Packing the intermediate surface(Image credit: Igor Tavella)
The road to Plan de Corones(Image credit: Igor Tavella)
The hairpins are steep and gravelly(Image credit: Igor Tavella)
The road to the top is not in the best condition(Image credit: Igor Tavella)
Snow has hampered work in recent days(Image credit: Igor Tavella)
Packing the intermediate surface on the Plan de Corones(Image credit: Igor Tavella)
The Giro d'Italia's 17th stage promises to be one of the most spectacular of the race, even if some feel that the organisers have gone too far in putting the finish on the Plan de Corones, at the top of a steep, unpaved road. The climb itself is tough, averaging 7.5% for 16.9 km, with several sections of over 20%. The final kilometre averages 14% and includes 24% and 22% ramps. It reaches 2273m altitude, starting from 1012m. But it's more the quality of the riding surface that has had everyone concerned. Will it be necessary to use mountain bike tyres for the Giro d'Italia?
In true Italian style, the road is being resurfaced at the moment, as Igor Tavella, who visited the climb recently, reports. "Now they are working day and night to be able to finish the road. Due to the last snowfalls, they had to stop for some days, but now the work goes further. They will finish it in time. The weather forecast for the next days is good so there should be no delay in the pouring of the last hard surface.
"On Sunday night they finished putting the intermediate surface down, and yesterday they started with putting the hard surface down. This is a special surface, as it is a mixture of rock debris and 4 percent cement, and will need three days to rest. So it should be all finished for Friday-Saturday."
