2019 Giro d'Italia, stage 8: Tortoreto Lido - Pesaro 239 km

[Laplaz]

Guess what? It's raining again

Stage 8: Tortoreto Lido - Pesaro 239 km

Saturday, May 18th

START TIME: 11.15 CEST

FINISH TIME: ~17.15 CEST

Technical Overview:
The longest stage of this edition comes on the second Saturday, and it's a very tricky stage that, while it will very likely not have any implications for the GC guys, they should still be wary of. The stage starts on the coast and stays there for almost 140 km, along which there is not much to note, except for the first intermediate sprint in Senigallia. At km 138 there is the short ramp of San Costanzo, 2 km at around 6%, which leads to another flat section and a short descent to the second intermediate sprint, Calcinelli. Here starts the first GPM of the day, which is also the hardest: Monte della Mattera (GPM3, 9.1 km at 3.9%). It is not much, but it does hide some hard ramps (max 14%). Its descent brings to another small climb, Candelara, which measures roughly 2.5 km at 5%. The following descent leads to the outskirts of Pesaro, where the finishing line is, but the stage is not over. The peloton will not enter Pesaro, but turn west to climb the second GPM of the day, Monteluro (GPM4, 6 km at 3%), which starts with a ramp of 1.5 km at 7% and then becomes a false flat. From here on there are basically no proper flat roads. Yet another descent leads to Gabicce Mare, where the riders will enter the roads of Monte San Bartolo, starting with the last GPM, Gabicce Monte (GPM4, 2.2 km at 5.1%). These roads are extremely tricky, full of turns, ramps and descents. They featured recently in the Giro as the first sector of the Saltara ITT in 2013, where Nibali had the best split and Wiggins threw away his bike, and also the year before, on a road stage to Fano. That is a bit more representative: the finishing line there was much further away, but the peloton still was split thanks to some moderate pace set by Liquigas. That day everything came back together, as there were still 13 km of flat to go, but today there will only be 3. The finish is basically in sight, and this is an extremely dangerous situation for a (presumably) almost full peloton. Dangerous in terms of potential splits and, worse, crashes. As I said in the beginning, GC contenders will have to be very attentive here.

The Climbs:
Monte della Mattera, GPM3, 9.1 km at 3.9%
It has some decent ramps, but nothing important. No profile, as the rest of the GPMs of this stage.

Monteluro, GPM4, 6 km at 3%
Starts with 1.5 km at 7%.

Gabicce Monte, GPM4, 2.2 km at 5.1%
Only the first of many little climbs the riders will find on the road of Monte San Bartolo.

What to expect:
Not much on the climbs, but some chaos on Monte S.Bartolo, and almost surely some split in the peloton that might catch GC contenders off guard. Also, very high chance of mass crashes, so all contenders will want to stay in front, which in turn will increase the risk of mass crashes...

Monte San Bartolo

 

[Dazed and Confused]

They will probably neutralize the race at km138, just to make sure we see zero GC impact........

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Ackermann for his third win.

 

[Red Rick]

It's really tricky, so I suspect the GC guys want that breakaway to go and if a big breakaway goes I'm not sure sprinter teams can control it all the way.

That being said, GC teams could also make a lot of pace just to keep their dudes in front.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re:

Check the last downhill of Panoramica Adriatica. Really bad tarmac. If it has not been resurfaced and it rains, you can gain time here.

http://www.kaspressknoedel.com/strada-panoramica-adriatica

Also the Panoramica Adriatica is very curvy, up and down all the time. It was part of the itt of 2013, where Wiggo crashed in the first part and lost time.

 

[Red Rick]

How much rain are we talking about?

 

[Climbing]

Re:

How much rain are we talking about?

Shark amount of rain, I've heard, especially towards the end.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

How much rain are we talking about?

Shark amount of rain, I've heard, especially towards the end.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Re: Re:

How much rain are we talking about?

Shark amount of rain, I've heard, especially towards the end.

What is that clip from?

 

[rick james]

Pathetic stage for a weekend

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

How much rain are we talking about?

Shark amount of rain, I've heard, especially towards the end.

What is that clip from?

Last year's Tour. Can't imagine anything else.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Re: Re:

How much rain are we talking about?

Shark amount of rain, I've heard, especially towards the end.

What is that clip from?

Last year's Tour. Can't imagine anything else.

Thanks. Had to look up the context: Nibali was just raising his hand for the team car. Sagan came and ninja'd a high five.

 

[Tim Booth]

Re: 2019 Giro d'Italia, stage 8: Tortoreto Lido - Pesaro 239

3.3km descent, gradient app. 10%, 11 hairpins, 50% chance of rain. Then two 90degree turns in the last km. Interesting...……….

 

[Laplaz]

Rain and many twist and turns, so everyone will be super nervous. They might even neutralise the GC before the last descent I read.

 

[Cookster15]

I get dizzy watching those videos! Yep technical finish in the rain is Shark territory. The GC rivals better watch out if its wet! Hopefully no crashes.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Re:

Rain and many twist and turns, so everyone will be super nervous. They might even neutralise the GC before the last descent I read.

Why even bother having them ride non-mountain stages?

Riding in inclement weather, bike handling and descending are (or should be) integral to being a successful bike racer, GT specialist or not. It's getting out of hand

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Rain and many twist and turns, so everyone will be super nervous. They might even neutralise the GC before the last descent I read.

If theyre already thinking about this now they should *** cancel the route and plow in a mountain stage

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

I get dizzy watching those videos! Yep technical finish in the rain is Shark territory. The GC rivals better watch out if its wet! Hopefully no crashes.

It is not yet the moment for crazy stuff. Everybody will take it easy, the TT is far more important.

 

[Poursuivant]

Any chance of crosswinds by the coast?

 

[Laplaz]

Re: Re:

Rain and many twist and turns, so everyone will be super nervous. They might even neutralise the GC before the last descent I read.

Why even bother having them ride non-mountain stages?

Riding in inclement weather, bike handling and descending are (or should be) integral to being a successful bike racer, GT specialist or not. It's getting out of hand

Agreed.

 

[Sestriere]

Re: Re:

Rain and many twist and turns, so everyone will be super nervous. They might even neutralise the GC before the last descent I read.

Why even bother having them ride non-mountain stages?

Riding in inclement weather, bike handling and descending are (or should be) integral to being a successful bike racer, GT specialist or not. It's getting out of hand

I would agree that what you mentioned is an essential skill to a bike racer. The problem is that oftentimes riders aren't directly responsible by themselves for crashing in a nervous bunch. And I don't see how its desirable that someone like Dumoulin crashes out of the race because Puccio does some antics in a wet and technical run-in.

 

[Salvarani]

Everyone have a choice to risk it or not risk it though.

It is unfortunate if someone crashes and injures themselves but it is a race with many aspects to it. Everything doesnt have to be decided by mountains. If someone can gain minutes on another stage because they are good in that type of weather or handles the crosswinds better than some others then so be it in my opinion. Thats how it used to be.

But cool, caring about about everyones safety is a valid argument I guess too though. I understand it.

 

[Lequack]

 

[Amazinmets87]

Re: Re:

Rain and many twist and turns, so everyone will be super nervous. They might even neutralise the GC before the last descent I read.

Why even bother having them ride non-mountain stages?

Riding in inclement weather, bike handling and descending are (or should be) integral to being a successful bike racer, GT specialist or not. It's getting out of hand

I would agree that what you mentioned is an essential skill to a bike racer. The problem is that oftentimes riders aren't directly responsible by themselves for crashing in a nervous bunch. And I don't see how its desirable that someone like Dumoulin crashes out of the race because Puccio does some antics in a wet and technical run-in.

I recall Hamilton touching on this in his expose. Everyone knows crashes are likely on certain parcours. Therefore it's essential that teams are diligent in shepherding their leaders safely through. If a rider is languishing in the pack of the peloton on a sprint stage they're not contesting the onus partially falls on them if they're caught in a crash.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Re:

Everyone have a choice to risk it or not risk it though.

It is unfortunate if someone crashes and injures themselves but it is a race with many aspects to it. Everything doesnt have to be decided by mountains. If someone can gain minutes on another stage because they are good in that type of weather or handles the crosswinds better than some others then so be it in my opinion. Thats how it used to be.

But cool, caring about about everyones safety is a valid argument I guess too though. I understand it.

Yup. Let's say a rider is a daredevil descender and gains time with a risky descent. At the end of the stage the race organizers approach his team bus to inform him his time gains have been nullified. The explanation is his competitors would shouldn't be expected to subject themselves to such a high level of risk in order to pursue.