Giro to the US?

[Skip Madness]

Well, it might just be possible with a bit of creative thinking...

...what about holding both rest-days together to give the riders a bit more of a chance to get over the jet lag? Although for that to happen the race would need to spend the best part of ten stages in the States.

Or what about having the one rest-day between the States and Italy, then following it with a succession of short stages? A sub-5km time-trial, and a few easy stages on the road of, say, 30-60km? Then the next rest-day, then back to business as normal.



No, it really isn't possible.

[Big_Blue_Dave]

Actually, I think it is possible.

People talk of thinking outside the box then don't really do it themselves to the full extent. How about this:-

Thursday - Opening at the White House with Barack Obama meeting the cyclists on the lawns in front of the house, followed by dinner afterwards.

Friday late afternoon so it is shown before 11pm in Europe. A prologue time trial or team time trial no longer than 20km around the sights of Washington DC.

Saturday - A stage between Washington and Baltimore, heading inland on a loop to make the stage about 140km - 160km.

Sunday - Baltimore to Philidelphia an almost straight route with 3 laps of the old USPRO laps, like the Giro loves at the end making a stage of around 200km - 220km.

Monday - Philidelphia to New York City (Central Park) scenic ride coming over Brooklyn Bridge to enter Manhattan, the a ride up Broadway past Times Square finishing in Central Park exactly where the NYC marathon finishes. Stage length about 180km.

Monday night - Begin transfer to Rome

Tuesday - Rest day

Wednesday - Rest day

Thursday - Stage start in Rome to l'Aquila of 150km.

Then continue from there with one more rest day, and finish in Milan.

[usedtobefast]

dave has thought it through, but i would say the riders will not go for it.
but you never know.

[Big_Blue_Dave]

Originally Posted by usedtobefast

dave has thought it through, but i would say the riders will not go for it.
but you never know.

Actually that was a five minute type up, looking at Multimap on the way. If I put some thought into it, i'd send it to RCS and see what came of it.

[usedtobefast]

Originally Posted by Big_Blue_Dave

Actually that was a five minute type up, looking at Multimap on the way. If I put some thought into it, i'd send it to RCS and see what came of it.

i was impressed with your course layout on short notice.

[yakko!]

Originally Posted by usedtobefast

dave has thought it through, but i would say the riders will not go for it.
but you never know.

well, the riders won't really have a choice is my guess. if some teams decide not to do it, there will always be another to take their place....

if it happens the course will probably be a lot like that.

[Big_Blue_Dave]

Originally Posted by usedtobefast

i was impressed with your course layout on short notice.

I'll do a detailed course route of a prologue sometime after I get up in the morning.

[dimspace]

Originally Posted by usedtobefast

dave has thought it through, but i would say the riders will not go for it.
but you never know.

i think the jet lag would have too much impact... unless they had dawn racing in the US from like 5am till lunchtime.. its too ridiculous...

and besides,. its america.. i think its bad enough the veulta started in holland this year, that was ridiculous..

if they want to do something different there are plenty of other opportunities.. austria, croatia, bosnia, albania, greece to the east, tunisia, algeria, egypt to the south, but ameica is ridiculous..

thats nearly as stupid as the tour starting in japan...

the UCI need to step in and nip that one in the bud before the grand tours lose their identity.. next thing you know paris roubaix will be starting in futurescope..

[Skip Madness]

Originally Posted by Big_Blue_Dave

Actually, I think it is possible.

Strangely enough I was considering it a bit more earlier, it's kind of a fun challenge to try to think of ways of making this feasible. Ultimately, though, I can't see it as anything more than a flight of fancy.

A minimum of three rest days would be necessary, and four wouldn't be out of the question. If you started on the Saturday and had five stages in the US, then two rest days for the transfer. A short time-trial on the following Saturday (less than 10km), a 60km sprinters' stage Sunday then another rest day on Monday to allow one more readjustment to the time zone. Then carry on as normal, with one more rest day to break up what would otherwise be 13 consecutive stages. Another suggestion might be to make it a one-off two-and-a-half week race as opposed to three weeks, starting on a Wednesday. As above, but without the fourth rest day.

It does all sound ridiculous and would probably end up being the worst Giro ever, but on the understanding that it would be a complete one-off I wouldn't be against trying it. My only worry, as dimspace suggests, would be the idea catching on and spreading. Whoever gets there first gets to do it once, I say, just so that we can have it confirmed that it really is as utterly stupid as it seems. After that it's consigned to the history books.

Another issue is that it would frankly look a little bit desperate (no, very desperate) on the part of RCS, as though they are really worried about the Giro being surpassed by California and want to do something zany to remind everyone they're there, which is totally unnecessary. Zoncolan, the Finestre and Plan de Corones are crazy enough for most people, I think.

Speaking of the Finestre... when's that coming back?

[L29205]

Originally Posted by Big_Blue_Dave

Actually, I think it is possible.

With a major sponsor being Fiat/Chrysler, bring Italy and the US together