2018 Giro d'Italia - STAGE 3: Be'er Sheva – Eilat 229 km

[Jancouver]

STAGE 3: Be'er Sheva – Eilat 229 km

Technical Overview:
Quite a long stage, almost all through the desert... which means wind, right? Right??? ...Let's just hope it blows in the right direction. The route goes always south, so it's either echelons all day or never. From the profile side, just have to mention that the first part of the stage goes through some rolling terrain and features a categorized climb, Faran River (GPM4, 1.2 km at 6.5%). After it, it's all pan flat, besides a short descending section mid-way.

Final km

The Climbs:
Faran River (GPM4, 1.2 km at 6.5%)
Very similar to the climb of the previous day.

What to Expect:
Well, if there are echelons this is gonna be carnage... if there aren't it will be very boring. Let's hope the weather helps us out.

Eilat

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Looks like 36°C tomorrow.

https://static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/G18_T03_Eilat_ARR_zoom.jpg

Putting such a turn at 300/200m to go seems like a very stupid idea.

 

[DNP-Old]

Looks like 36°C tomorrow.

https://static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/G18_T03_Eilat_ARR_zoom.jpg

Putting such a turn at 300/200m to go seems like a very stupid idea.

What to think of that one with 1500m to go. Wtf were they thinking

 

[Laplaz]

Any chance of echelons?

 

[DanielSong39]

More potential land mines in this stage compared to stage 2.

 

[May0maniac]

Looks like the wacky finish of one of those Tour de Suisse sprint stages.

 

[HelloDolly]

Waht happened with Ben Hermans

I didnt think he would win the Giro but in Israel I thought hed be up there ...already bleeding time

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

Any chance of echelons?

Possible, but the sections to create echelons are minimal.

 

[Valv.Piti]

230 km in that heat is hard no matter how slow they go. And if they go slow, its probably even harder - that means one hour more in the sun! Just looking forward to they go to Italy tho, but some riders could be exhausted after the heat and travel.

 

[search]

Re:

Waht happened with Ben Hermans

I didnt think he would win the Giro but in Israel I thought hed be up there ...already bleeding time

that's all according to plan so far. Lose 10 minutes as quickly as possible and go for stages then

http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/wielrennen/Giro/1.3190754

 

[Valv.Piti]

Mareczko @ 10 seems like a superb bet for an outsider victory for tomorrows stage - just to keep a slight interest in what is happening as well, you know.

 

[El Pistolero]

Re:

Mareczko @ 10 seems like a superb bet for an outsider victory for tomorrows stage - just to keep a slight interest in what is happening as well, you know.

Doubt it looking at the length of this stage. Just take a look at his Milan-San Remo performances.

 

[Velolover2]

Another pretty safe Viviani win unless something goes wrong (crash, mechanical)..

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

Mareczko @ 10 seems like a superb bet for an outsider victory for tomorrows stage - just to keep a slight interest in what is happening as well, you know.

Doubt it looking at the length of this stage. Just take a look at his Milan-San Remo performances.

Last year he got a 2nd place on stage 12 that was exactly the same length, a normal gt sprint stage isn't as hard as MSR and lacks the hills at the end.

 

[movingtarget]

Pinot won't enjoy the heat. Echelons always make the GC riders nervous.

 

[hazaran]

Those ten roundabouts and last metre turns make me think a flyer will take this, possibly even the break given the long distance and few sprinters.

 

[Salvarani]

Chances of wind today?

 

[Yingge]

Another long wide highway ride for the most part it seems. The locals will be impressed, only road in and out closed off for hours.

 

[HelloDolly]

So how long can Dennis holdon to pink ? Surely Lotto and Katusha will make a play

 

[Yingge]

Depends how may get away in todays break and mop up the Bonus seconds, and whether a bunch sprint ends the day.

He may well take the Jersey to Sicily, but I doubt that he will be its custodian on Tuesday night.

 

[DNP-Old]

9 roundabouts and a U-turn in the last 6 kms according to MS. What were they thinking?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re:

So how long can Dennis holdon to pink ? Surely Lotto and Katusha will make a play

Could possibly hold it as long as Etna, maybe even longer if Etna is a dud like last year

 

[PremierAndrew]

Anyone know why Poels lost 40s yesterday?

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

Anyone know why Poels lost 40s yesterday?

Mechanical, then jury gave him another 10s for drafting behind the car.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Anyone know why Poels lost 40s yesterday?

Mechanical, then jury gave him another 10s for drafting behind the car.

That's just pouring salt in the wound.

Could Sky have started the Giro any worse?