2012 Giro d'Italia, May 23rd, stage 17: Falzes → Cortina D'Ampezzo, 186 Kms

[Eshnar]

Finally we made it into the Dolomites!

After two weeks of attrition, it is time to fight face to face.
With 4 major climbs over 186 kms, more than 4400 m of altitude gain, this is the... third hardest stage of the Giro.
By a mile.

Starting in Falzes, the riders will head towards Terento, the climb on which Cunego won the Giro 2004.
They will climb the opposite side of that day though, matching more a false flat than a proper climb.
The descent will be tricky for a full peloton, and it will be a factor for the creation of the breakaway.
After the descent, the bunch will slowly approach the first real climb of the day, Passo Valparola.

 

[Eshnar]

Valparola is little more than a good warmup, though. The stage has a lot more to offer.
After a long and steady descent, the riders will reach the town of Agordo, where the fun really starts: Passo Duran.

Last time they climbed this was 2005. And it gave birth to the best stage of that year, only overtaken by Finestre at the very last day. Simoni, willing to recover the time he had lost TTing, attacked at the very bottom of the climb, making the peloton go in pieces. Basso reacted and set his own, terrible pace dropping everyone but Simoni and Savoldelli. In the short descent of Duran, the very same they're doing this year, Il Falco gained 1 minute on his opponents and got the win at Zoldo Alto, where this year there is the Traguardo Volante.
Giro d'Italia 2005 - Climb of the Passo Duran (1/3)
This time they won't stop there, but continue all the way to the top of Forcella Staulanza

 

[Eshnar]

Forcella Staulanza is an easier climb than Duran, but it hides a few tough ramps that will hurt many riders, tired by Duran.

But the hardest climb of the day is yet to come.

Passo Giau

Last time this climb was raced it was last year...
Giro 2011 05 22 Stage 15 Conegliano Gardeccia Val di Fassa 02
But it was the opposite side. The one they'll descend this year.
The side they're climbing was featured in the 2007 Giro, and it witnessed another epic day of racing, were Il Killer defended succesfully his jersey on the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo, with attacks starting from the Giau itself, penultimate climb of the day.

Let's not forget that this stage is not a mountain top finish though. The descent of Giau is very fast and technical.
Minutes can be gained there. Not to mention it could rain.

After the descent, only two kms of false flat will lead the riders to the (finally well deserved) finishing line.

Starting Time: 11.55 AM (CET)
Estimated finishing time: 5.30 PM (CET)


Last Post Needed. You can now post whatever you want

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Potentially epic stage, only damaged by the omission of Passo Fedaia. A sad oversight.

Should be great nonetheless, however.

I am going to root for a Beñat Intxausti win so hard on this one. It will be the most poetic of victories.

 

[Red Rick]

I've been looking forward to this stage from the beginning, unfortunately i can't see it. I think this is the best designed GT stage this year by far. If people want to gain minutes, they can start of on Duran if they want to.

BTW, i'd rather have them descending Staulanza to Caprile to climb Fedaia, and let fedaia follow by passo Pordoi and a finish in Arraba

 

[ManInFull]

Let's hope that Basso gets dropped for good on this stage.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Can't wait for this one.

 

[El Pistolero]

Hoping for a Basso fail as well. He's been making this race boring. Don't think he's going to get dropped in the mountains though, but the descents rather...

Hmm, maybe Basso will realize he needs to attack hard on this stage, so he can start with a nice bonus on the descent? If so, I retract my words about hoping for a fail from him. Assuming he has the legs to attack of course...

 

[Descender]

The best drawn stage in GTs in recent years.

Been waiting for it for months.

Too bad we will have to wait until this stage (stage 17 ffs, 17!!!) to see some real action.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Hoping for a Basso fail as well. He's been making this race boring. Don't think he's going to get dropped in the mountains though, but the descents rather...

Hmm, maybe Basso will realize he needs to attack hard on this stage, so he can start with a nice bonus on the descent? If so, I retract my words about hoping for a fail from him. Assuming he has the legs to attack of course...

In this kind of stage Basso might make the stage kinda exciting. But since his 30+ age he has been kind of hit-and-miss. I still think he'll win the Giro tho

 

[Froome19]

Hoping for a Basso fail as well. He's been making this race boring. Don't think he's going to get dropped in the mountains though, but the descents rather...

Hmm, maybe Basso will realize he needs to attack hard on this stage, so he can start with a nice bonus on the descent? If so, I retract my words about hoping for a fail from him. Assuming he has the legs to attack of course...

He doesnt need a bonus for the descent if he still has one of his Liquigas team mates with him.

 

[vcampbell]

How good is Henao in descending?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

How good is Henao in descending?

Well he lost contact momentarily sunday. But that was in the rain.

 

[jens_attacks]

How good is Henao in descending?

maybe i'm wrong but he really wasn't a good descender in colombia.in europe though until now,excellent.when astana went crazy on san pietro descent,he was there.basso was dropped for a little bit and other guys too.
in this stage it will be pretty important

i still expect the androids to put a show in this stage.maybe rujano getting in the break of the day with 3 other collegues.he has to fight back.these are no hills these are the real mountains.but i'm afraid the weather will be against him again.

let's just all pray szmyd will be dropped on duran otherwise it can be a snoozefest which will be a disgrace in a stage like that

 

[will10]

I hope to see Rujano show his face, perhaps he will look for an Azzurra to go with his Verde from 2005.

Basso will lose the Giro on the Giau descent.

 

[Duartista]

maybe i'm wrong but he really wasn't a good descender in colombia.in europe though until now,excellent.when astana went crazy on san pietro descent,he was there.basso was dropped for a little bit and other guys too.
in this stage it will be pretty important

i still expect the androids to put a show in this stage.maybe rujano getting in the break of the day with 3 other collegues.he has to fight back.these are no hills these are the real mountains.but i'm afraid the weather will be against him again.

let's just all pray szmyd will be dropped on duran otherwise it can be a snoozefest which will be a disgrace in a stage like that

He was pretty good I think, I'm sure he won a stage descending from La Linea after being dropped on the climb by 3 or 4 guys.

I just hope the stage lives up its potential. Considering the next day is a non-GC stage, it should do.

 

[Flamin]

Ivan il terribele:

«My type of progress makes the difference when the stage is selective and hurts the competition thanks to the team’s invaluable hard work, like Szmyd’s in the finals, particularly on the long climbs we’ll face on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I’m not making any promises or predictions but I’m sure it’s my only way to win and attack my opponents.»

basso clearly doesn't have any plans on changing tactics, which obviously makes total sense from his point of view.

anyhow, my expectations can only be exceeded, since I expect next to nothing. So that's a good thing.

edit: oh lol, didn't notice it was on the cn homepage too.

 

[vcampbell]

Well he lost contact momentarily sunday. But that was in the rain.

Yes, the rain was a factor, and he and Uran was never in the top30-40, so it could be that someone lost contact in front of him, and that's why he wasn't with the main group.

 

[burning]

I hope to see Rujano show his face, perhaps he will look for an Azzurra to go with his Verde from 2005.

Basso will lose the Giro on the Giau descent.

With this descent, I dont think that Rujano will have any chance at all

 

[profff]

this stage could be like the montegrappa one .
duran is very hard, no relax, forcella staulanza easy and giau is a wonderful climb , very difficult where huge differences can be made.
on staulanza the team will be very important.

from a downhill standpoint, duran difficult ,very curvy, staulanza easy giau not so difficult. from pocol to cortina ( practically the falzarego downhill) it is not a difficult road.

imho the climbs will be much more important then the descents, except on case of heavy rain.

 

[Duartista]

With this descent, I dont think that Rujano will have any chance at all

Whilst I'm not expecting too much from him any longer... there should be some big gaps going over the top of the Giau if the stage is raced hard. Poor descenders like Basso, Rujano and Pozzovivo need to get their retaliation in first.

 

[SafeBet]

As of now, weather shouldn't be too bad.

 

[Pippo_San]

There's quite a chance it will be rainy during the entire stage...regarding Duran I've done it tons of times (argh the pain), and that descent is really one of the trickiest ever...if it rains...

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Giro D'Italia 2012 Stage 17 Reconnaissance Film


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXuZHPWj_uQ

 

[Wigwan]

Am I the only one who think Cunego will win this?

He said he is at the Giro for stage win. Tomorrow will probably be for breakaway, Thursday is either breakaway or Cavendish, Friday and Saturday are MTF so he will need to work for Scarponi and Sunday is a ITT. It's his last chance and I think he will take it.