2014 Giro D'Italia: Stage-by-stage Analysis

[Ferminal]

Really dissapointing route tbh. Too many mtf's, too few epic hilly stages.

"epic hilly stages" ... aka pointless breakaway stages.

 

[lastplacerider]

So, do Kittel and the flat road sprinters retire after stage 13?

 

[ILovecycling]

Yes,Giro preview from Eshnar,I was waiting with all my giro predictions and bets on this.I haven't read it yet (an evening hour with glass of good italian wine) but Eshnar's giro previews are always brand of quality.Looking forward to read that.

Thanks Eshnar

 

[Netserk]

Could you find one?

That depends. Do you know a site where I can upload a video and make it a gif?

 

[The Hitch]

could prevent the GC riders to give everything.

Should be - could prevent the riders from giving everything.

 

[Eshnar]

Should be - could prevent the riders from giving everything.

thank you, corrected.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I think you guys are overestimating the climbing aspect of the TT.

Most of the climbing is in the 3-4% area which in a TT can hardly be called "climbing".

While i agree that gaps won't be huge, i don't think guys like Quintana or JRod will be able to crack the top 10

 

[Roude Leiw]

"epic hilly stages" ... aka pointless breakaway stages.

or alternatively a 40+ bunch sprint

 

[trevim]

Should be - could prevent the riders from giving everything.

Even on the classics riders don't give everything...

 

[ILovecycling]

Finally I had enough time to read this.Great preview eshnar,thanks again

as for the route...wow,Im afraid nothing serious will happen in GC until stage 16.That MTT is epic tho,and I like climbs before Zoncolan too,if someone is down in GC and has balls for the win,he should attack there!(still not very likely tho)
Few interesting hilly stages too,but not really great by Giro standards,on the other hand,route has a potential,now it is up to riders and WEATHER

Viva il Giro

 

[vedrafjord]

Stage 3: Armagh - Dublin 187 km

Technical overview:
Very similar to stage 2. It should be easier since it's shorter and there aren't many coastal kms. The wind could still play a role, but it's less likely than the day before.

What to expect:
A bigger bunch sprint.

Really hoping for crosswinds to make this one interesting, as I'll be at it, and I think there's a great chance considering Ireland's prevailing winds, even though May is usually one of the calmer times of the year.

Most of the run in though is likely to be into a strongish headwind (I use that Howth-Clontarf road regularly and my average speed is often nearly double outbound vs inbound due to head/tailwinds.

 

[Escarabajo]

Finally I had enough time to read this.Great preview eshnar,thanks again

as for the route...wow,Im afraid nothing serious will happen in GC until stage 16.That MTT is epic tho,and I like climbs before Zoncolan too,if someone is down in GC and has balls for the win,he should attack there!(still not very likely tho)
Few interesting hilly stages too,but not really great by Giro standards,on the other hand,route has a potential,now it is up to riders and WEATHER

Viva il Giro

I'll be shocked if nothing happens on stages 8, 9, 14 and 15. Seriously. How can that happen???

 

[ILovecycling]

I'll be shocked if nothing happens on stages 8, 9, 14 and 15. Seriously. How can that happen???

I said 'nothing serious'
I meant that there won't be a bigger gap than 2 minutes between podium places until stage 15.

 

[Escarabajo]

Stage 18: Belluno - Rifugio Panarotta (Valsugana) 171 km

NOTE: The altimetry of Panarotta is not on the official website atm. Once it will be up, I'll put it here.

Technical overview:
The final three GC days start with the easier of them. A shortish stage with three major climbs, quite far from each other: the famous San Pellegrino, the irregularly steep Passo del Redebus and the final ascent to Rifugio Panarotta, which is simply a continuation of the well known climb to Vetriolo Terme, just 4.6 km more. It is a very regular climb, with a total of 16.3 km at 7.8%.

What to expect:
Attacks at 3-4 km to go, maybe even shorter because of what's still to come. Likely to have a strong breakaway on the San Pellegrino.

Average grade: 8 %
Length: 16.2 km
Height start: 490 m
Height top: 1780 m
Elevation gain: 1290 m
Maximum: %

http://www.climbbybike.com/race.asp?Race=Giro2014

 

[Guybrush]

on the paper the profile looks more french than italian

 

[Better Call Saul]

Anyone seen odds for the ttt?
Who will won this? Orica greenedge? Opqs?
Thoughts?

 

[eljimberino]

Isn't it better that the race isn't blown apart by the end of the first week?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Isn't it better that the race isn't blown apart by the end of the first week?

well, not sure anybody are looking for the race to be "blown apart" by the first week. However having a couple of GC contenders losing time along with smaller gaps at the top will often force better action in the second week and later.

A very "close" GC will enhance the waiting game all the way to the end imo. See Giro '12 as an example. Very poor race action on most stages as the contenders didn't want to take risks. Of course some would argue the unpredictability of who would win was the interesting part, but if the reason is lack of initiative by the contenders (on most stages) it seems rather pointless to me.

Backloading GTs is a "dangerous" game imo.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Even the Guardian is publishing road maps - pink everything!

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/may/02/giro-d-italia-northern-ireland-belfast-cycling

 

[Fzotrlool]

How about a bet on a winner for every stage?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Really dissapointing route tbh. Too many mtf's, too few epic hilly stages.

I agree.
The Giro's hilly stages have often been some of the best, "full on" racing in the entire race.

"epic hilly stages" ... aka pointless breakaway stages.

or alternatively a 40+ bunch sprint

Short memories?
Just a few examples:

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2003/giro03/?id=results/stage10

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2010/stage-7/results

http://www.steephill.tv/2013/giro-d-italia/previews-results/stage-03/

http://www.steephill.tv/2013/giro-d-italia/previews-results/stage-03/

All fantastic stages and all had an impact on the GC.

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2006//giro06/?id=results/giro0612

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/giro04/?id=results/stage11

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2010/stage-7/results

OK, a couple or three of my favourite breakaway, hilly stages.

 

[roundabout]

I thought the Sestri Levante 06 stage was pretty average.

Might as well list this stage which actually had an impact on the final GC

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2007//giro07/?id=results/giro078

 

[miketrout27]

Quintana will probably win this.

 

[manafana]

good preview, I quiet like some of the last week the mountain tt is always a favourite of mine.

 

[hfer07]

"epic hilly stages" ... aka pointless breakaway stages.

I truly hope & pray you're just kidding/being ironic............................right?