We won’t have to wait long for the GC contenders to show their cards at the Giro d’Abruzzo 2025. Stage 2, from Tocco da Casauria to Penne, covers 139 kilometres and already features a summit finish, packed with climbing challenges scattered throughout this short but intense stage, all within the province of Pescara.
Tocco da Casauria lies between the Maiella mountains and the hills overlooking the Pescara River. Though its origins trace back to Roman times, the town flourished in the Middle Ages, more specifically around the Caracciolo Castle and the Church of Saint Eustachius, the local patron saint celebrated every year on 20 September. Known for the herbal liqueur Centerba, distilled from medicinal plants native to the Maiella, Tocco blends nature and tradition in a unique way. It’s also the birthplace of notable figures such as astronomer Annibale de Gasparis and painter Francesco Paolo Michetti.
The race will heat up after just under 40 kilometres, when the riders tackle the Forcella di Acciano climb, a “Superior” category KOM of 4.7 km with an average gradient of 9.6%. This is a true leg-breaker, although quite far from the finish. Before the final ramp, the peloton will still face the ascent to the Valico di San Leonardo (4.3 km at 5.8%, not listed as a KOM), and the longer climb to Forca di Penne (14 km at 4%), which featured in last year’s Giro d’Abruzzo and the Giro d’Italia Women, though tackled from the opposite side. At the top of Forca di Penne, there will still be 40 kilometres left to ride, ending with another uphill finish. The final 3.5 kilometres rise at an average of 5.7%, with the road levelling off only in the last 250 metres before the finish line in Penne.
Penne, named one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages in 2012, stretches across four hills – Colle Sacro, Colle Romano, Colle Castello, and Colle Cappuccio – offering sweeping views from the Adriatic Sea to the Gran Sasso massif. In the Middle Ages, Penne emerged as an important political and cultural hub, earning the nickname “City of Bricks” thanks to its signature architecture. A walk through its historic centre reveals gems like the Cathedral of San Massimo, built on the remains of a pagan temple, and the Town Hall in Piazza Luca da Penne, the town’s social and cultural heart. Just outside the village lies the Lago di Penne Regional Nature Reserve, a haven of biodiversity and a gateway to the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. Cycling fans may remember Penne as the stage start in the 2018 Giro d’Italia. The race finished in Gualdo Tadino and was won by Matej Mohorič.
