The third stage immediately tackles the panoramic climb of “Scala Piccada” and then heads into the mountainous interior, among lakes, pastures, plateaus, and small villages perched on mountaintops: it will be a delightful discovery for everyone, who will discover beautiful, traffic-free areas and finally enjoy the spectacular position of the finish line, set against a stunning panorama of the entire Golfo del Corallo and Alghero. The decision to descend the “Scala Piccada” outside of the race was made to allow cyclists to enjoy the spectacle from various angles and … to avoid the risks of a technical descent near the finish line!
STARTING LINE-UP – Lungomare Valencia-Alghero (100 meters from the Hotel Carlos V°; 13 km from the Hotel Corte Rosada) starting grids are formed without any precedence or preference: whoever enters the grid first starts in front, and the others behind.
THE ROUTE: 116.98 km – total elevation gain 2,103 m – (Openrunner code: 24947997)
This is a challenging stage that will certainly provide an initial definition of the overall rankings! After one kilometer at a controlled speed, the race begins on the SS292 and immediately begins the climb up the “Scala di Giocca” with its panoramic hairpin bends. After a short downhill stretch, the route continues uphill to the first houses of Villanova Monteleone, which you leave behind by taking the SP12, which you follow until the junction for Montresta, where there is a refreshment point (km 45); shortly after, the cyclists turn onto the SP88 of Monte Minerva, which leads back to the SS292, where the route division is located (km 50). The GranGiro route turns right and, passing beneath the hilltop village of Monteleone Rocca Doria, crosses the small town of Padria and joins the SP11, then re-enters the SP88 of Monte Minerva a second time, which leads back to the SS292, but this time it turns left and, after skirting Lake Temo, tackles the climb that goes around the town of Villanova Monteleone and then descends to 350 meters above sea level at the “Scala Piccada” roadhouse, where the finish line is located. Cyclists then descend to Alghero, enjoying the view in a relaxed manner, and return to the hotel, NOT in the race.
