The objective is to bring the kids ever closer to professionalism – many of whom already alternate U23 activity with that of the adults – and so here is the Giro Next Gen 2024 offers 8 stages suitable for any type of runner. Time trials, sprints, mixed stages and uphill finishes, nothing is really missing.
It runs from 9 to 16 June and will start from Aosta with an individual time trial of 8.8 km with departure and arrival from the Aosta Valley capital. Given the geographical area, it is impossible to guarantee a totally flat test and in fact, halfway through the route, the runners will climb from Località Grande Charriere to Beauregard (climb of approximately 1200 metres), where the intermediate is located. The first Maglia Rosa, therefore, will have to be very good at managing themselves on a rather treacherous route.
The second stage develops entirely in the heart of the Aosta Valley. We start from Aymavillesa town immersed in the greenery of vineyards and orchards, dominated by the Grivola, as well as the gateway to‘access to Gran Paradiso National Park, and we go in the direction of Courmayeur, where the flying finish line is located. The stage then continues until Côte de Champ de Vigne, to be overcome 8 km from the finish, which could upset the plans of the fast men and instead open up to the finisseurs. The finish line is set at Saint Vincentthe so-called “Riviera of the Alps”where the winner will be rewarded afterwards 107km of battle.
Third stage and we are already starting to climb quite decisively. We start from Vèrres and after 110 rather eventful km, which will take the group from the Aosta Valley to the Canavese and up the Lanzo valleys, once we arrive in Ceres, we will begin to climb the 1761 meters of Pian della Mussa, famous for its aqueduct. Let’s talk about one real climb, 20.1 km long, quite cycleable for 16 km, with gradients from 4 to 6%, and then more impervious in the final part, with constant gradients between 9 and 10%. Whoever aims to win the Maglia Rosa will necessarily have to be ready and, why not, begin to cause all their opponents a bit of difficulty.
After three full days, on the fourth day, the sprinters will finally have space to try to leave their stamp on the Giro Next Gen 2024. There Pertusio – Borgomanero Of 139 km, in fact, does not present any altimetric difficulties, except for the short and simple GPM of Traversagna 34 km from the finish. In the finale, in Borgomanero, a circuit of approximately 11 km to be repeated twice will decide the winner of the fourth stage.
Those of the sprinters who were unable to leave their mark the day before in Borgomanero will immediately have the opportunity to make up for it in the Bergamo-Cremona Of 138km. From an altimetric point of view, the stage is even simpler, given that it is a real billiard table, except for the small slope of the Belfuggito climb, halfway through the route.
Altimetry in hand, it is probably the queen stage of the Giro Next Gen 2024. There Borgo Virgilio – Fosse Of 160km, in fact, has 4 GPM and an uphill finish, for a total of 3200 meters of altitude difference. Whoever wants to win the race will necessarily have to move here, because then it could be too late to reverse a poor ranking situation. After 55 flat km, the first climb will take the runners to Fane da Negrar di Valpolicella (about 10 km passing through Prun), but the slopes will start to get steeper in the following roughness, which goes towards Lines. It’s 4 km at 8.2% that will surely stick in the runners’ legs. After the finish line in Marano di Valpolicella we will then start climbing again towards I ride (8.3 km at 5.6%), with the summit expected 43 km from the finish. However, the final climb of Fosse will decide the stage: 9km at 8.5%destined to make big differences between the men in the rankings.
It’s not time to celebrate yet Giro Next Gen 2024, because if it is true that the Valpolicella stage could give an almost definitive boost to the general classification, on the other hand the last two stages still hide pitfalls. Stage 7, the Montegrotto Terme – Zocca Of 180km, it is very easy in the first part, but then the arrival is uphill in the Modena area, without considering that we are talking about the longest stage of this edition. The final climb measures just over 11 km and the average slope is 4.3%, which however is not entirely truthful, given that the climb is interrupted by a stretch of flat ground of about 2 km which makes it seem easier than it actually is. The most complicated section is the final one, given that the ramp leading to Zocca has constant gradients above 10%.
The last stage, which promises sparks until the last kilometre, will start from Cesena. At the start the climbs of Strigara and Formignano will be tackled, but it will be the final circuit of Forlimpopoli16.8 km long and to be repeated 4 times, will decide the stage and, perhaps, the Giro Next Gen. In each round, in fact, the steep climb will have to be faced Bertinoro (about 2.5 km with 6-8% gradients), located 7 km from the finish line, which in the long run could create selection and push someone to give it a serious try. In total, they will be 137 kilometers to tackle.
