2015 Giro First Week Wrap Up

[More Strides than Rides]

Not only the Giro, but double barriers should be part of the finish line specifications/guidelines, just like the meters to go signs.

I think the only way the first week could have been better is if some outsider was wearing the jersey. Not some schumuck from a breakaway, but an Uran, JVDB or Hesjedal type. It would set up a little more drama in the second week, even if only for a few stages more. I think one reason 2010 was so great is that there was a Wiggans/Vino/Evans/Nibali battle in the first week, before it turned to the real battle among the podium (and before the awesomeness of that breakaway).

My worry is that the contenders think they are evenly matched. They've been aggressive, but haven't really committed to their aggression. It will take relentlessness to actually distance oneself, and no one has wanted to risk it yet. Fair enough, its only the first week, but I hope we see some more action in the second.

 

[search]

Re: Re:

I think the oracle of London got it spot on

And absolutely no hyperbole when I say this, but is the hardest 1st week of a gt I have EVER seen. Sure there's probably some from back in the day that were harder but this 2015 giro first week is at least 10 times as hard as the average gt first week. Just at face value its 1 ttt, 2 sprints, 2 mtfs and 4 hill stages.

And that doesn't even begin to paint the picture. The ttt sounds crash prone. They do 1 sprint before they have a stage where they are just climbing all day and thats stage 3 which means theres no gaps on gt and could be nuclear all day. they have a Gap like stage which gc riders might have to contest, an actual MTF.

And that's the easy half of the first week.

That second half is ridiculous. A 264km stage? Its not flat either but with a challenging last 100k and hard finish. I remember the 230k flat stage from the 2013 Giro Rubiano won that wasn't even raced hard and some riders afterwards said it was the hardest day of their careers. Ok that was south Italy and 35 degrees iirc but this will be 264k and in Tuscany you very well could get 30 degrees, this stage is gonna kill people.

And thats not even the hardest stage of the week because 2 days later its 250k on a stage which from what I can see has like 3000m climbing, just up and down all day.
In between there's a hard MTF.

Like I said, hardest 1st week ever. Which is why I say its the hardest gt of the last decade, because while the Zomegnan gts gave you a packed 2nd and 3rd week, you really have to take into account the fact that this is a 3 week gt where the riders are going to be getting massively fatigued throughout the first 9 days, rather enjoying 180k sprint stages.

By profiles, 2011 was harder. First week as well.

Best raced =/= Hardest

Reverberi from Bardiani said it's the hardest route he has seen. And he has been around for 34 years.

 

[CatsNK]

What I like the most so far about this year's Giro is the unpredictability of the attacks. I love watching Aru. The contest he has going with Contador is exciting and I look forward to seeing the next two weeks!

I only wish for some bad weather and rough roads. What's a Giro without some pouring-down rain and snow, not to mention a bunch of dirt roads and cobblestones?

 

[SeriousSam]

It appears the Cassandra of London was right after all

“I’ve a lot of data from the last five Grand Tours I’ve done and I can tell you this has been the hardest, by the feelings and by the numbers,” Rogers told Cyclingnews on crossing the line

 

[Netserk]

Yes it has been raced hard, but it's not the hardest route. Alpe Pampeago stage in '12 was a really hard route, but it wasn't raced hard. Fuente De was an easy route, but raced very hard. I thought everyone knew the difference between the two.

 

[Alpechraxler]

did anybody already see kangert stick his nose into the wind once ? This guy must be super fresh in the 3rd. week.

 

[Tank Engine]

The race has been great so far. The parcours has been a great mixture with a few stages highly suitable for hard, yet tactical, racing (what I like the best). Astana have been very strong and trying to rip the race apart. Although they've been stronger than Saxo, Contador has been able to defend his position, even after his crash injury. Bertie will get stronger as the race goes on, but Saxo are going to be outnumbered by Astana, and possibly Sky, at the ends of the big mountain stages. The time trial will be crucial in deciding the tactics for the real mountain stages. I'm looking forward to it.

Only things on the downside: major headwind on the mega-long stage, neutralisation on Sunday's stage just as Astana had split the race up, crashes most notably Pozzovivo's (but good to see him in reasonable shape on Saturday given how the crash looked).

 

[ILovecycling]

Re:

What I like the most so far about this year's Giro is the unpredictability of the attacks. I love watching Aru. The contest he has going with Contador is exciting and I look forward to seeing the next two weeks!

I only wish for some bad weather and rough roads. What's a Giro without some pouring-down rain and snow, not to mention a bunch of dirt roads and cobblestones?

I dont think those attacks were unpredictable (maybe 2 of them), but that can be cuz of 1st week, we will see much more in coming weeks

when did cobbles feature at giro?

 

[search]

did anybody already see kangert stick his nose into the wind once ? This guy must be super fresh in the 3rd. week.

well, yes, early on most of the time. Kangert is also likely to do the Tour, and he is not fully fit, he already said before the start that he will not go too deep

 

[manafana]

If Astana can keep it up for three weeks then I am scratching my head, too much too early, more likely to be porte or contador waiting in the wings for week 3.

 

[red_flanders]

Hell of a race so far. Cali was good too, despite the rather weak field. Turned out to be an outstanding race. This Giro has the potential to be a 10/10 GT. Hope no one gets hurt further, that really hosed the TdF last year.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

did anybody already see kangert stick his nose into the wind once ? This guy must be super fresh in the 3rd. week.

Didn't he spend a long time on the front of peloton on stage 3 or 4?

 

[sienna]

Re:

Yes it has been raced hard, but it's not the hardest route. Alpe Pampeago stage in '12 was a really hard route, but it wasn't raced hard. Fuente De was an easy route, but raced very hard. I thought everyone knew the difference between the two.

Between easy and hard?

 

[l.Harm]

Boonen been crying over the first week, especially the long distance stages

 

[Bushman]

Porte is in a very good position for now and he will likely have the leader's Jersey after the tt. So far he is riding very conservative and has been able to hang on to Aru and Contador. But I dont think he will be able to keep it up in the third week. He might not crack big time as he looks to be conserving his energy better this year, but I dont think he will be able to respond to Contador's attacks when he will go full throttle.

 

[SafeBet]

Re:

Boonen been crying over the first week, especially the long distance stages

Curious coming from someone who was dropped 50 km from the finish on average.

 

[Flamin]

Re:

Boonen been crying over the first week, especially the long distance stages

Voice your opinion =/= crying.

 

[greenedge]

I voted for Porte (as much out of hope as anything) then immediately realised I shouldn't have. The last two years my vote for an Aussie at the Giro have been the spell of death for Evans. Hopefully third time's the charm.

The race has been really exciting so far! It's turning into one dominated by the Spanish and Italians (with maybe more Aussies if we can get another two stages).

 

[greenedge]

Re:

The lack of hard MTF stages is probably the best decision ever.

The Tour would be more entertaining with a race design like this.

A prologue, cobbled stage and two hilltop finishes. What more could you ask for
TTT also- if your'e referring just to these first 9 stages of the Giro.

 

[Netserk]

There's only been one very long stage and another one that was quite long as well (264 & 224 km), but other than that there's been three normal length stages and three short ones (136, 150 & 152 km). I really don't see the problem with that. Especially since most of the longest stage was ridden at an easy pace because of the headwind.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Re:

There's only been one very long stage and another one that was quite long as well (264 & 224 km), but other than that there's been three normal length stages and three short ones (136, 150 & 152 km). I really don't see the problem with that. Especially since most of the longest stage was ridden at an easy pace because of the headwind.

A head wind slowing them down does not make the stage easy.

 

[Netserk]

Re: Re:

There's only been one very long stage and another one that was quite long as well (264 & 224 km), but other than that there's been three normal length stages and three short ones (136, 150 & 152 km). I really don't see the problem with that. Especially since most of the longest stage was ridden at an easy pace because of the headwind.

A head wind slowing them down does not make the stage easy.

Yes it does. It's always easier sitting in a bunch with a head wind than with a tailwind. That is if the ones pulling the group pull equally hard in the two scenarios.

 

[mrhender]

I have to say it.....

As far as entertainment and drama goes this Giro certainly has delivered so far...

And we are only half-way through...

Who knows what the next half will bring...

I have a feeling things will not be as given as they may look now...

 

[greenedge]

Re:

I voted for Porte (as much out of hope as anything) then immediately realised I shouldn't have. The last two years my vote for an Aussie at the Giro have been the spell of death for Evans. Hopefully third time's the charm.

Well there it goes, again