Giro 2024:- Stage 7: Foligno – Perugia, 40.6km (ITT)​ ***Spoilers**

Stage 7: Foligno – Perugia, 40.6km (ITT)

Individual time trial clearly divided into two parts. The first 32 km, flat and largely non-technical, lead to the foot of Umbria’s capital city of Perugia. The riders then tackle the ascent of Casaglia, with gradients up to 16%. The road climbs in fits and starts all the way to the finish line. They course features an elevation gain of 380 metres. There are two intermediate time checks – at – kilometre 17.2 and at kilometre 30.7.

Foligno hosted two sprint finishes on the Giro in the last decade. Nacer Bouhanni took the spoils in 2014, while Peter Sagan bested Fernando in 2021.

climb detail

final kilometres

The last few kilometres are all uphill with gradients reaching double figures. Several bends and counter-slopes before the wide final hairpin bends leading to the final straight. To be noted at 6.4 km from the finish line the 1300 m of Casaglia at almost 12% with peaks of 16%. Final straight of 250 m on a 6 m wide cobbled road.

Foligno

Overview

Foligno, located in the centre of Umbria and Italy, is also traditionally referred to as the Centre of the World. A hub of important road and rail communication routes, the town is crossed by the Topino river. The territory is vast and features small villages scattered on the surrounding hills and on the overlooking plain. Visitors who come to Foligno can enjoy the warm hospitality of its inhabitants, the excellent cuisine, the typical atmosphere of the alleys leading into large squares, the historical and architectural monuments, and the numerous noble palaces dotting its historical centre, so much so that Foligno is also known as the “City of Palaces”. In June and September, visitors can watch the Giostra della Quintana, an equestrian challenge between the city’s districts competing for the palio, and the Historical Procession in sumptuous 17th-century clothing.

Speciality food

Foligno’s agricultural produce retains its exquisite authenticity, such as Cave beans, ‘Gobbi’ (cardoons), heart tomatoes and the particular fragrance and scent of local extra virgin olive oil obtained from the moraiolo variety typical of this area.

Multi-flower honey is also produced here from the nectar of several botanical species: sunflower, chestnut, acacia, etc.

Foligno’s signature dishes are: Strangozzi with truffle, Tagliatelle and gnocchi with mutton, Pigeon Foligno style, Trout from Menotre in porchetta, Cheese pizza with salami, Lentils and red potatoes from Colfiorito.

A delight for the palate and a local speciality is the Rocciata, a typical pastry from Foligno, consisting of a thin sheet of dough made from wheat flour that envelops a mixture of walnuts, sugar, olive oil and apples, to which other ingredients such as alkermes, cocoa, sultanas, dried figs, cinnamon and pine nuts can be added according to the confectioners’ taste or imagination.

Crescionda

Crescionda is a traditional Italian cake originating from Spoleto in Central Italy. This chocolate cake is enriched with amaretti biscuits and aniseed liqueur. It's usually made with a combination of eggs, sugar, flour, lemon zest, milk, Sambuca, dark chocolate, amaretti biscuits, salt, and icing sugar for dusting.

Perugia

Perugia is a city rich in history and culture, with several fascinating places to explore. It’s known for its defensive walls around the historic center. The medieval Priori Palace exhibits regional art from the 13th century onward. Looking onto Piazza IV Novembre, the Gothic cathedral houses Renaissance paintings and frescoes. In the square's center, Fontana Maggiore is a marble fountain with carvings of biblical scenes and zodiac signs.

Speciality food

The Torcolo di San Costanzo is a typical doughnut-shaped cake from Perugia, which is prepared for the feast day of Saint Costanzo, one of the city’s patron saints, whose martyrdom is commemorated on 29 January. In the 16th century, on the saint’s feast day, wealthy congregations bought large quantities of Torcolo to be distributed to the poor.