2013 Giro d'Italia, Stage 20: Silandro Schlanders-Tre Cime Di Lavaredo (210 km)

[Afrank]

This stage was supposed to be the final epic mountain stage that would decide the Giro, but because of weather it has been altered.

Hopefully we get the full of this stage, but more changes are still possible. The organizers will be doing everything they can to make sure the full stage goes on.

"We can finish on top of Tre Cime di Lavaredo for the simple reason that it's not a descent, and we can clear the road if it snows overnight," Vegni said. "Snow is cold but it's primarily risky for safety on the descents: if the temperature drops and the snow freezes, it makes the roads very slippery. But the stage is mainly made up of valley roads and climbing. We've designed a route with almost no descents."

"A slight improvement with a break in the clouds has been predicted for tomorrow but we're not relying just on the weather forecast, we're monitoring the situation ourselves," he said. "We've got people at all of the vital locations on the course to keep us informed on the snow and the temperatures, so that we can decide quickly if we need to change the stage or not."

Assuming the full stage goes on then this will be the last opportunity for climbers to make their mark on the race and for the GC contenders to solidify or improve their current position. The riders got today off, so hopefully we see some fireworks both from the riders in the break and from the peloton.

General Classification heading into stage 20
ITA 1 NIBALI, Vincenzo (ASTANA PRO TEAM) 73:55:58
AUS 2 EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING) + 4:02
COL 3 URAN URAN, Rigoberto (SKY PROCYCLING) + 4:12
ITA 4 SCARPONI, Michele (LAMPRE-MERIDA) + 5:14
POL 5 NIEMIEC, Przemyslaw (LAMPRE-MERIDA) + 6:09
POL 6 MAJKA, Rafal (SAXO-TINKOFF) + 6:45
COL 7 BETANCUR GOMEZ, Carlos Alberto (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 6:47
ITA 8 SANTAMBROGIO, Mauro (VINI FANTINI - SELLE ITALIA) + 7:30
ESP 9 INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Benat (MOVISTAR TEAM) + 8:36
ESP 10 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Samuel (EUSKALTEL EUSKADI) + 9:34
ITA 11 POZZOVIVO, Domenico (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 9:45
ITA 12 PELLIZOTTI, Franco (ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI) + 10:27
EST 13 KANGERT, Tanel (ASTANA PRO TEAM) + 11:02
RUS 14 TROFIMOV, Yury (KATUSHA) + 11:24

Nibali looks to have captured his Giro title barring he has no disasters. Evans and Uran look unlikely to trouble him too much. But the order of the other 2 podium spots is yet to be decided. Plus we will have Betancur's and Majka's battle for white to look forward too. Betancur will be looking to attack as it is his last chance to get white, while Majka would be wise to defend.

Coverage
Stage 20 start time: Saturday 11:25 CET (2:25:00 AM PDT)
Earliest live video: 13:30 CET (4:30:00 AM PDT)
Approximate finish: 17:15 CET (8:15:00 AM PDT)

Weather
Weather for Silandro, Italy: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=46.627678,10.773689
Weather for Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Italy: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=46.618611,12.305556

Some video of Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the past
Giro d'Italia 1974 - Stage 20: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=T8p-wDm5Wbc
Giro d'Italia 2007 - Stage 15: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdnag0qUaJk

 

[Afrank]

Nibali to take the first of his 3 stage wins in a row.

1 down, 2 too go.

Would like to see Betancur win too. The perfect result for me would be a top 4, in no particular order, made up of Betancur, Majka, Nibali, and Garzelli.

Well, Nibali will miss out on getting his 3 stages in consecutive order, so 1 down, 1 too go.

Would still like to see Betancur or Garzelli grab a win too, hope to see Betancur in white.

The Colombians should definitely send everyone they got into the break, it's their last chance! Duarte has been looking better, he's their best bet for a stage win IMO. I expect the GC guys will want to track down the break though and keep it together heading into the final climb where Santam, Samu, Scarponi and others will be wanting to take the stage win.

 

[Miburo]

Who will win this stage?

No one.

Disappointing giro, one thing is sure the tour will be better. At least it's comical to see a sky train go crazy.

Congrats Nibali btw although i'm sure he would have wanted to show his superb shape a bit more in this giro

 

[Afrank]

Just occurred to me a poll would have been nice to go along with this thread. Can a mod add one? With Nibali, Betancur, Scarponi, etc. (you guys know the contenders).

 

[jens_attacks]

let's wait first to see if it's happening

sadly, a yellow 1-2 like in 2007 is no longer possible i guess.
scarponi to win it

 

[Ryongsyong]

Weather for Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Italy: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=46.618611,12.305556

If that station's really at the summit, then the forecast sounds a bit better. Rain and 8 degrees for tomorrow pm. But let's see!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Would guess either Betancur or Pozzovivo would take this one

 

[Red Rick]

Lampre should go crazy on tre croci, Evans might drop there already and if that happens, Scarponi and Niemic can make a nice jump

 

[whittashau]

If that station's really at the summit, then the forecast sounds a bit better. Rain and 8 degrees for tomorrow pm. But let's see!

well this one contradicts that:
http://www.yr.no/place/Italy/Veneto/Tre_Cime_di_Lavaredo/

 

[roundabout]

It says 1222 meters

 

[liamito]

well this one contradicts that:
http://www.yr.no/place/Italy/Veneto/Tre_Cime_di_Lavaredo/

1200m vs 3000m

I think they will finish somewhere between 1800m and 2000m instead of the 2300m.

 

[ferryman]

Just occurred to me a poll would have been nice to go along with this thread. Can a mod add one? With Nibali, Betancur, Scarponi, etc. (you guys know the contenders).

Not sure that we can but I will ask one of the youngsters

 

[Orbit501]

I was really enjoying this Giro up until this mornings news. Now I feel totally deflated, even though I totally agree with cancelling stages rather than putting riders at risk. The Di Luca news I think has killed it for me more than anything.

Anyway, if this stage goes ahead with this profile then you have to say it's Pozzovivo's chance to show if he really is the man for when it goes to the the steep stuff.

 

[taiwan]

How about Sanchez ftw?

 

[The Hitch]

Dont want to jinx sanchez, but with the form he showed in the mtt then so long as Nibali doesnt care that much about the stage win he should be the favourite. 9 minutes down on gc, once they are on that final climb then if the pace is slowish he can catapult out of there and no one will care.

 

[Netserk]

Not sure that we can but I will ask one of the youngsters

Done.

Made it Di Luca/other instead of Vino/other

 

[ferryman]

Done.

Made it Di Luca/other instead of Vino/other

As if by magic..

 

[Afrank]

Done.

Made it Di Luca/other instead of Vino/other

Thanks.
Is Di Luca gonna be the new other poll option.

 

[ferryman]

Done.

Made it Di Luca/other instead of Vino/other

And then voted on it

 

[taiwan]

Voeckler should be the new Vino option.

 

[The Hitch]

I was just gonna say this would be the only stage of the race where di luca wasnt hyped for a win, but alas, not true now.


Would be hillarious if Colombia coledeportes took a win just as Ryo got banned so he couldnt gloat about it

Theyve been a joke this giro but tbf today and tommorrow were the stages they were invited for

 

[manafana]

also think pozzovivo could well suit this if the climb gets to play out as is.

 

[Squire]

This will be Fabio Duarte's great moment.

Fabio, you looked so impressive on the Galibier, now please find the right moment to burn all your excess energy!

 

[Poursuivant]

I was really enjoying this Giro up until this mornings news. Now I feel totally deflated, even though I totally agree with cancelling stages rather than putting riders at risk. The Di Luca news I think has killed it for me more than anything.

Anyway, if this stage goes ahead with this profile then you have to say it's Pozzovivo's chance to show if he really is the man for when it goes to the the steep stuff.

You actually thought he was clean? He is an abomination.

 

[Frosty]

Tricky forecast tomorrow - largely cloudy with some heavy showers, falling as snow above 1500 metres ish but a few bright/sunny intervals breaking through at times. During the day snow can struggle to settle on the roads if its light but if its coming down heavy then it can be a different matter. After today i think the organisers will really want to finish the stage at the planned finish.