What starts as a flat stage across the Po Valley for most of the 198 kilometres from Alessandria for stage 13 of the Giro d'Italia makes an abrupt change with 27km to go. It is on the last stretch of roads at the foot of the Alps and into Verbania where the majority of 1,400 metres of elevation gain will be tackled.
Maybe a breakaway can succeed for a second day in a row for the flat final run to Piazza Garibaldi. But it is more than just a transition stage for more mountains to come. For Filippo Ganna (Netcompany Ineos), it's a chance to earn a victory in the town where he grew up.
Starting from the historic city of Alessandria, with an immense citadel, the peloton winds its way from south to north. Once passing through Arona, the peloton will move on the western shore of Lake Maggiore for the action-packed finale. The first race within the race enters at kilometre 155.7, where an intermediate sprint will be contested at Stresa. Then the climbs and a Red Bull Kilometre come into view after 9km on the lake.
The first ascent is the category 4 Bieno, a 2.4km road with a pitch at 7.7%, but an average of 5.5%. A 3km sloping descent leads to Trobaso and then the 4.7km third-category climb to Ungiasca, with several kilometres above 10%. From the summit, the road descends southward for the final 13.3km to Verbania and the finish.
The scenery on the last 3km will be stunning, as the riders sail along the shoreline. The final 300 metres is pan flat, so the only scenery for the sprinters will be the finish banner.
It has been 11 years since the Giro last finished in Verbania, where Philippe Gilbert attacked from a breakaway to win solo, his second stage win at the 2015 edition of the race. Is this where Ganna will prove himself as more than a time trial specialist? After all, not only is Verbania his hometown but a victory on Friday would be his second in this year's race, too.
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Profile of stage 13 for the 2026 Giro d'Italia(Image credit: RCS Sport)
Route map of stage 13 for the 2026 Giro d'Italia(Image credit: RCS Sport)
Timings
Start time: 12:40 CET
Finish time: 17:13 CET
Mountains
Bieno (cat. 4, 2.4km at 5.5%), km. 167.7
Ungiasca (cat. 3, 4.7km at 7.1%, max. 13%), km. 175.7
Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. On the bike, she has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast), and spends time on gravel around horse farms in north Georgia.
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