Both races start at Vignola and end at the top of the Santuario di San Luca (last seen in the Tour de France in July) but the women and men take very different routes to get there.
The women’s race is 113.8 very Po-flat kilometers long as you can see here:
Twice, including the finale, they go up through the porticoes to San Luca but until then the race is a tour of the Po valley. We can expect the peloton to have ridden down any break and all will be even as they start the climb for the first time.
Ursula channeling Jens’ pick of the day: defending champ Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig. Yeah, she’s had a tough year so let’s make it right with a win.
Meanwhile the men go in the opposite direction, south: the part of the Apennines locally called the Bologna Hills, before turning north and descending into Bologna proper and up the San Luca climb five times.
Still, the winner will most likely come from the last climb up to the Sanctuary.
Ursula channeling Jens’ pick of the day: Well I know someone will want to make a fashion statement:
May I say I just looooooove this race? Yes I can. That finishing climb with the portico is just magic to my eyes and this is just me but this is the best finish in all of cycling. Bar. None. Fight me.
Enjoy.
