2018 Giro d'Italia, Stage 1: Jerusalem - Jerusalem ITT 9.7 K

[Laplaz]

Here it is, the Giro 2018. Weather should be good and very hot.
Eshnar's preview:

STAGE 1: West Jerusalem ITT 9.7 km

Technical Overview:
For the first time in history the Giro starts outside of Europe. The first stage is a short ITT in West Jerusalem and it's an interesting one, quite technical and with some gradients (although the profile is inflated, you can find some 4-5% here and there). All in all is quite a nice prologue, where maybe some significant gaps can be made.

Final km

What to Expect:
It's just a prologue, but it's not that easy, so GC guys will need to be serious about it. Pure climbers might lose quite some time already.

Jerusalem

 

[DNP-Old]

I'm saying Dumo to strike first and already take the pink, which he'll gladly lose in a few days. Route really suits him, only issue I see is that might be just too short.

 

[yaco]

Make this TT 12+kms and it's a fight b/w Dumoulin and Dennis - Shorter distance brings others into play like Van Emden, Wellens, Cavagna,De La Cruz,Martin,Pedersen - And i wouldn't rule out Froome.

 

[Sestriere]

Rohan Dennis is the big favourite imo. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins by 10 seconds or so. The heat (around 33C predicted for Friday afternoon) suits him as well, as he has shown in Utrecht for example. Doesn't mean the others are without a chance though, along the already mentioned favourites I expect good performances by the Trek-youngsters Pedersen and Mullen.

 

[42x16ss]

Rohan Dennis will win this bike race.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: 2018 Giro d'Italia, Stage 1: Jerusalem - Jerusalem ITT 9

The heat will suit Froome so maybe he has a shot at winning this. I agree though that Dennis is the favorite and Dumoulin his most dangerous opponent.

 

[Red Rick]

It's a 12 minute effort, the heat won't have that much of an effect as thermoregulation is really the issue and that takes a while to affect performance.

 

[Laplaz]

GC guys:
Dumoulin
10' Froome
30' Pinot
35-40' Aru, MAL, Pozzovivo
45' Chaves

 

[El Pistolero]

Froome to take a minute on everyone.

 

[Valv.Piti]

What a nice opening stage for a GT. Very much looking forward to this.

Dennis to take the maglia rosa and some of the climbers like Chaves and Lopez to lose a minute.

 

[Vesica]

1. Dennis
2. Van Emden (although I think it's too hilly for him, he always get second, well except last year...)
3. Dumoulin

 

[spiritualride]

This stage is on Friday the 4th. I really appreciate when dates are posted on the forum because this is one of the main sites I use to keep track of what races are coming up. I would have assumed it started on Saturday if I didn't check!

Has a grand tour ever started this far away from the race's country? What is the previous farthest? Maybe Northern Ireland Giro start?

This is Denis's stage to lose. But I don't know what form Dumoulin is in. Van Enden or Campanerts are the only others I see to beat them.

Think a GC contending climber might lose a minute here? Wow, that would be huge. I don't think Lopez will lose more than 40 seconds... ~30s to Dumoulin. Overall for the Giro this might be a Dumoulin Froome battle, with Lopez, Aru, and Pinot fighting for 3rd place.

 

[johnymax]

I also really like this ITT as an opening stage for a GT.

I'd be very surprised if Dennis doesn't take the win here. Tom should do well too and take some time from his GC rivals.

 

[Jspear]

Yeah got to go with Dennis.

I’m so excited...first GT coming up!

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

Froome to take a minute on everyone.

Except Dumoulin. I expect both to be just behind Dennis, and have a good buffer on the lightweight climbers.

 

[SHAD0W93]

How well do you guys think Pinot will do?

 

[SafeBet]

I'd like Van Emden to win it and take the jersey. Such a hard working guy with very few chances to ride for himself.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I'd like Van Emden to win it and take the jersey. Such a hard working guy with very few chances to ride for himself.

With the hills, I doubt he has a real shot. Think it is between Dennis and Dumo with Dennis the fave. Froome could finish as high up as 3rd.

 

[SafeBet]

Re: Re:

I'd like Van Emden to win it and take the jersey. Such a hard working guy with very few chances to ride for himself.

With the hills, I doubt he has a real shot. Think it is between Dennis and Dumo with Dennis the fave. Froome could finish as high up as 3rd.

The profile makes it look harder than it really is. It's mostly false flat, but I agree he's kind of a long shot.

 

[movingtarget]

Bring out the usual suspects : Froome, Dennis and Dumoulin. Anyone else would be a surprise winner.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

I'd like Van Emden to win it and take the jersey. Such a hard working guy with very few chances to ride for himself.

With the hills, I doubt he has a real shot. Think it is between Dennis and Dumo with Dennis the fave. Froome could finish as high up as 3rd.

The profile makes it look harder than it really is. It's mostly false flat, but I agree he's kind of a long shot.

Hmm, Dumo said in an interview that after walking along the course it seems up and down all the way, hillier than on the profile. But it might be a different story on the bike of course.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Thanks Flo for starting the first Giro 2018 stage thread.

Personally I've decided to take no interest in the Giro
until next Tuesday when we'll have the Italian start
Catania → Caltagirone.

I vow to make no further comment on GIro related thread until then.
That's them told, I guess.
Ciao.

 

[Krokro]

I'd say Dennis FTW by a large margin.
Dumoulin and Froome to top 5.
MAL, Aru and Chavito to ship 30/45 sec at least..
Campenaerts and Kiryienka to top10. Too hilly and "long" for Van Emden IMO.

What about Wellens?

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

What about Wellens?

Maybe bottom end top 10, irrelevant for GC.

 

[Jagartrott]

According to the bookies, Dennis is sky-high favourite (around 1.6), and Froome doesn't really stand a chance (around 50).