This year's Giro d'Italia will take the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Vincenzo Nibali over some of the most iconic climbs in cycling.
Passo dello Stelvio, Stage 19
The Stelvio is quite simply one of the most iconic roads in the world. The spectacular switchbacks of both its western and eastern flanks are the stuff of cycling and motorbiking legend and on any given day you will find it littered with people working their way slowly up towards the 2,758m summit. For the cyclists, the climb is a humbling experience, with both its punishing length and high altitude each taking their toll. This year's Giro will ascend from Bormio in the south-west - a category-one ascent of 21.7km, averaging 7.1 per cent in gradient - before descending down the Stelvio's famous eastern hairpins to the town of Prato. It arrives mid-stage in 2013, but could still have a key say on the outcome of the race.
Val Martello, Stage 19
Val Martello doesn't carry the fame and notoriety of the Gavia or Stelvio, but at over 22km in length and with two sections late in the climb that reach a stinging 14 per cent in gradient, it is no less an obstacle. The climb also comes after the peloton has tackled the Gavia and Stelvio already the same day, so by the time the race reaches it, legs will be weary energy reserves depleted. The category-one climb also has the potential for a spectacular finish, with a short, flatter section 4km from the line being followed by a steep rise that will provide the perfect platform for late attacks.
Passo Giau, Stage 20
Along with the Stelvio, Gavia and Tre Cime di Lavaredo (see below), the Giau is one of the most feared high-altitude and long-distance climbs in Italy. A winding road ending on a summit situated among the piercing peaks of the Dolomites, it is spectacular and stubborn in equal measure. This year's Giro will tackle it from the southern side and, starting from the town of Caprile, the category-one climb is 15.6km long and averages a leg-sapping eight per cent, with some sections ramping up to over 11 per cent. Its formidable slopes could thin down the peloton ahead of a high-speed descent and subsequent stage finale on Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Stage 20
The summit of Tre Cime di Lavaredo is unquestionably one of cycling's most spectacular settings. Situated high in the Dolomites, the road reaches a summit surrounded by jagged mountain-tops and, in particular, the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, after which the climb is named. The category-one climb from the ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo is actually split in two, with the 22km distance including a short section of downhill after the Passo Tre Croci has been summitted. The road then kicks back up for another 7km to the finish line that averages a punishing 8.6 per cent in gradient. Arriving at the end of the penultimate stage of the Giro, Tre Cime di Lavaredo will be where the race will be finally won or lost.
