2014 Giro d'Italia, Stage 20: Maniago-Monte Zoncolan (167 Km)

[Afrank]

You know the deal, thanks Eshnar.

Technical overview:
Final showdown for the GC, provided it is still open after the MTT. This stage is very similar to the Oropa stage, besides the fact that the final climb is *slightly* different. In fact, this difference makes the good climbs before it, Passo Pura and Sella di Razzo, totally irrelevant. Everything will be won or lost on the Zoncolan. I'll be very surprised if anything serious happens before Ovaro. Ok, it's the last chance for the climbers, but still...

What to expect:
Everybody together until Liariis, everybody on their own after it.

Pantani Tribute:
Not really... in 2003 Monte Zoncolan was climbed for the first time, and it witnessed one of the last attack of the Pirata... but it was the other side of the climb. Anyway, if you want to see Simoni smashing the opposition, here it is.

General Classification after Stage 19
COL 1 QUINTANA ROJAS, Nairo Alexander (MOVISTAR) 79:03:45
COL 2 URAN URAN, Rigoberto (OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP) + 3:07
ITA 3 ARU, Fabio (ASTANA) + 3:48
FRA 4 ROLLAND, Pierre (EUROPCAR) + 5:26
ITA 5 POZZOVIVO, Domenico (AG2R LA MONDIALE) + 6:16
POL 6 MAJKA, Rafal (TINKOFF-SAXO) + 6:59
AUS 7 EVANS, Cadel (BMC RACING) + 9:25
NED 8 KELDERMAN, Wilco (BELKIN) + 9:29
CAN 9 HESJEDAL, Ryder (GARMIN SHARP) + 10:11
CRO 10 KISERLOVSKI, Robert (TREK FACTORY RACING) + 13:59

Categorized Climbs for Stage 20:
Km/To Go_____Climb____________Length_____Grade___Max____Cat
104/63_______Passo del Pura____11.3 km_____7.7%___13 %____1
127/40_______Sella Razzo_______15.9 km_____5.2% __15%_____2
167/0 ________MONTE ZONCOLAN_10.1 km_____11.9%__22%_____1

Coverage
Stage 20 start time: Saturday 12:15 CET (3:15:00 AM PDT); Weather for Maniago, Italy
Earliest live video: 14:30 CET (5:30:00 AM PDT); Live/delayed coverage options
Approximate finish: 17:10 CET (8:10:00 AM PDT); Weather for Monte Zoncolan, Italy

 

[Afrank]

Quintana and Aru to ride away together to 1st and 2nd on the stage and in GC. I don't care which takes the stage win.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Sopressa e pan, Urán cracks on zoncolan

 

[trevim]

Monte Crostis

 

[hfer07]

gonna go this time for one of my boys from Team Colombia- either Pantano or Duarte to make history







.....unless of course Quintana & Aru have other ideas..

 

[alspacka]

Too steep for Uran? I reckon.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Any details on Sella Razzo?

Edit: Found it.

What about the descent?

 

[Parrulo]

*in my best jens_attacks voice*

Rolland to go thermonuclear on Sella Razo dropping Uran like a stone and getting his podium place

Being serious, i think Aru will take it, Quintana will probably pace Uran once he get's dropped saving his second place overall

 

[luckyboy]

Pozzovivo attacks on Passo della Pura with some old teammates from SuperBardiani to help and wins by 7 minutes!

 

[He-manuelle Sella]

Here we go again! Time to ride the beast on Googlemaps street view...

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@46.4...ata=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sotEcrSebG2MTnECHO3f_mw!2e0

This is directly from the left turn in Ovaro!

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

Jussi Veikkanen has done more finish line celebrations than Quintana in this Giro. Sort it out Nairo...

 

[yespatterns]

I think a Q and A 1-2, though I worry that Aru went way hard today. Hopefully the recovery is good.

 

[jens_attacks]

very hard stage i gotta say. even if it's suicide to attack before zoncolan, i think rolland is crazy enough. even if i would advise him against. when you know you hit a wall with ten to go, it's better to wait until then...

i expect grande aru to attack big time and drop uran who will lose at least a minute. so aru for me for the stage.


the record of the zoncolan is not in danger at all. very hard stage and at the end of the giro. not possible.
here the record of the beautiful saunier duval machines:

http://www.climbing-records.com/2014/05/may-30th-2007-saunier-duvals-super.html

fastest ever:

1. 2007: 39:03 Gilberto Simoni 15.06 km/h
2. 2007: 39:03 Leonardo Piepoli 15.06 km/h
3. 2007: 39:10 Andy Schleck 15.01 km/h
4. 2007: 39:34 Danilo Di Luca 14.86 km/h
5. 2007: 39:40 Damiano Cunego 14.82 km/h
6. 2007: 40:22 Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio 14.57 km/h
7. 2010: 40:42 Ivan Basso 14.45 km/h
8. 2007: 40:43 Franco Pellizotti 14.44 km/h
9. 2011: 40:52 Igor Anton 14.39 km/h
10. 2007: 41:00 Marzio Bruseghin 14.34 km/h

 

[FoxxyBrown1111]

So we can expect the 10th of the stage (between contenders) being down circa 2 mins. Thus the T-10 could be shuffeld up once more. From Uran to Pozzo* all could end up in different orders at the podium. I am excited...

* with a outside chance if Uran and/or Aru cracks.

 

[DenisMenchov]

PR attacks from far out, he's got nothing to lose really.

 

[damian13ster]

PR attacks from far out, he's got nothing to lose really.

Thats the case for pretty much everyone but Uran. I think Rolland might be exhausted but he might try something. Majka will surely try something but my guess is he will just launch Aru.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Aru to crack this so called "worlds best climber" on the slopes of Zoncolan. Aru in the role of Simoni, Quintana as Di LUca.

 

[willbick]

fastest ever:

1. 2007: 39:03 Gilberto Simoni 15.06 km/h
2. 2007: 39:03 Leonardo Piepoli 15.06 km/h
3. 2007: 39:10 Andy Schleck 15.01 km/h
4. 2007: 39:34 Danilo Di Luca 14.86 km/h
5. 2007: 39:40 Damiano Cunego 14.82 km/h
6. 2007: 40:22 Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio 14.57 km/h
7. 2010: 40:42 Ivan Basso 14.45 km/h
8. 2007: 40:43 Franco Pellizotti 14.44 km/h
9. 2011: 40:52 Igor Anton 14.39 km/h
10. 2007: 41:00 Marzio Bruseghin 14.34 km/h

Lol. Those were the days. Couldnt do that in a car now

 

[jaylew]

Nairo, Arredondo, Uran, Duarte, and Henao go top 5, Ryo breaks his leg celebrating, and the Colombia haters quit the forum until the Tour.

 

[the sceptic]

*in my best jens_attacks voice*

Rolland to go thermonuclear on Sella Razo dropping Uran like a stone and getting his podium place

Being serious, i think Aru will take it, Quintana will probably pace Uran once he get's dropped saving his second place overall

Grande Aru to attack on Passo Del Puro, ride solo to the finish and take pink.

 

[Tournesol]

Duarte to send the Colombian fanboy mafia into raptures.

 

[rghysens]

Grande Aru to attack on Passo Del Puro, ride solo to the finish and take pink.

...while doing a wheelie the entire length of the Zoncolan.

 

[damian13ster]

Nairo, Arredondo, Uran, Duarte, and Henao go top 5, Ryo breaks his leg celebrating, and the Colombia haters quit the forum until the Tour.

If Arredondo, Duarte and Henao go on a break, Aru, Pozzovivo, Kelderman, Rolland, Majka and all of the other riders from the break crash or drop out for various reasons your prediction is totally legit.....

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Watching 2010's stage right now. The attacks come and go like a marathoner's: no change in pace, but suddenly everyone's face starts to strain, and gaps appear.

It will be carnage. Hope the director is good, because there will be individual riders all over the mountain.

What is the weather forecast?

 

[damian13ster]

...while doing a wheelie the entire length of the Zoncolan.

Of course, less friction losses