Nothing about Stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia Women 2024 is easy. The 120km Lanciano – Blockhaus comes at the right time to try and deliver the decisive blow and take home the Maglia Rosa. The last 60 km are hellish, pure GC territory, first with the cat. 1 ascent to the Passo Lanciano (11.3 km at 8.5%), then with the ferocious final climb up to the Blockhaus, which is none other than the continuation of Passo Lanciano, for 16.5 km at 7.9%.
Located in the heart of the Majella National Park in the region of Abruzzo, the Blockhaus is one of the most fascinating and historic climbs in cycling. With its 1664 metres of altitude, it will be the highest peak of the competition, a characteristic that earned it the recognition of ‘Alfonsina Strada’ summit, one of the new features introduced by the new organisers of the race. The Blockhaus – whose name derives from a German term meaning “stone house” or “blockhouse”, referring to an old military outpost in the area – has crowned countless champions over the years. It was tackled for the first time in the Giro 1967, with victory for Eddy Merckx, followed over the years by Franco Bordero, “El Tarangu” José Manuel Fuente, Moreno Argentin, Franco Pellizotti, Nairo Quintana and Jai Hindley. This list is now ready to be enriched with the name of a female cycling star.
The stage, as mentioned, will start in the town of Lanciano, whose historic centre, dominated by the Cathedral of the Madonna del Ponte, fascinates visitors with its narrow streets and ancient squares. Famous for the 8th century Eucharistic miracle, the town attracts pilgrims from all over the world, not to mention cultural events such as the Settembre Lancianese. For food lovers, this is an area of both meat and fish, being renowned for dishes such as Abruzzo arrosticini and fish brodetto.
Lanciano also boasts a long-running history with cycling, and with the Giro in particular: in the 1930s it hosted no less than three stage finishes, with victories by Learco Guerra (x2) and Giordano Cottur. More recently, it hosted a Giro start in 2020, on the stage ending in Tortoreto and won by Peter Sagan. There is also a precedent for the Giro d’Italia Femminile: in 2003, in fact, Stage 5 started from Lanciano heading towards Alba Adriatica.
