The pink jersey in the fight -
SIPA
The Giro will change course, Saturday, during the 20th and penultimate stage, and will not pass through France because of the provisions related to Covid 19, announced its director Mauro Vegni, Wednesday, after the arrival of the 17th. stopover at Madonna di Campiglio.
The organizers have planned an alternative route, much less mountainous, which favors a triple climb to Sestriere, the end of the stage.
“The authorization which had been granted to us for the passage of the race by the prefecture in France was withdrawn.
On the basis of the new anti-Covid rules, the French authorities have told us that we cannot climb the Agnel, Izoard and Montgenèvre ”, declared Mauro Vegni.
Even in bad weather
"The only alternative would have been the Fenestre pass, but the weather forecast does not allow it," said the director of the Giro.
The new route therefore includes three climbs to Sestriere, the first by Pragelato, the next two by Cesena.
“It's a stage that gives us the guarantee of being able to take place even in bad weather.
It was in no way possible to reproduce the same difficulties as those of the initial stage, ”admitted the director of the Giro.
The stage was to cross the Agnel passes, on the Franco-Italian border, at an altitude of more than 2700 meters, and Izoard, before returning to Italy via the Montgenèvre pass and reaching the Sestriere resort.
On the other hand, Mauro Vegni confirmed the passage on Thursday of the 18th stage by the Stelvio, which rises to 2758 meters above sea level.
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