Giro d'Italia organisation: There is a 60 per cent chance that we can climb the Gavia
May 22 2019 12:11 am CET
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The Passo Gavia is all covered in a thick layer of snow but the organisation of the Giro d'Italia trusts that the conditions will be good for the moment the peloton has to do the iconic ascent.
The mountain in the Italian Alps will be climbed on the 16th stage of the Corsa Rosa on the Tuesday 28th of May, just after the second rest day of the race. Its highest point, at 2600 metres, will be the place of the mythical Cima Coppi, the highest point of this edition of the race.
The pictures of the pass show high walls of snow -Italian media reports up to four metres high- and machinery trying to clear it up, but the race organisation maintains the hope that it will be ready for the stage, but has a plan B. "As it looks now, there is a 60 per cent chance that we can climb the Gavia," said Giro d'Italia director Mauro Vegni to Italian newspaper Il Giorno.
"If the weather is good and it doesn't snow again, I am sure we don't have to change the stage. Otherwise, we will plan an alternative route."
It is rumoured that the Plan B is to climb the Montirolo twice but the Mayor of Ponti di Legno -municipality of the climb- Ennio Donati says that every effort is being made to avoid this from happening. "We are working very hard to clear the roads to the top," he explained.
"If the weather conditions get better, I am sure we will succeed. Unfortunately, the weather is the only thing we cannot control."
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