2015 Giro Route Rumours

[Netserk]

And the Finestre stage will be interesting, Ivrea-Sestriere direct with only the Finestre in between is only about 150km, which is too short. Perhaps they do Sestriere-Finestre-Sestriere like in 2005?

Maybe Moncenisio-Finestre-Sestriere?

 

[Stromeon]

Maybe Moncenisio-Finestre-Sestriere?

Oh yeah, I'd forgotten there were two ways up on the Italian side.
But then you don't get the views of the lake doing that

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Tze Core-Champremier-Saint-Pantalèon-Cervinia please.

 

[Netserk]

They still have time to pave Basset, right?

 

[Lupetto]

Maybe Moncenisio-Finestre-Sestriere?

I am still hoping for Prudhomme to find and unleash his inner Zomegnan and present us...

Moutiers - Sestriere via Iseran, Mont-Cenis, Finestre.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

yeah, that's the reason why they put this

and didn't put this

Makes perfect sense. With the Durone the Giro was too difficult.

I didn't say it would have been a hard stage by Giro standards with both of those climbs in it. I think they kept it as soft as possible without it being a total joke - given its prominent place in the race - the third Sunday in the race, the day before a rest day. You cannot ignore that. Of course they had to have one proper climb in it.

I didn't mean they had to choose, but if they wanted to make it easy just climb the Durone like in 1999.

I don't think the 1999 Giro is the gold standard of GT design, but that stage was followed by a far harder one, this one will be followed by a rest day.

And the Finestre stage will be interesting, Ivrea-Sestriere direct with only the Finestre in between is only about 150km, which is too short. Perhaps they do Sestriere-Finestre-Sestriere like in 2005?

Doubtful. They seem to be going in that direction with their mountain stages. More Vuelta-like.

Maybe Moncenisio-Finestre-Sestriere?

That would make a lot of sense since Finestre Sestriere alone probably isn't enough to put one of the major contenders in trouble. With both of those climbs it's possible. Still not a very hard stage though.

 

[Stromeon]

I am still hoping for Prudhomme to find and unleash his inner Zomegnan and present us...

Moutiers - Sestriere via Iseran, Mont-Cenis, Finestre.

That would be a pretty awesome stage, but Briancon - Isola 2000 (207km) via Izoard, Agnel, Sampeyre, Fauniera and then a short descent off the Lombarde is the one I'm waiting for Prudhomme to pull out of the bag come the presentation

Sets us up nicely for a 63km TT from Isola to Jausiers over the Cime de la Bonnette as well.

 

[Netserk]

That would be a pretty awesome stage, but Briancon - Isola 2000 (207km) via Izoard, Agnel, Sampeyre, Fauniera and then a short descent off the Lombarde is the one I'm waiting for Prudhomme to pull out of the bag come the presentation

Sets us up nicely for a 63km TT from Isola to Jausiers over the Cime de la Bonnette as well.

Better stage if done in the opposite direction.

 

[Stromeon]

Better stage if done in the opposite direction.

Can alternate each year then

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Tende - Guillestre via Tende complete with sterrato, Madonna delle Colletto, Fauniera, Sampeyre & Agnel.

 

[damian13ster]

Just looked a bit closer at the first post: I rally don't like first stage. TTT is just too long. If Movistar is riding like they can then the race can be over already because then the leader will just have to wheelsuck (or draft, whatever you prefer) for the rest of the race and not screw up ITT.

Replace TTT with ITT and I would be a happy man.

 

[icefire]

As if they could just pick the finish they want. Keeping Madonna di Campiglio, they chose by far the best finish (leaving aside the final ramp, which btw doesn't make it easier, at least).
Yeah, they didn't put a climb of 10 kms at 6%, which they could have put.

If they don't choose the best they can for the stage before the send rest day given the constraint of the finish I would think either the Vuelta has gone back to spring or this is a replay of the Moser vs Saronni years.

 

[Eshnar]

If they don't choose the best they can for the stage before the send rest day given the constraint of the finish I would think either the Vuelta has gone back to spring or this is a replay of the Moser vs Saronni years.

With that reasoning the Moser vs Saronni years never stopped... (they just took a break in 2011)

 

[Matt92]

Come on, guys, I understand your disappointment because the Zomegnan days are over (I'm disappointed too), but let's not jump to conclusions on the whole route simply because of one stage that's not very promising.

I mean, Eshnar is right: Madonna di Campiglio pays, Madonna di Campiglio gets the finish. Given that the finish is in Madonna di Campiglio, Daone is the best option. It's not like adding Durone would change a lot.

I'll be the first to complain if the design a bland stage to Cervinia (say, like the 2012 stage), or they mess up the finish in Tirano after Mortirolo. Those are stages with great potential, and good or bad design could make the difference between wonderful mountain stages or long days of boredom. But not putting an easy climb like Durone as the third-to-last climb in what will probably be the lightest Alpine stage seems like a matter of very little importance to me.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Just looked a bit closer at the first post: I rally don't like first stage. TTT is just too long. If Movistar is riding like they can then the race can be over already because then the leader will just have to wheelsuck (or draft, whatever you prefer) for the rest of the race and not screw up ITT.

Replace TTT with ITT and I would be a happy man.

I hope this is irony right?
It's only frikin 18km

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

They should have done Bondone - Durone - Daone - Madonna di Campiglio. It would only be just over 200km to include all four climbs after the descent from La Fricca and would make the stage much better.

 

[damian13ster]

I hope this is irony right?
It's only frikin 18km

No, it is not an irony. There might be some serious wind on that stage, and gaps can easily be around a minute. Thats huge in cycling. Besides, I dont like TTT alone. Of course a rider needs support of a team but in the end its about going head to head with the rivals, and if those rivals gain advantage because their team is good in TT it doesnt really show who is strongest in the race if gaps arent huge. Especially if GC rider doesn't even take many turns during TTT. I much more prefer ITT's.

 

[Eshnar]

Apparently a newspaper in Vicenza confirmed again the stage as number 11, with 4 laps over Monte Berico. Should be interesting. It also confirms the route as I figured it before the stage 15 revelation, which is Jesolo on stage 12, ITT on stage 13 and Kronplatz on stage 14. If that's so, from Kronplatz to Marostica it would be the dumbest transfer ever

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: ??? - ???
Stage 7: ??? - Torre del Greco [flat?hilly?] ***
Stage 8: Torre del Greco - S.Giorgio del Sannio [hilly] ****
Stage 9: Benevento - Termoli [flat/hilly] ***
rest
Stage 10: ??? - Imola [hilly] ****
Stage 11: Modena? - Vicenza (Monte Berico) [uphill sprint] ****
Stage 12: ??? - Jesolo [flat] ****
Stage 13: Treviso - Valdobbiadene [ITT] ****
Stage 14: Noale - Plan de Corones [MTF] ***
Stage 15: Marostica - Madonna di Campiglio 165 km [MTF] *****
rest
Stage 16: Pinzolo - Tirano (with Mortirolo from Mazzo) [Mountain/MTF] ****
Stage 17: Sondrio - Lugano (CH) [flat] ****
Stage 18: Bellinzona (CH) - Verbania [hilly/descent finish] ****
Stage 19: Gravellona Toce - Cervinia [MTF] ****
Stage 20: Ivrea - Sestriere (with Finestre) [MTF] ****
Stage 21: Torino - Milano [flat] ****

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Apparently a newspaper in Vicenza confirmed again the stage as number 11, with 4 laps over Monte Berico. Should be interesting. It also confirms the route as I figured it before the stage 15 revelation, which is Jesolo on stage 12, ITT on stage 13 and Kronplatz on stage 14. If that's so, from Kronplatz to Marostica it would be the dumbest transfer ever

If Kronplatz is more or less confirmed, what is/are the other likely climb(s) in that stage?

 

[Eshnar]

If Kronplatz is more or less confirmed, what is/are the other likely climb(s) in that stage?

If the start is in Noale as rumoured, they can throw in one or more of Valparola, Giau, Falzarego, Staulanza, Duran. In any case, they would be very far from the finish.
My prediction is Staulanza - Valparola OR Giau - Falzarego.

 

[Eshnar]

Interesting fact: Plan de Corones would be Cima Coppi unless there is Gavia on stage 16.

 

[Eshnar]

BREAKING NEWS:
http://www.ilsecoloxix.it/p/sport/2014/09/16/ARJ2L7xB-rilancia_italia_liguria.shtml
there will be four stages in Liguria. A new stage between Rapallo and Sestri Levante will be insterted as stage 3. Confirmed officially by local authorities

Stage 1: San Lorenzo a Mare – Sanremo [TTT] *****
Stage 2: Albenga - Genova [flat] *****
Stage 3: Rapallo - Sestri Levante [hilly] *****
Stage 4: Chiavari - La Spezia [hilly] *****
Stage 5: Forte dei Marmi - Abetone [MTF] ****
Stage 6: Montecatini Terme – Castiglione della Pescaia [flat] ****
Stage 7: Grosseto - Viterbo [flat] ***
Stage 8: ??? - S.Giorgio del Sannio [hilly] ****
Stage 9: Benevento - Termoli [flat/hilly] ***
rest
Stage 10: ??? - Imola [hilly] ****
Stage 11: Modena? - Vicenza (Monte Berico) [uphill sprint] ****
Stage 12: ??? - Jesolo [flat] ****
Stage 13: Treviso - Valdobbiadene [ITT] ****
Stage 14: Noale - Plan de Corones [MTF] **
Stage 15: Marostica - Madonna di Campiglio 165 km [MTF] *****
rest
Stage 16: Pinzolo - Tirano (with Mortirolo from Mazzo) [Mountain/MTF] ****
Stage 17: Sondrio - Lugano (CH) [flat] ****
Stage 18: Bellinzona (CH) - Verbania [hilly/descent finish] ****
Stage 19: Gravellona Toce - Cervinia [MTF] ****
Stage 20: Ivrea - Sestriere (with Finestre) [MTF] ****
Stage 21: Torino - Milano [flat] ****

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

If the start is in Noale as rumoured, they can throw in one or more of Valparola, Giau, Falzarego, Staulanza, Duran. In any case, they would be very far from the finish.
My prediction is Staulanza - Valparola OR Giau - Falzarego.

Thanks. Is there any reason why you downgraded the probability of that stage from three to two stars? Or are you just uncertain about the start?

 

[Eshnar]

Thanks. Is there any reason why you downgraded the probability of that stage from three to two stars? Or are you just uncertain about the start?

I'm very uncertain about the whole stage. It really doesn't fit with Marostica the next day. 3 hrs of transfer between two mountain stages. I believe it's more likely a stage involving Monte Grappa, but no one knows anything.

EDIT: Meanwhile, new rumour about stage 7 finishing in Viterbo and starting from Grosseto. Looks legit, Torre del Greco was quite a weak rumour.

 

[Eshnar]

https://www.facebook.com/giroditalia/photos/a.396812843246.171433.27483848246/10152335976603247/?type=1&theater
That's Finestre people... right? Sure looks like it from the top.
EDIT: Huhhh not sure at all.