The Cima Coppi is the race to the summit of the highest mountain pass in that year’s Giro d’Italia. The awardwas first introduced in 1965, five years after the untimely death of Italy’s “Il Campionissimo” (Champion of Champions) Fausto Coppi.

The Cima Coppi List in the Giro d'Italia

2016: Colle dell'Agnello, Michele Scarponi (Ita)

Stage 19’s race route was the first stage in 2016 to head into the high mountains and featured the Cima Coppi on the Colle Dell’Agnello and a summit stage finish to Risoul (Fra). Climbing superbly Michele Scarponi won the Cima Coppi and then he sat-up to wait for his team leader Vincenzo Nibali. By the finish Nibali had gained 5 minutes on race leader Steven Kruijswijk.

2017: Passo Dello Stelvio, Mikel Landa (Spa)

The Cima Coppi was the Stelvio Pass in 2017 and came during 222 km stage from Rovetta to Bormio. A strong breakaway formed, and Mikel Landa led the group over the Stelvio, winning his 2nd Cima Coppi prize (1st in 2015). Landa also earned the Mountain Jersey for his efforts.

2018: Colle delle Finestre, Chris Froome (GBr)

The 19th stage would be one of the most epic days in cycling history. The 185 km from Torino (Venaria Reale) to Bardonecchia (Monte Jafferau) featured 4 brutal climbs: the Colle di Lys, the Colle delle Finestre (the last 9km on gravel) and the finishing climb to Bardonecchia.

The race leader was Simon Yates. Chris Froome wasn’t riding well, he started the day fourth overall, trailing Yates by 3’22” and 2’54” behind Tom Dumoulin in the GC. Froome’s Team Sky drove an extremely hard pace as the climb of the Colle delle Finestre (the Cima Coppi). The pace put Yates into difficulty early on the climb. Two kilometers from the summit Froome launched a solo attack.

Froome was alone over the Finestre to win this year’s Cima Coppi. Dumoulin and Pinot were in a group with Miguel Angel Lopez and Richard Carapaz and crested the Finestre 38 seconds behind. Race leader Yates was a huge 15 minutes down. Now 80 km from the stage’s finish line slowly pulled away from the elite chasing group. Froome’s extraordinary effort gave him the stage win, 3’23” ahead of Tom Dumoulin. Simon Yates finished 38”51” down! Froome was the new Giro leader.

2019: Passo Manghen, Fausto Masnada (Ita)

The 2019 Giro’s original schedules had the Cima Coppi on the Passo di Gavia. However, when the organizers couldn’t keep the summit clear of heavy snow, the stage had to be re-scheduled (after the stage had started) by eliminating the Gavia. The next highest climb, out of those which had not been ascended, was the Passo Manghen on twentieth stage. On stage 20 Fausto Masnada attacked solo from an elite breakaway group on the slopes of Manghen. He won the Cima Coppi prize.

2020: Passo Dello Stelvio, Rohan Dennis (Aus)

The historic Passo Stelvio presented the 2020 Cima Coppi. A three-rider breakaway, Rohan Dennis, Tao Geoghegan-Hart and Jai Hindley climbed away from race leader Joao Almeida. Over the Stelvio summit Dennis, working for teammate Geoghegan-Hart, was allowed to jump away and win the Cima Coppi.

2021: Passo Giau, Egan Bernal (Col)

The 16th stage in 2021 was intended to be the Queen Stage. It was scheduled 212 km from Sacile to Cortina d'Ampezzo with 4 major mountain climbs: La Crosseta, Passo Fedaia, Passo Pordoi and Passo Giau. The temperature at the start was 47F (8C) with rain, but in the mountains snow was falling. Race officials decided to re-schedule the race route by eliminating 59 km loop that contained the climbs of the Passo Fedaia and Passo Pordoi. The re-scheduled Cima Coppi became the Passo Giau.

The first breakaway was a group of 24 riders, most were not GC contenders. The race leader Egan Bernal rode in a group a minute behind. Bernal launched an attack to break the rest of his competitors and put a stranglehold on his lead. Bernal caught and passed the initial breakaway group. He cruised solo across the summit of the Giau to win the Cima Coppi prize. He maintained his lead all the way to the finish to take his second stage win.

2022: Passo di Pordoi , Alessandro Covi (Ita)

The 20th stage, 168 km from Belluno to the summit on the Marmolada (Passo Fedaia), presented the riders with the brutal climbs of the Passo di San Pellegrino (gradients exceed 15%), Passo Pordoi (Cima Coppi), and Passo Fedaia (gradients above 10%, max. 18%).

When the climb of the Pordoi started the breakaway group began to split. Alessandro Covi attacked and slowly opened a solid gap. Riding solo over the summit of the Cima Coppi with 45 km to the finish Covi opened a 2’30” lead. The young Italian held off an 8-rider chase group and took the stage win on the Passo Fedaia.

2023: Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Santiago Buitrago (Col)

The 13th stage had originally presented the Great St Bernard Pass in Switzerland as the Cima Coppi. But due to the adverse weather conditions the Commission cancelled the climb. The next highest mountain summit was the 19th stage climb to Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) attacked early on the climb and rode solo to the summit of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. His efforts awarded him the stage win and the prestigious 2023 Cima Coppi!!!

* Originally scheduled 2023: Great St Bernard Pass (Switzerland) 2,469m, Climb cancelled

The Great St Bernard Pass (2,469m) was scheduled to be the Cima Coppi but due to weather conditions the stage was rerouted and the climb removed. The next highest mountain summit was the climb to Tre Cime di Lavaredo. It became the 2023 Cima Coppi.

2024: Pass Sella, Giulio Pellizzari (Ita)

The 17th stage was 159 km from Selva di Val Gardena to the summit on the Passo Brocon. The first climb of today's stage was the Passo Sella (Cima Coppi). Giulio Pellizzari (VF Group-Bardiani CSF) attacked the group In the final kilometer of the climb in pursuit of the 3rd and final replacement Cima Coppi.

* Originally scheduled for 2024: Stelvio Pass, Stage 16 Climb cancelled

The recent snowfall on the Stelvio Pass, followed by the rise of the temperatures, increased the risk of avalanches. The Commission cancelled the climb.

* Replacement scheduled for 2024: Umbrail Pass, Stage 16 Climb cancelled

The new Cima Coppi, the Umbrail Pass, was deemed to be as treacherous as the Stelvio. The Commission cancelled the replacement climb.

The next highest mountain summit was the stage 17 climb to Passo Sella. It became the 2024 Cima Coppi.

Pellizzari looked to have it won easily but Nairo Quintana launched a sprint from behind to possibly snatch it on the line. Photo finish... for the Cima Coppi!!! The prestigious prize went to Pellizzari… narrowly!!!

2025: Colle delle Finestre, Chris Harper (Aus)

The 20th stage, 205 km from Verres to Sestriere (Vialattea), included the brutally tough climb of the Colle delle Finestre. It will be the 2025 Cima Coppi. Talented Australian Chris Harper rode away from an early thirty-two rider breakaway to win the prestigious Cima Coppi! Riding brilliantly Harper stayed away solo on the finishing climb to Sestriere winning the stage.

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