The route changes each year but tends to favor riders who can climb short, steep gradients and descend with confidence on narrow, technical roads. Stages rarely exceed 120 kilometers, which keeps the racing compressed and the peloton together longer than in continental stage races. Time bonuses at stage finishes and intermediate sprints often matter as much as the climbs themselves. Crosswinds are possible but not guaranteed. The race is usually decided by a combination of a summit finish or uphill sprint, a well-timed attack on a rolling stage, and the ability to avoid trouble when the roads tighten and the weather turns. Pure climbers can win here, but so can punchy all-rounders who stay alert and finish in the front group every day.
Race pattern
<p>The route changes each year but tends to favor riders who can climb short, steep gradients and descend with confidence on narrow, technical roads. Stages rarely exceed 120 kilometers, which keeps the racing compressed and the peloton together longer than in continental stage races. Time bonuses at stage finishes and intermediate sprints often matter as much as the climbs themselves. Crosswinds are possible but not guaranteed. The race is usually decided by a combination of a summit finish or uphill sprint, a well-timed attack on a rolling stage, and the ability to avoid trouble when the roads tighten and the weather turns. Pure climbers can win here, but so can punchy all-rounders who stay alert and finish in the front group every day.</p>
