2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 10 Campi Bisenzio - Sestola 219km

[Praying Mantis]

STAGE 10: Campi Bisenzio – Sestola 219 km

Stage start: 11.10 CET, 17 May

Technical Overview:
Extremely serious medium mountain stage, long and with lots of climbing, coming just after a rest day. Starting from Tuscany, the peloton will cross the Apennines almost from the get go, as the first climb of the day, Passo della Collina (12.7 km at 5.3%, GPM3), comes after just 22 km from the start. Following its fast descent and some km in the valley, comes the second climb, Pietracolora (8.7 km at 6.1%, GPM3). At the top there is a short false flat, and then a very technical downhill that will bring everybody down the valley again. Here, a series of irregular 3-6% slopes will bring the riders up again, from 150m to over 800m, leading into a long and very rough terrain, full of ramps and descents, featuring the two intermediate sprints of the day. At 32 km to go the final part of the stage begins, with the ascent to Pian del Falco (16.3 km at 5.2%, GPM1), whose real difficulty is due to its final 4 km, just after the town of Sestola, which average 8.9%. The descent of this climb is very difficult, and leads to the final very gentle climb back to Sestola (7.45 km at 5%, GPM3).

The Climbs:

Passo della Collina GPM3
A very, very constant climb. Will be good for the formation of a strong breakaway. Once again, no official profile. We go with Salite.ch

Pietracolora GPM3
It is shorter and slightly steeper than the previous climb. That's pretty much all I can say here, because I have no profile

Pian del Falco GPM1
This climb is generally considered as starting from Sestola, which makes it a steep, 4 km wall. However, this year RCS includes quite a long section in the official profile, something hard to justify, but whatever. This climb became famous thanks to the victory of Fuente when it was stage finish in 1971.

Sestola GPM3
A long, easy drag all the way to the town.

What to expect:
This has the potential to be a great stage. Pian del Falco is not hard enough for a solo attack to stick, but a small selected gc group should be able to get away. The final climb will be good to increase the gap, or alternatively to favor attacks from second tiers. This will of course be a very good stage for the breakaway, if the gc guys don't bother keeping the peloton close.

 

[Red Rick]

How technical is the descent? Looks like Mortirolo-Aprica, medium mountain style

 

[Valv.Piti]

A break with Roglic as the winner, hopefully! Or even better, Betancur.

Can't see who should be able to control this stage and nobody probably wants to.

 

[Red Rick]

Hopefully Cunego misses the break again so his team will wreck the peloton again on the first climb of the day

 

[GP Blanco]

Pirazzi to go crazy.

 

[hrotha]

Hopefully they will underestimate Hesjedal and he'll go trapping in the break Imola style.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I just want to see Rogla, Betancur and Cunego (hopefully he can find a decent shape) to go crazy in the mountains for the mountain jersey and stage wins for the rest of the Giro.

The GC riders can go duke it out over their precious seconds somewhere in the background, I don't care (except for CQ game related stuff).

 

[el_angliru]

Re:

How technical is the descent? Looks like Mortirolo-Aprica, medium mountain style

Interesting question. It's certainly a quite steep descent (EDITED).

 

[Laplaz]

Astana should send one in the break and then go crazy on the last 4km of Pian del Falco and let Nibali attack before the descent.

 

[Ataraxus]

Re:

How technical is the descent? Looks like Mortirolo-Aprica, medium mountain style

From the maps, there are many turns (not many U-turns though) but the roads look considerably wide (except a 2km middle section). Maybe a video of the descent should provide better insights.

 

[Ataraxus]

All I want is fast tempo till the base of Pian del Falco. The gaps shall happen by default (I hope) in the last 4km of the climb and in the descent

 

[Mr.White]

Breakaway for the win. Amador in Pink.

 

[SafeBet]

If Nibali and Fuglsang feel good after the rest day, this is the perfect stage for Astana to go full La Spezia 2015 and dish out the pain.
I don't think Etixx can control this stage thus there is a chance they lose the jersey.

The descent from Pian del Falco is technical enough to attack.

 

[TMP402]

Re:

Hopefully Cunego misses the break again so his team will wreck the peloton again on the first climb of the day

This has been one of the most incompetent attempts at a jersey I can remember.

 

[jens_attacks]

zakarin to unleash hell.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 10 Campi Bisenzio - Sestola 2

I fear a big borefest. Nobody has a big disadvantage so nobody will risk a lot and try a solo from Pian del Falco. Nibali wasnt super strong in the first week so I doubt Astana will go full La Spezia and since Kruswijk is still in front of Nibali they also can't just set a high pace to drop the Etixx guys to get pink, because Nibali would still only be 2nd. Best thing that could happen to us would be a big weakness by a gc contender (Landa most likely considering that he was also in troubles in stage 8) because then we would already get some decent gaps on the penultimate climb. However I doubt anyone would drop before the final 4 kilometers so even if someone has a bad day we wouldnt have action for a very long time.
Besides that we can still hope that Nibali tries an attack before the descent to get a gap. That might work but if he isnt the strongest and gets caught again he will most likely loose time, so if I was him I don't think I would try it.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

If Nibali and Fuglsang feel good after the rest day, this is the perfect stage for Astana to go full La Spezia 2015 and dish out the pain.
I don't think Etixx can control this stage thus there is a chance they lose the jersey.

The descent from Pian del Falco is technical enough to attack.

Yeah, I also have some hopes for Cannondale, they should have the firepower to make the stage hard from the start (2013 TdF style). Etixx probably don't have the firepower to control this stage, but who wants to take the jersey?

 

[Red Rick]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 10 Campi Bisenzio - Sestola 2

I fear a big borefest. Nobody has a big disadvantage so nobody will risk a lot and try a solo from Pian del Falco. Nibali wasnt super strong in the first week so I doubt Astana will go full La Spezia and since Kruswijk is still in front of Nibali they also can't just set a high pace to drop the Etixx guys to get pink, because Nibali would still only be 2nd. Best thing that could happen to us would be a big weakness by a gc contender (Landa most likely considering that he was also in troubles in stage 8) because then we would already get some decent gaps on the penultimate climb. However I doubt anyone would drop before the final 4 kilometers so even if someone has a bad day we wouldnt have action for a very long time.
Besides that we can still hope that Nibali tries an attack before the descent to get a gap. That might work but if he isnt the strongest and gets caught again he will most likely loose time, so if I was him I don't think I would try it.

Depends so much. Mostly on whether you're watching or not

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 10 Campi Bisenzio - Sestola 2

I fear a big borefest. Nobody has a big disadvantage so nobody will risk a lot and try a solo from Pian del Falco. Nibali wasnt super strong in the first week so I doubt Astana will go full La Spezia and since Kruswijk is still in front of Nibali they also can't just set a high pace to drop the Etixx guys to get pink, because Nibali would still only be 2nd. Best thing that could happen to us would be a big weakness by a gc contender (Landa most likely considering that he was also in troubles in stage 8) because then we would already get some decent gaps on the penultimate climb. However I doubt anyone would drop before the final 4 kilometers so even if someone has a bad day we wouldnt have action for a very long time.
Besides that we can still hope that Nibali tries an attack before the descent to get a gap. That might work but if he isnt the strongest and gets caught again he will most likely loose time, so if I was him I don't think I would try it.

Depends so much. Mostly on whether you're watching or not

Edit: And I have holidays so you will all suffer a borefest

 

[May0maniac]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 10 Campi Bisenzio - Sestola 2

I fear a big borefest. Nobody has a big disadvantage so nobody will risk a lot and try a solo from Pian del Falco. Nibali wasnt super strong in the first week so I doubt Astana will go full La Spezia and since Kruswijk is still in front of Nibali they also can't just set a high pace to drop the Etixx guys to get pink, because Nibali would still only be 2nd. Best thing that could happen to us would be a big weakness by a gc contender (Landa most likely considering that he was also in troubles in stage 8) because then we would already get some decent gaps on the penultimate climb. However I doubt anyone would drop before the final 4 kilometers so even if someone has a bad day we wouldnt have action for a very long time.
Besides that we can still hope that Nibali tries an attack before the descent to get a gap. That might work but if he isnt the strongest and gets caught again he will most likely loose time, so if I was him I don't think I would try it.

Depends so much. Mostly on whether you're watching or not

 

[hfer07]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 10 Campi Bisenzio - Sestola 2

Chavito will go for the Stage win.
Valverde too

 

[dick the quick]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 10 Campi Bisenzio - Sestola 2

Wellens + Cunego + Pirazzi in a long breakaway from the very beginning of the stage, fighting fiercely for the blue jersey on each GPM (?)

 

[SafeBet]

Re: Re:

Yeah, I also have some hopes for Cannondale, they should have the firepower to make the stage hard from the start (2013 TdF style). Etixx probably don't have the firepower to control this stage, but who wants to take the jersey?

Movistar?

 

[Hgriffiths2606]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 10 Campi Bisenzio - Sestola 2

I fear a big borefest. Nobody has a big disadvantage so nobody will risk a lot and try a solo from Pian del Falco. Nibali wasnt super strong in the first week so I doubt Astana will go full La Spezia and since Kruswijk is still in front of Nibali they also can't just set a high pace to drop the Etixx guys to get pink, because Nibali would still only be 2nd. Best thing that could happen to us would be a big weakness by a gc contender (Landa most likely considering that he was also in troubles in stage 8) because then we would already get some decent gaps on the penultimate climb. However I doubt anyone would drop before the final 4 kilometers so even if someone has a bad day we wouldnt have action for a very long time.
Besides that we can still hope that Nibali tries an attack before the descent to get a gap. That might work but if he isnt the strongest and gets caught again he will most likely loose time, so if I was him I don't think I would try it.

Landa isn't weak, he's clearly recovered and is very strong, he'll be stronger than Nibali in the mountains
Depends so much. Mostly on whether you're watching or not

 

[staubsauger]

Re: 2016 Giro d'Italia - Stage 10 Campi Bisenzio - Sestola 2

Wellens + Cunego + Pirazzi in a long breakaway from the very beginning of the stage, fighting fiercely for the blue jersey on each GPM (?)

Firsanov has a reason to attack as well after yesterday!