Giro d'Italia 2025 - Prediction stage 9

Sunday May 18th 2025: Stage 9 - Gubbio- Siena (181km, sterrati)

On Sunday 18 May, the ninth stage of the Giro d’Italia will be all about Tuscan gravel: a Strade Bianche-like 181-kilometre ride between Gubbio and Siena. The riders will face five unpaved sections, together accounting for almost thirty kilometres of dirt roads, and will finish on the iconic Piazza del Campo in Siena, one of Europe’s most famous medieval squares.

After a relatively quiet start in medieval Gubbio, the route first takes them over asphalt towards the first climb of the day, La Cima (4.3 km at 7.5%). This is followed by several rolling sections, including the Poggio del Castagnolo (3.6 km at 4.7%). At about 70 kilometers from the finish, the gravel adventure begins with the Pieve a Salti section, after which the riders have to conquer the long sterrati of Serravalle and San Martino in Grania (both over 9 kilometers) almost without interruption. San Martino in Grania has steep sections of up to 9.1% and at the end there is another 1 kilometer of 7% uphill.

The fourth unpaved section is short but tough, with a steep climb towards Vico d’Arbia. Then follows the infamous Colle Pinzuto, a 2.4 kilometer gravel path with a wall of 15%5. After the last gravel section, there are still 14 kilometers left, with the terrain continuing to undulate until the riders enter the historic city center of Siena.

The finale is identical to that of the one-day classic Strade Bianche: the road climbs in the last 1.7 kilometres, with the Via Santa Caterina as the deciding factor – 500 metres at 12.4%, with peaks of up to 16% – before a technical descent to the Piazza del Campo. There, the finish awaits on the characteristic, fan-shaped square, surrounded by ancient buildings and known for the annual horse race Palio di Siena.

This stage is ideally suited to classic specialists and all-rounders who can handle gravel and steep slopes well. GC riders will have to be alert to not lose any time on this spectacular day, which is considered one of the toughest and most unpredictable of this Giro

📺Eurosport 1 (13.15 u), Sporza (13.30 u), NPO 1 (13.30 u)
⏰10.10 u
🏁16.25 u
⛅️Clowded, light wind, 17 degrees