the more challenging climbs.

• Passo del Tonale (Category 2):
  • Location: Summit at approx. km 69.3
  • Length: 15.2 km
  • Average Gradient: 6.1%
  • Mountain Points: 18, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1 for the first six riders over the summit.
• Passo del Mortirolo (Category 1):
  • Location: Summit at approx. km 107.3
  • Length: 12.7 km
  • Average Gradient: 7.6% (with sections up to 16% in the final 3 km)
  • Mountain Points: 40, 18, 12, 9, 6, 4, 2, 1 for the first eight riders over the summit. This is a very significant haul of points for the KOM classification.
• Le Motte (Category 3):
  • Location: Summit at approx. km 146.2
  • Length: 3.1 km
  • Average Gradient: 8% (with highs of 13%)
  • Mountain Points: 9, 4, 2, 1 for the first four riders over the summit.

Intermediate Sprints for Points Classification:

There are three opportunities to gain points for the Maglia Ciclamino (Points Classification) during Stage 17:

• Sprint 1: Cles
  • Location: km 23.5
  • Points: 12, 8, 5, 3, 1 for the first five riders.
• Sprint 2: Vezza d’Oglio
  • Location: km 89.9
  • Points: 12, 8, 5, 3, 1 for the first five riders.
• Red Bull KM Sprint: Le Prese
  • Location: km 130.1
  • Points: 15, 8, 5, 3, 1 for the first five riders. This also offers time bonuses (6″, 4″, 2″) for the first three.
• Finish Line Points:
  • Location: Bormio
  • Points: As a “hilly” stage (3 stars), the finish awards points: 25, 18, 12, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for the first ten riders. Time bonuses for the GC are also awarded here: 10″, 6″, 4″ for the top three.

Classification Standings Entering Stage 17 (pre-stage start):

General Classification (Maglia Rosa):

1. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
2. Simon Yates (Team Visma – Lease a Bike) + 26″
3. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) + 31″

Mountains Classification (Maglia Azzurra):

1. Lorenzo Fortunato (XDS Astana Team) – 319 points
2. Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team) – 125 points
3. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – 54 points

Points Classification (Maglia Ciclamino):

1. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) – 240 points
2. Olav Kooij (Team Visma – Lease a Bike) – 135 points
3. Casper van Uden (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) – 88 points

Outlook for Stage 17:

This stage presents multiple opportunities. For the KOM classification, the Mortirolo offers a substantial points haul, making it a key target for riders like Lorenzo Fortunato who currently leads the classification, or those looking to challenge him.

For the Points Classification, while there are intermediate sprints, the mountainous nature of the stage means pure sprinters are unlikely to contend for the win. Points at the finish will likely go to climbers or strong all-rounders who survive the mountains.

The General Classification battle will continue to intensify. The Mortirolo, despite being 48km from the finish, is tough enough to cause significant gaps. The descent and the short, punchy Le Motte climb before Bormio could also be decisive. Expect attacks from GC contenders looking to exploit any weakness, especially from Carapaz and Yates who are close on time to Del Toro. A strong breakaway with good climbers also has a strong chance of staying clear for the stage win, given the difficulty of the climbs and the potential for GC riders to mark each other.

Summary of the 17th stage of the 2025 Giro d’Italia

Stage 17 of the 2025 Giro d’Italia was a mountainous 155-kilometer ride from San Michele all’Adige to Bormio, featuring challenging climbs including the Passo del Tonale (Category 2), the iconic Passo del Mortirolo (Category 1, from its “easier” Monno side but still a grueling ascent), and a final Category 3 climb to Le Motte before a downhill run to the finish.

Despite facing significant pressure and an initial fading performance on the climbs, Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates XRG), who had seen his overall lead drastically cut in the previous stage, showcased remarkable resilience. He launched a decisive attack on the final climb of Le Motte, breaking away from his general classification rivals.

Romain Bardet (Picnic-PostNL), who was part of an earlier breakaway and looked set for a stage victory, was caught in the closing kilometers after a strong effort. Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), a key GC contender who had been showing excellent form, also made strong moves and collaborated with Del Toro in the final kilometers to distance other rivals.

In a thrilling finish, Isaac Del Toro crossed the line first, securing the stage victory and valuable bonus seconds. Romain Bardet finished second, and Richard Carapaz third, both just a few seconds behind. This impressive performance allowed Del Toro to extend his lead in the General Classification, putting more time into his closest challengers like Simon Yates, who was distanced by Del Toro’s attack.

The stage was a testament to Del Toro’s determination and ability to bounce back, solidifying his position in the pink jersey despite the relentless mountain challenges of the Giro’s final week.

Distinctive jerseys after 17th stage of the 2025 Giro d’Italia

Source: https://www.instagram.com/giroditalia/