Having been snowed off last year, and caused such big headaches this time out, you could forgive organisers for giving the Passo Gavia and the Stelvio a wide berth in future.

To lose such iconic climbs would be a great shame, but the question has now been raised as to whether they are more trouble than they are really worth.

For the romantic, stories such as Andy Hampsten claiming the maglia rosa in 1988 in a blizzard on the Gavia are what defines the sport. Bernard Hinault, Fausto Coppi and Marco Pantani are among the men to have ensured their names are permanently associated with the Stelvio.

But given the inherent dangers of descending a mountain even in clement conditions, should the additional demands of poor visibility and treacherous surfaces tip the balance in favour of rider safety and away from fan-pleasing spectacle?

However, it is one thing tackling a brutal, legend-making climb and another having to do it in treacherous conditions, where visibility is poor and conditions even more brutal than the ascent itself.

Fans will certainly be keen to see the two climbs retain their place in the race, but organisers do certainly have some tough decisions to make.