2015 Giro Route Rumours

[TheGreenMonkey]

Yes it would be a long stage to include Noveis and Bielmonte. I get a 235km stage with them in plus Col du Joux but with just the normal route to Cervinia. I guess it would be unussual to use the same set of climbs two years in a row even if in different parts of the stage.

Surely extra hard climbs in a stage is a good thing, perhaps they would not be raced hard but they still have to be climbed and tire out the riders.

 

[Eshnar]

So, now it looks like the highlights of the Giro could be:

Abetone via San Pellegrino in Alpe
Plan di Corones
Aprica via Mortirolo
Sestriere via Finestre

Rather easy MTFs. except Corones, but tough climbs before that. What I miss is at multiple mountain stage like the ones to Tre Cime in 2007 and 2013 and Val di Fassa in 2011.

Btw, does anyone (Eshnar) know if it's possible to have at MTF other than Aprica directly after Mortirolo? For example Monte Padrio or Monte Colmo. Is it realistic to have at MTF here or at another climb near Edolo?

Not sure if it's possible at all, but surely it is not realistic. Imho this year there's a good chance they'll climb Monte Padrio, but in any case the finish would be after the descent. I don't think there's enough space anywhere up there. The rumours say the finish could be in Forte Sertoli, at 1176m, and I suspect they would probably pass through Tirano, since it'd be the town paying, so my hope is Mortirolo - Padrio - descent to Tirano - short uphill to Forte Sertoli

 

[fauniera]

Plan di Corones is not really an easy MTF.

I agree that we need a tappone like Gardecchia 2011. Concerning the Mortirolo stage i've read something about Forte Sertoli, which seems to be near San Rocco.

 

[Eshnar]

Plan di Corones is not really an easy MTF.

I agree that we need a tappone like Gardecchia 2011. Concerning the Mortirolo stage i've read something about Forte Sertoli, which seems to be near San Rocco.

too late fellow

 

[Matt92]

The Verbania stage might be harder than expected. I heard they are planning to include the climb to Alpe Segletta (8.8 kms at 8.7%), just before the downhill finish in Verbania.

BTW, I'm a little bit worried by the lack of a proper multiple-climb stage like the ones you've mentioned. The Finestre-Sestriere stage will probably include just these two climbs, and I expect the Cervinia stage to feature just one or two climbs before the final one. Not bad, but not the kind of monster 5-climb stage we're talking about.
The best chance, in that regard, is probably the Tirano stage. Starting from Madonna di Campiglio or somewhere in Val di Sole (so just after the descent from Campiglio), we could have the classic Tonale-Gavia-Mortirolo sequence, followed by another climb (Padrio would be amazing, but I'm afraid we'll have to settle for something lighter) before the finish in Tirano. I've heard the Forte Sertoli rumor too, but I have no idea about the climb towards it.

 

[fauniera]

my hope is Mortirolo - Padrio - descent to Tirano - short uphill to Forte Sertoli

Did i locate Forte Sertoli correctly?

 

[Eshnar]

The Verbania stage might be harder than expected. I heard they are planning to include the climb to Alpe Segletta (8.8 kms at 8.7%), just before the downhill finish in Verbania.

well, that's the point of me calling it a descent finish... because there's a climb before

BTW, I'm a little bit worried by the lack of a proper multiple-climb stage like the ones you've mentioned. The Finestre-Sestriere stage will probably include just these two climbs, and I expect the Cervinia stage to feature just one or two climbs before the final one. Not bad, but not the kind of monster 5-climb stage we're talking about.
The best chance, in that regard, is probably the Tirano stage. Starting from Madonna di Campiglio or somewhere in Val di Sole (so just after the descent from Campiglio), we could have the classic Tonale-Gavia-Mortirolo sequence, followed by another climb (Padrio would be amazing, but I'm afraid we'll have to settle for something lighter) before the finish in Tirano. I've heard the Forte Sertoli rumor too, but I have no idea about the climb towards it.

it depends... if they don't wanna climb Padrio they could still use Santa Cristina, and I wouldn't really mind it
The climb to Forte Sertoli depends on which side they pick... from west it is a Murito of 2-3 kms at 10+%, from east is a more conventional climb.

 

[Matt92]

well, that's the point of me calling it a descent finish... because there's a climb before

I know, I mentioned Segletta because the "hilly/descent finish" definition is perfectly correct, but may be misleading in judging the difficulty of the stage (I mean, it's "hilly" by Giro standards; by Unipublic standards, it would probably be one of the longest climbs in the whole race ).

it depends... if they don't wanna climb Padrio they could still use Santa Cristina, and I wouldn't really mind it
The climb to Forte Sertoli depends on which side they pick... from west it is a Murito of 2-3 kms at 10+%, from east is a more conventional climb.

Well, yes, Santa Cristina is much easier, but it may cause more action on Mortirolo. Padrio would make for a killer combo, but it would probably sedate the race on Mortirolo.

Forte Sertoli does not sound bad as the finish of a monster stage.

 

[pink_jersey]

Is Monte Colmo paved?

 

[Eshnar]

Is Monte Colmo paved?

yes, as far as I know

 

[OlavEH]

Not sure if it's possible at all, but surely it is not realistic. Imho this year there's a good chance they'll climb Monte Padrio, but in any case the finish would be after the descent. I don't think there's enough space anywhere up there. The rumours say the finish could be in Forte Sertoli, at 1176m, and I suspect they would probably pass through Tirano, since it'd be the town paying, so my hope is Mortirolo - Padrio - descent to Tirano - short uphill to Forte Sertoli

That could be interesting. Tirano lies at about 400m, so a finish at Forte Sertoli would mean about 700 height meters to the finish.

I was also looking at google maps at the area around Edolo and it looked like the only place where it would be enough space for a MTF would be at Saviore dell'Adamello, just south of Edolo.

 

[Eshnar]

That could be interesting. Tirano lies at about 400m, so a finish at Forte Sertoli would mean about 700 height meters to the finish.

yeah, the murito I mentioned starts from half of Aprica... as the profile posted before by Fauniera. And to be precise, from the east it would mean climbing part of Trivigno North, basically 4.5 kms at 10%, followed by a very easy (fals flat) few kms.

I was also looking at google maps at the area around Edolo and it looked like the only place where it would be enough space for a MTF would be at Saviore dell'Adamello, just south of Edolo.

don't really know well that area

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Stage 18 to Verbania. Looking at the map as far as I can tell the only way to get to Aurano to climb the Segletta is to go to Verbania (or just north of it) and do a loop.
Is this right or can you get to Aurano from the north and then climb the Segletta and descend into Verbania?

 

[Eshnar]

Stage 18 to Verbania. Looking at the map as far as I can tell the only way to get to Aurano to climb the Segletta is to go to Verbania (or just north of it) and do a loop.
Is this right or can you get to Aurano from the north and then climb the Segletta and descend into Verbania?

They should go from Bellinzona to Domodossola, then south until Mergozzo, then east, without having to enter Verbania but just slightly north of it, Cambiasca, Aurano, Alpe Segletta and then downhill directly to Verbania. Shouldn't be a long stage.
Yeah, there's no way to reach Aurano from north.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

They should go from Bellinzona to Domodossola, then south until Mergozzo, then east, without having to enter Verbania but just slightly north of it, Cambiasca, Aurano, Alpe Segletta and then downhill directly to Verbania. Shouldn't be a long stage.
Yeah, there's no way to reach Aurano from north.

Thank you. I was not thinking of going all that way round at all. I was thinking they would be following the lake south that way. However that leads to very short stages. I will have a look at what you suggest.

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

If they really want to make stage 20 hard they should start in Aosta and go through France over San Carlo, Petit Saint Bernard, Iseran, Mont Cenis, Finestre, Sestriere. Only 247kms, not too long at all.

If that is really too long and hard just stop the stage at the top of the Finestre. That makes the stage 220kms.

 

[jens_attacks]

i don't think that you can end a stage on top of finestre though...

 

[Eshnar]

i don't think that you can end a stage on top of finestre though...

me neither

 

[Stromeon]

***Updates***
- 8th stage to finish in S.Giorgio del Sannio (hilly stage)
- 9th stage to start from Benevento (but I really doubt it will finish in Ceglie Messapica as formerly rumoured... a flat stage on Sunday is quite unlikely)
- The ITT in Veneto could go from and to everywhere, there have been at least 5 rumoured routes already
- Forget about Fauniera
- Stage 16 to finish in Tirano, with maybe a few kms uphill road (unlike the 2008 finish)
- Stage 18 to start in Bellinzona
- Stage 19 to start in Gravellona Toce
- Official presentation in a month. October 6th.

Stage 1: San Lorenzo a Mare – Sanremo TTT *****
Stage 2: Albenga - Genova [flat] *****
Stage 3: Sestri Levante - La Spezia [hilly] *****
Stage 4: Forte dei Marmi - Abetone [MTF] ****
Stage 5: Montecatini Terme – Castiglione della Pescaia [flat] ***
Stage 6: *Fog of war*
Stage 7: *Fog of war*
Stage 8: ??? - S.Giorgio del Sannio [hilly] ****
Stage 9: Benevento - Ceglie Messapica [flat] **
rest
Stage 10: ??? - Imola [hilly] ***
Stage 11: Imola - Vicenza [flat(tish)] ***
Stage 12: ITT in Veneto ****
Stage 13: ??? - Nervesa della Battaglia [hilly/possible sterrato]***
Stage 14: ??? - Plan de Corones [MTF] **
Stage 15: ??? - Madonna di Campiglio [MTF] ****
rest
Stage 16: ??? - Tirano (with Mortirolo from Mazzo) [Mountain/MTF] ****
Stage 17: ??? - Lugano (CH) [flat] ***
Stage 18: Bellinzona (CH) - Verbania [hilly/descent finish] ****
Stage 19: Gravellona Toce - Cervinia [MTF] ****
Stage 20: ??? - Sestriere (with Finestre) [MTF] ****
Stage 21: Torino - Milano [flat] ****

Bit concerned about the first weekend (ie Stages 8 & 9), once again looks to be very backloaded and I hope that they manage to create at least one decent mountain stage on that weekend - stage 9 starting from Benevento could probably finish anywhere given that they have the rest day to transfer up to the north anyway. Vesuvio perhaps?

Stage 14 and 15 could have potential, although with Madonna di Campiglio the more likely, Kronplatz looks slightly out of place geographically perhaps? Although you could make a decent multi-mountain stage finishing there eg from Belluno; San Pellegrino - Sella - Erbe - Kronplatz (about 200km) or variants thereof. And I'd really like to see Passo Daone (8.3km @ 9.2%) before Madonna di Campiglio otherwise there's an atrociously long false flat before the climbing starts (this is assuming they approach from the south), but the roads there are very narrow and so would need a climb before eg Monte Bondone to split up the pack, so I don't really think it's a viable option.

 

[Eshnar]

Bit concerned about the first weekend (ie Stages 8 & 9), once again looks to be very backloaded and I hope that they manage to create at least one decent mountain stage on that weekend - stage 9 starting from Benevento could probably finish anywhere given that they have the rest day to transfer up to the north anyway. Vesuvio perhaps?

Stage 14 and 15 could have potential, although with Madonna di Campiglio the more likely, Kronplatz looks slightly out of place geographically perhaps? Although you could make a decent multi-mountain stage finishing there eg from Belluno; San Pellegrino - Sella - Erbe - Kronplatz (about 200km) or variants thereof. And I'd really like to see Passo Daone (8.3km @ 9.2%) before Madonna di Campiglio otherwise there's an atrociously long false flat before the climbing starts (this is assuming they approach from the south), but the roads there are very narrow and so would need a climb before eg Monte Bondone to split up the pack, so I don't really think it's a viable option.

I'll happily accept a dull second weekend if we have the Pradaccio on stage 4, tbh.
Yes, Madonna di Campiglio will be climbed from south, and I agree with your suggestions there.

 

[damian13ster]

Seriously. Whats with the backloading? GTs should be for riders that can be consistent throughout 3 weeks. Stage 6 better be a serious MTF....

 

[Eshnar]

Seriously. Whats with the backloading? GTs should be for riders that can be consistent throughout 3 weeks. Stage 6 better be a serious MTF....

I think you might want to consider stage 4 instead of stage 6.
In any case, the Giro has always been backloaded. A little more lately, but that's what it is...

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Mountain stages 18-20 are not likely to be packed with tough climbs, if those rumors are true. IMO

I wonder if there will be any traditional high mountain stage at all. Maybe not if the idea is to help Nibali get an "easy" Giro win so that he can still be competitive in the Tour.

 

[Eshnar]

Mountain stages 18-20 are not likely to be packed with tough climbs, if those rumors are true. IMO

I wonder if there will be any traditional high mountain stage at all. Maybe not if the idea is to help Nibali get an "easy" Giro win so that he can still be competitive in the Tour.

well if the rumours are true this ain't an easy Giro by any means. Even without '90s style mountain stages.

 

[Matt92]

If they really want to make stage 20 hard they should start in Aosta and go through France over San Carlo, Petit Saint Bernard, Iseran, Mont Cenis, Finestre, Sestriere. Only 247kms, not too long at all.

If that is really too long and hard just stop the stage at the top of the Finestre. That makes the stage 220kms.

I think a stage finish on Finestre is impossible, but your Aosta - Sestriere is amazing.