2013 Giro D'Italia, Stage 1: Napoli - Napoli, 130 km

[Libertine Seguros]

Yes. Stage 1 is a worthless flat stage, stage 2 is a TTT, which should be 4x shorter and take place on a velodrome. Stage 3 looks quite interesting until you realise the climb averages less than 4% so will probably be a sprint of a reduced bunch. Stage 4 looks reasonably interesting, we're talking about 10km at 5,5%, but not much in the way of lead-in and 6km of flat in to the finish so I expect a sprint of the elites where the only attacks are from peripheral riders or stagehunters and it's eventually won in a sprint by somebody like Evans, Scarponi or one of Sky's Colombians - but at least the trimming of the GC so that you're not left with every single rider trying to protect their goals and get to the front causing crashes all week like at the Tour the last couple of years. Hopefully Montescaglioso can tempt somebody to give us a few kilometres of action. Stage 6 is an utterly valueless waste of a day, but stage 7 makes up for it with a real tough up-and-down all day type of stage.

 

[gooner]

I see you forgot 2009 already.

Fair point and for instance even without the protest the Milan criterium was a poor decision on Zomegnan's part. But where Zomegnan is different from Acquarone is he learnt from it and came back strong both in 2010 and 2011. I already said Acquarone gave in with the slightest of protest from riders in T-A this year whereas contrast that with Zomegnan who told riders just don't come in future in response to the ones who complained about the severity of the route in 2011.

I also don't hold out much hope for the start in Ireland either next year. It has all the potential to be a Denmark all over again.

 

[shinoda13]

Yes. Stage 1 is a worthless flat stage, stage 2 is a TTT, which should be 4x shorter and take place on a velodrome. Stage 3 looks quite interesting until you realise the climb averages less than 4% so will probably be a sprint of a reduced bunch. Stage 4 looks reasonably interesting, we're talking about 10km at 5,5%, but not much in the way of lead-in and 6km of flat in to the finish so I expect a sprint of the elites where the only attacks are from peripheral riders or stagehunters and it's eventually won in a sprint by somebody like Evans, Scarponi or one of Sky's Colombians - but at least the trimming of the GC so that you're not left with every single rider trying to protect their goals and get to the front causing crashes all week like at the Tour the last couple of years. Hopefully Montescaglioso can tempt somebody to give us a few kilometres of action. Stage 6 is an utterly valueless waste of a day, but stage 7 makes up for it with a real tough up-and-down all day type of stage.

Your opinion sounds like there shouldn't be any stages for sprinters in a GT. For me this route looks balanced and interesting.

 

[brilleaben]

When has a GT start on foreign landscape been done properly?

 

[Poursuivant]

Where has Harmon gone??

 

[burning]

Expecting this:

 

[deValtos]

Where has Harmon gone??

Not doing the Giro

Kelly and Quigley

 

[Cyivel]

Where has Harmon gone??

He's having a break until the Tour.

 

[The Hitch]

Was it big crowds at the presentation? Any pics?

 

[toontoon]

Harmon is missing a lot of big races, I don't like the new commentator. Do you think Sky are looking to sign him for their cycling coverage?

 

[Poursuivant]

Interesting. Thanks.

 

[manafana]

Nothing wrong with sprint to open up the race hardly going stick big climb in on day 1.

 

[Flamin]

Was it big crowds at the presentation? Any pics?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Your opinion sounds like there shouldn't be any stages for sprinters in a GT. For me this route looks balanced and interesting.

Sprinters should have to earn the right to duke it out, not get stages just handed to them for the sake of the organisers not being bothered to think up anything interesting.

Also, if they must persist with totally worthless stages which could be just as effective by having a 1km drag race prologue like they did in 2005, then they shouldn't put those stages on at the weekend.

 

[toontoon]

Credit to Eurosport, Quigley might be annoying but at least we are getting the whole stage.

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Keizer continuing from where he left off last year.

 

[brilleaben]

Weening already making his presence known..

 

[toontoon]

Sprinters should have to earn the right to duke it out, not get stages just handed to them for the sake of the organisers not being bothered to think up anything interesting.

Also, if they must persist with totally worthless stages which could be just as effective by having a 1km drag race prologue like they did in 2005, then they shouldn't put those stages on at the weekend.

You can't go too hard on the first stage of a grand tour, too many riders, too many nerves. This stage is fine.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Bizzarely early & easy break formation given the stakes.

 

[manafana]

Sometimes wonder how many guys on here actually ever ride a bike, clean racing means you cant treat riders like robots. Yes they could have had short prologue, which would just hand jersey to beat prologue rather instead the best sprinter can earn it.

Hardly expect them to go up a cat 1 climb from day one.

 

[toontoon]

Are their time bonuses for winning the stage this year?

 

[SafeBet]

Are their time bonuses for winning the stage this year?

yes except for TTs.

 

[The Hitch]

, clean racing means you cant treat riders like robots.
.

Take it to the clinic

 

[the asian]

Good to see an early break!

 

[SafeBet]

Wait a second, so even at the Giro the gruppo is now called peloton?