The course winds through the Apennine hills south of Genoa, stringing together short climbs and descents that rarely allow the peloton to settle. The defining characteristic is repetition: not one decisive mountain, but a succession of rises that wear down the field and reward riders who can handle changes of pace. The finale typically features a punchy climb or a technical descent into the finish, and positioning into that closing sequence often determines the outcome. Breakaways can survive if they time the move correctly and the peloton hesitates, but the terrain also suits aggressive favorites who can force selection through repeated accelerations. Weather in the Apennines can shift quickly, adding another variable to an already tactical race.