Why I Love the Passo dello Stelvio

Why I Love the Passo dello Stelvio: you never know what you will face.

Stage 16, yesterday, was a fantastic viewing stage, not such a great stage for the riders.

There was confusion about whether the descent of the Stelvio was to be neutralized due to the weather. This is the official announcement post stage by the race directors regarding that:

"In consideration of audio recordings of instructions relayed to Directeurs sportifs during today's stage, the Directors of the Giro d'Italia would like to clarify that Race Radio provided an inaccurate interpretation of the indications stipulated by the Directors.

As previously stated, the intention was to guarantee rider safety during the first section of the descent (the first 6 hairpins, approximately 1500 m) of the Passo dello Stelvio, where visibility was restricted due to low cloud and fog.

At no point did Race Radio or the Directors of the Giro make reference to the possible neutralization of any part of the descent."

The Ponte di Legno – Val Martello (136 km), stage saw victory for the Colombian Nairo Quintana (Team Movistar) who also took the lead in the General Classification.

In a stage affected by poor weather, with snow and freezing temperatures on the Passo Gavia and the Passo dello Stelvio, the overall standings were reshaped by Quintana, the new race leader, 1'41" ahead of Rigoberto Uran (9th in the stage at 4'11") and 3'21" ahead of Cadel Evans (tenth in the stage at 4'48").

Dario Cataldo (Team Sky) crossed the 2758 m Passo dello Stelvio, the Cima Coppi of this year’s Corsa Rosa, in first place.

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