Why I chose this stage

• It is a Hill Top Finish. These are always the best stages to ride and watch. 
• It has a meaning. It celebrates the anniversary of the tragedy of “Superga”. The “Basiliica” of Superga is not only famous for its history. Most of the time it is remembered as the site of the Grande Torino tragedy. On May 4, 1949, the plane carrying the Grande Torino soccer team, returning from Lisbon, crashed into the back wall of the basilica of Superga, due to a probable technical failure (the weather conditions were also very bad). The accident killed the entire team along with technicians, journalists and all the flight crew. The walls partially destroyed by the impact are still visible because it was decided not to rebuild them.
• Beautiful Scenary. The climb of the Oropa mountain ends at the beautiful and historical Basilica di Superga. From its front balcony there is an astonishing view of the city of Turin and the Alps.
• It is a challenging stage. It is unusual that the there is a hill top finish at the beginning, on the second stage of the Giro, when the pros are still becoming accustomed to the race.

What part of the stage I will ride

The ride will be the last climb to the Santuario at the finish line. The climb starts from Biella. “Just” riding up this climb will be a great challenge with a spectacular view at the end. 

The Climb 

The climb is 13.5 km long, it has 5.6% average grade. The steepest grade is 13.8%. The steepest parts are at 8% grade between km 8 through 11 and the last 500 meters. You can find the climb profile here

Where to watch the pros

Since the last 500 meters are still steep at 8%, the best spot to wait for the pros is around 300 meters from the finish line. If there is a “uomo solo al comando”, he will still come by relatively slow, for a better view. If there is a small leading group the hill sprint will start a few hundredes meters from the finish, so standing before the finish line, will allow to enjoy the sprint. 

Where to stay 

The climb starts in Biella where there are many B&B, so you can leave the car at the B&B and start riding from there. At the end of the stage, you are still not too far away from your accommodation. You just need to descend 13 km. It will be slow, since the roads will still be full of cyclists and fans walking down, but it is still a short route back home. I will stay at B&B Il Cortile

How to Train for this event

For base rules on how to train for a specific route length and a climb read here

Specific for this Stage

You need to be able to ride 40-60 km at least comfortably keeping your HR in the aerobic zone. 
In this stage the climb is 13.5 km long, moderately steep, between 6 and 8% grade. So, pick a climb close to your house, that is similar in length and in average grade to the one of this event. 

In addition, looking at the profile the climb has 3 km, between km 8 and 11 at 8% grade. Can you climb at 8% grade for more than 3 km? 
If you are not trained to climb 13.5 km at 6-8% grade, start, for example, with a 4 km long climb with 4-5% grade and then every 1-2 weeks climb for longer or climb more than one hill and then progressively climb steeper hills, and then finally, pick a climb that it is as steep as 8% or more for at least 2-3 km or do a hill reps on a shorter one, but it is important that you can handle that level of steepness.