2011 Giro di Lombardia

[El Pistolero]

Why? All classics change course from time to time.

Although I don't like this profile.

3 times in 3 years. They'll change it again next year, I'm sure of it.

 

[El Pistolero]

If you think the 2 are comparable watch the way all 200 riders not named Cancellara rode PR and RVV.

Cancellara would have won the Ronde easily if he had a team and a brain. What Gilbert did at Amstel is comparable to Cavendish leading him self out and still winning the race.

 

[CasperVg]

This appears to be the climb towards Villa Vergano according to tracks4bikers:

http://tracks4bikers.com/tracks/show/68805

3.34km long, 522m max el., 222m height diff., 6.6% avg., 15.2% max.

 

[roundabout]

3 times in 3 years. They'll change it again next year, I'm sure of it.

I doubt it.

The finish in Bergamo is my favorite course of the last few years though.

 

[ultimobici]

I don't think that's the last climb.

I don't like this route.

You're right, that's the climb between the Valcava and the Sormano. The last climb is to Villa Vergano which is about 7% average.

 

[Lupetto]

3 times in 3 years. They'll change it again next year, I'm sure of it.

They had a contract with Como untill 2010. Lecco pays big money for two years Lombardia and a stage finish at the Giro in 2012. RCS had to take this offer, they have financial problems.

 

[jens_attacks]

oh basso you will have no chance at all
phil the big big favourite but i still have hopes someone will beat him.

 

[TeoSheva]

the last that did three in a row was a guy called Fausto Coppi

Gilbert like Coppi?

 

[ultimobici]

I doubt it.

The finish in Bergamo is my favorite course of the last few years though.

That's almost a decade ago!

Much prefer the Lakeside finishes, which I feel is the spiritual home of the race.

 

[Lupetto]

Possible alternative route with Valcava - Forcella di Bura - Culmine di San Pietro - Lecco. Don't know if this is better.

 

[The Hitch]

3 times in 3 years. They'll change it again next year, I'm sure of it.

Werent you constantly complaining that Lombardy were going to change the course because they hate Gilbert.

Oh look, a conspiracy that turns out to total bull.

 

[El Pistolero]

Werent you constantly complaining that Lombardy were going to change the course because they hate Gilbert.

Oh look, a conspiracy that turns out to total bull.

Lol? I never said the Italians hated Gilbert? I said they wanted to maximize their chances of an Italian winner(but since the Italians painfully suck in one day races, not a single chance will favor them). My biggest annoyance comes from the fact that if Gilbert wins here again this year, he'll have actually won 3 different races. Can you imagine major chances in the Ronde every single year?

I would have loved to seen the '10 race, but in better weather(e.i. more risks in the descend)

 

[Peccio89]

I personally like the route, and if someone will be able to leave Gilbert behind on the Colma or the Ghisallo, it will be very difficult to chase on that narrow and full of curves road along the lake.
Plus the Valcava even if very far from the finish it's a HC like climb with 10 km at 10% average and i'm sure the rider will fell it in the later part of the race. Expect Androni, Colnago, Liquigas, and Lampre to start setting the pace on that if they want to beat Gilbert.

 

[Tank Engine]

I always have mixed feelings when Lombardy comes around. It's one of my favourite races, but it signals the end of the season (racing and touring, I start riding a lot less until the end of January)

The hardest climbs do look to be a long way from the finish. Of course they will have their effect, but if Phil is close to the front when they reach the final hill (as I expect him to be), he will be very hard to beat.

 

[ultimobici]

I always have mixed feelings when Lombardy comes around. It's one of my favourite races, but it signals the end of the season (racing and touring, I start riding a lot less until the end of January)

The hardest climbs do look to be a long way from the finish. Of course they will have their effect, but if Phil is close to the front when they reach the final hill (as I expect him to be), he will be very hard to beat.

I know how you feel, it is bittersweet.

WRT the Valcava being too early, I'm not so sure. Of late the race has climbed San Fedele (780m) before trundling around the top of the lake for some 70km before tackling the Colle di Balisio (723m). The next climb is the Ghisallo (754m), followed last year by the Sormano (1124m). The final sting in last year's tail was the traditional jaunt up to San Fermo della Battaglia (397m).

This year we have Valcava at 1336m coming at almost the same point as San Fedele did last year. Then the Colle Brianza at 533m comes barely 40km later followed by the Sormano a scant 10km from the end of the descent. 15km after they rejoin the lake at Nesso, they're off up the Ghisallo before the 522m Vergano with 9km to go.

I think the organisers have a course that will be exciting as it has less time to recover from attacks or the terrain. If it is a damp or wet raceday, we're in for a humdinger IMO.

BTW forecast for Como is not looking too pretty come mid October.

 

[la.margna]

Valcava should be last climb

 

[greenedge]

Hopefully the route change will make the race harder on the climb.

 

[Shardi]

Should be some time to bridge gaps up to lighter climbers for the hilly-type riders, in between climbs.

Nice contrast to the sprinter worlds RR atleast!

 

[Duartista]

Euskaltel have confirmed Sanchez, Anton, and Nieve for Lombardia (and Beijing).

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=43654

 

[El Pistolero]

And Phil will ride Paris-Tour, Piemonte and Lombardia.

 

[Kvinto]

And Phil will ride Paris-Tour, Piemonte and Lombardia.

I thought he would try Giro dell'Emilia this year, at least after the FW win he said he's ready to challenge the San Luca finish

 

[Parrulo]

And Phil will ride Paris-Tour, Piemonte and Lombardia.

no emilia then?

super strong squad for euskaltel maybe they will really push the tempo up from the valcava with nieve and leave the rest of the race to samu, anton and the other top climbers that can follow the pace?

i still think thats the only way to stop gilbert

 

[El Pistolero]

no emilia then?

super strong squad for euskaltel maybe they will really push the tempo up from the valcava with nieve and leave the rest of the race to samu, anton and the other top climbers that can follow the pace?

i still think thats the only way to stop gilbert

In the newspaper after the Worlds finished he said he'll do Paris-Tours, Piemonte and finish his season with Lombardia. Perhaps next year, this has been a long season for him.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Maybe Gilbert is just afraid of losing to Wout Poels. Obviously.

 

[meat puppet]

super strong squad for euskaltel maybe they will really push the tempo up from the valcava with nieve and leave the rest of the race to samu, anton and the other top climbers that can follow the pace?

i still think thats the only way to stop gilbert

interesting, thought the same. let's speculate a bit.

so, if EE and perhaps other teams with climbers applied this tactic parrulo referred to, first of all, how much time on gilbert would they have to take on the valcava? i mean, how much time so that they can make it to the next climb ahead of gilbert/peloton and repeat the drill to gain a buffer again? assuming the group descends well enough, would 2 minutes on the top of the valcava be enough and more to the point, is it attainable? i think they would need more though, because there is 40k of flat before the colma di sormano. okay, there's brianza in between them - could it in fact function as a breather for the speculative climber breakaway?

further, if the group made it to the sormano, could they stand a chance even then? surely the ghisallo will then follow, but again between the climbs there is 16k of flat and during them the puncheurs' teams would probably take rather large chunks of time from them.

even if they made it to the top of the ghisallo, the most difficult part, imo, would be still ahead though. after ghisallo there is some 40k of ascent and flat. this is prolly where the race comes together again if the climbers try and pull something.

in reality im rather sceptical about a) such scenario even taking place let alon b) it succeeding. yet i kinda think it is one of the ways even an on form gilbert could be defeated.

the other is froome doing a broom broom.

any thoughts? ie. shoot this down, pls!