INEOS Grenadiers’ Thymen Arensman will face a crucial test against his primary Giro d’Italia rivals this week at the Tour of the Alps, a key preparation race now under threat from a forecast of severe wintry weather on Stage 2.
The five-day stage race through the Austrian and Italian Alps serves as a final tune-up for many riders targeting the Grand Tour next month. Arensman’s main competition includes Ben O’Connor (Jayco-AlUla), the aggressive Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), and the formidable Derek Gee (Lidl-Trek). He will also be supported by INEOS Grenadiers teammate and former Grand Tour winner Egan Bernal.
While the opening stage on Monday is a 144.3-kilometer circuit around Innsbruck featuring two ascents of the Goetzens climb, the major story heading into the race is the ominous weather predicted for Tuesday. Stage 2 is slated to cover 147.5 kilometers from Sillian to Val Martello, tackling the Piller Hoehe and Passo Resia before a punishing 8% gradient finish climb.
Forecasts predict temperatures will plummet to a frigid 2°C on the Piller Hoehe climb, with the Val Martello finish expected to hover near freezing. The combination of significant altitude, cold rain, and potential snow has raised serious concerns among teams and organizers about rider safety. There are significant question marks over whether racing will even be possible on the most affected sections of the route, potentially forcing organizers to alter or neutralize the stage.
The weather adds a volatile and unpredictable element to an already demanding race. The subsequent stages offer little respite, with the parcours growing progressively more difficult. Stage 3 is a long 174.5-kilometer journey featuring the Passo Castrin, a monstrous 22.2-kilometer ascent.
Stage 4 is arguably the hardest, with 4,000 meters of elevation gain across 167.8 kilometers, including the brutal Passo Bordala and Redebus climbs. The race concludes with a shorter but sharp 128.6-kilometer stage finishing on the Montoppio, a 12.7-kilometer climb at 7%.
The impending harsh conditions on Stage 2 could dramatically reshape the general classification battle before it truly begins, forcing riders to manage extreme conditions as much as their opponents. All eyes will be on the race organization's decisions regarding Tuesday's stage, with the outcome having significant implications for the riders' final preparations just weeks before the Giro d'Italia commences.