2012 Giro d'Italia, May 5th, stage 1: Herning → Herning, 8.7 km ITT

[el chava]

I find myself agreeing with that. With the Shell station and 7-11 store right at the front, expressways, walled off neighborhoods, etc. if it weren't for the Euro street signs, I'd think I was in a suburb of Baltimore.

Welcome to Corporate America-style Denmark.

 

[DominicDecoco]

1 Alex Rasmussen
2 Geraint Thomas
3 Taylor Phinney
4 Gustav Larsson
5 Daniele Bennati
6 Manuele Baoro
7 Jack Bobridge
8 Michal Kwiatkowski
9 Roman Kreuziger
10 Mark Cavendish

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

I know that stretch quite well and the winds from the North Sea can definitely create something, I just doubt it with these reasonable winds that are predicted. I do have to correct myself though. There's great chance of rain sunday. 1-3 mm.

But 9-13c is what I would call pretty optimal temperatures in May in Denmark. Which is what I've seen been predicted.

On Saturdays 1. stage TT in Herning weather will be sunny with wind gusts up to 17-18 m/s with temps about 8-10°C
On Sundays 2nd west-coast stage, winds will drop to 5 m/s average at the west coast, with overcast and only few drops of rain (temps about 7°C). Which is a real pity for that stage. I doubt the wind gusts at that base level will be hard enough to do any damage on the peleton.

Edit: speaking winds I just heard on the local radio, that 2 Colnago riders were seen at the main roads around Herning with a speed of up to 80 Kph. I bet they benefitted from tailwind

 

[Ruudz0r]

1 Alex Rasmussen
2 Geraint Thomas
3 Taylor Phinney
4 Gustav Larsson
5 Daniele Bennati
6 Manuele Baoro
7 Jack Bobridge
8 Michal Kwiatkowski
9 Roman Kreuziger
10 Mark Cavendish

1 Phinney
2 Thomas
3 Rasmussen
4 Kwiatkowski
5 Bennati
6 Bobridge
7 Sergent
8 Boaro
9 Malori
10 Vermote

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

the prologue winds won't matter too much as the course is very technical and shalted by buildings

 

[wirral]

Seems a really ordinary looking place to start the race.

You think that's ordinary-looking, get over to the 4 days of Dunkirk/Dunkerque.

 

[cycladianpirate]

I think you're all being a little bit negative. This prologue has a certain "old school" charm to recommend it in my view (regardless of the vista).

Still think that track work will help Thomas - he has my vote (and my money) FTW.

 

[BrianD]

Not as picturesque as I would have thought. Kind of a strange choice to do the prologue there, but whatever, can't wait for the Giro to start.

Herning is not even in Top 100 of picturesque cities in Denmark.

But cool preview!

Stage 2 & 3 here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWn_eaNpZSY&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s03YhWYQqOE&feature=relmfu

 

[Zam_Olyas]

uci channel Preview: 2012 Giro d'Italia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Vo3ppQ2Xc&feature=youtu.be

In the related videos ..2 great memorable moments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVCrBMNi1Vw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggRlbdKM5h0&feature=related
(with that whine by david millar )

 

[meandmygitane]

If Sundays stage were on Saturday instead; what havoc the crosswind it would have wrought: 15-17 m/s in Torsminde from the Northwest. But we'll have to make do.

The Giro site estimates that they will be in Torsminde around 14-14:30.

Yr.no - Hours 05-11 : 12 m/s WNW. Hours 14-20: 6 m/s WNW. Since they are averages and the wind is abating, winds around 8 m/s at 14 o'clock seems like a reasonable but rough interpolation.

Dmi.dk - Thyborøn, some way to the north, 6 m/s W during the day

Smhi.se - Hour 14: Torsminde 5 m/s W

Conclusion: The wind may yet play a part, but only if the wind will abate more slowly than most meteorological services predicts, which is not unheard of.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Conclusion: The wind may yet play a part, but only if the wind will abate more slowly than most meteorological services predicts, which is not unheard of.

Nothing else I'd want to but exiting racing while the peloton is here. But I don't think we can talk it up. Unfortunately there's quite a chance for some rather dull racing :/

How Kiddesvej would have added something!

 

[Cimber]

But 9-13c is what I would call pretty optimal temperatures in May in Denmark. Which is what I've seen been predicted.

Nah 9-13 is in the lower end of what can be expected. We have had about 20c and sun all week but sadly that will change by tomorrow

 

[DominicDecoco]

Nah 9-13 is in the lower end of what can be expected. We have had about 20c and sun all week but sadly that will change by tomorrow

The weather we've had lately hasn't been 'normal' though.

 

[Cimber]

The weather we've had lately hasn't been 'normal' though.

Might have been somewhat on the high end (but I wouldnt call it unusual may weather), but 9-13 is certainly on the low end for may. Just looked up the statistics and the average daytime temperatures in may the last 30ish years have been around 15,5-16c.

PS: and one of the more dry months with 8-9 day with downfall on average (which low by Danish standards (0; )

 

[DominicDecoco]

Might have been somewhat on the high end, but 9-13 is certainly on the low end. Just looked up the statistics and the average daytime temperatures in may the last 30ish years have been around 15-16c.

Yeah, yeah.. Whatever, Tanev

 

[meandmygitane]

Nothing else I'd want to but exiting racing while the peloton is here. But I don't think we can talk it up. Unfortunately there's quite a chance for some rather dull racing :/

How Kiddesvej would have added something!

While I agree with you where the mass of probability lies, but remember that only a couple of hours before they pass Torsminde the wind is supposed to be around 10-11 m/s (and they are scheduled to pass Søndervig and hit the coast an hour earlier than that).

Is it possible? Yes. Is it probable? No, but it is not so farfetched either.

(I have a bad track record talking up things by the way, thought the hills in WC2011 in Copenhagen was going to be something more than 'meh' but it turned out that the official profile was just plain wrong).

I will probably check the weather and do another post again tomorrow. The 48-hour forecast will have greatly increased resolution and quality.

 

[DominicDecoco]

I will probably check the weather and do another post again tomorrow. The 48-hour forecast will have greatly increased resolution and quality.

Yep, please do.

 

[Danskebjerge]

I find myself agreeing with that. With the Shell station and 7-11 store right at the front, expressways, walled off neighborhoods, etc. if it weren't for the Euro street signs, I'd think I was in a suburb of Baltimore.

For some reason, they didn't really go for the beauty shots as they drew the routes in Denmark. Nor did they go for challenging routes - they could easily have made an Amstel Gold Race-like stage.

I guess the organizers wanted something dull instead. ;-)

Btw, at the North Sea coast, the riders will rarely be able to see the ocean, as there are sand-hills next to the road...

http://danskebjerge.dk/artikler-giroruten1-en.htm

 

[Cimber]

Yeah, yeah.. Whatever, Tanev

Well u cant argue with statistics On a more emprical note , I have b-day in may and most often we can bbq in shortsleeves, so yeah may usually have decent weather (but as we both know Danish weather is damn unpredictable by nature )

Anyways, back on topic, sadly it doesnt seem to be very windy on sundays stage by the west coast. Damn shame too.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Nothing else I'd want to but exiting racing while the peloton is here. But I don't think we can talk it up. Unfortunately there's quite a chance for some rather dull racing :/

How Kiddesvej would have added something!

or Gammel Kongevej (max 22%) or Munkebjerg (max 16%) or Purhøj (max 21% followed by 800m gravel road) or Hvolbæk (max 15%) or other climbs at Vitved or the nearby Hylke or Tørskind Grusgrav (max 15%) or Blue Horse or other climbs in Vejle Ådal or Askebjerg and Hunds Røv or Rosenvold Strand or the hills around Hylke or the climbs next to Ry or Pøt Mølle or whatever climb from this list or this one

...or plenty and yet plenty of small, uncathagorized, rough climbs, all in my favourite training ground, all of which I love to feel the pain staking challenges on my own body.

I'm speaking 3rd stage here.

All climbs that definately would do harm on a Giro peleton when combined. Instead all possibilities are just missed at 3rd stage around Horsens. And yes, even at the final circuit within Horsens, at least 3 hard clibs are just totally missed!

A stage which all in all could have been a glistening diamond - a "mini classic" in the race.

Instead we end up with 2 rather dull stages - one because of no wind, unfortunately the Giro will visit this region one of the few days without hard wind...and the other stage...well, instead of incredible racing and doing a "mini Amstel", we could see some crashes because of rain...on a rather uninteresting stage.

Yes, I've been dissapointed since I got details about the excact course for that stage, which is just next to my hometown

However, I feel the Giro coming closer - and trust me - I'm excited as a kid before Christmas Eve and will definately go out and have a thorough smell of the Giro

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

or Gammel Kongevej (max 22%) or Munkebjerg (max 16%) or Purhøj (max 21% followed by 800m gravel road) or Hvolbæk (max 15%) or other climbs at Vitved or the nearby Hylke or Tørskind Grusgrav (max 15%) or Blue Horse or other climbs in Vejle Ådal or Askebjerg and Hunds Røv or Rosenvold Strand or the hills around Hylke or the climbs next to Ry or Pøt Mølle or whatever climb from this list or this one

...or plenty and yet plenty of small, uncathagorized, rough climbs, all in my favourite training ground, all of which I love to feel the pain staking challenges on my own body.

I'm speaking 3rd stage here.

All climbs that definately would do harm on a Giro peleton when combined. Instead all possibilities are just missed at 3rd stage around Horsens. And yes, even at the final circuit within Horsens, at least 3 hard clibs are just totally missed!

A stage which all in all could have been a glistening diamond - a "mini classic" in the race.

Instead we end up with 2 rather dull stages - one because of no wind, unfortunately the Giro will visit this region with one of the few days without hard wind...and the other stage...well, instead of incredible racing and doing a "mini Amstel", we could see some crashes because of rain...on a rather uninteresting stage.

Yes, I've been dissapointed since I got details about the excact course for that stage, which is just next to my hometown

However, I feel the Giro coming closer - and trust me - I'm excited as a kid before Christmas Eve and will definately go out and have a thorough smell of the Giro

Edit: 10 chars

 

[royalpig180]

Based on recent results, I'm going to have to go with Thomas for this one. He was super strong in the Romandie prologue, and though he still has zero climbing legs to him right now, that doesn't matter here. The technicalities shouldn't really be an issue for him and he's got the power.

I'll say Thomas over Bennati and Phinney.

 

[greenedge]

I will change my earlier prediction of Geraint to Bobridge because i believe they are similar riders/ i hope for Bobridge more.

If Geraint wins ( which he should since he is favourite i do not know whether Sky will win the next stage with Cav ) and his winning the prologue will screw up my stage 2 prediction.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

A bit OT:
A car crashed down Peter Stetina of Garmin-Barracuda this morning, as he was training on public roads in Herning. He should be okay, though.

 

[DominicDecoco]

Apparently the Garmin team was surprised that traffic existed in Herning...