No big problem if Gavia was out if they climbed something else comparable (or just slightly), but this is really, really meh. Still, its not that much easier than the Mortirolo stage in 2015.
The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to
In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.
Thanks!
Amazinmets87 said:Seems the race no longer has a queen stage. Organizers claimed a double ascent of the Mortirolo would make the stage too long. I wonder how many KMs we're talking
Understandableluckyboy said:Amazinmets87 said:Seems the race no longer has a queen stage. Organizers claimed a double ascent of the Mortirolo would make the stage too long. I wonder how many KMs we're talking
It would be like 245-250km if you take away Cevo and the stage is start-Presolana-Salven-Aprica-Mortirolo-Aprica-Mortirolo-finish
Trivigno is the obvious option. It would still be short, but nah. Hell you can exclude all the early fluff and go over Foscagno and Livigno and it would still be 235km and doable.luckyboy said:Amazinmets87 said:Seems the race no longer has a queen stage. Organizers claimed a double ascent of the Mortirolo would make the stage too long. I wonder how many KMs we're talking
It would be like 245-250km if you take away Cevo and the stage is start-Presolana-Salven-Aprica-Mortirolo-Aprica-Mortirolo-finish
I think is only Vegni BS to justify the stage that we'll see, some days ago on the Italian forum they posted profiles with Mortirolo two times from two different sides (Tovo before Mazzo) and was less than 200 kms after Monte Padrio, circa 200 kms after Aprica and circa 170 kms without Aprica. They even posted a route with all three side in succession (Tovo, Monno, Mazzo) that was less than 250 kms with Aprica so cutting Aprica could be circa 220 kms.Amazinmets87 said:Seems the race no longer has a queen stage. Organizers claimed a double ascent of the Mortirolo would make the stage too long. I wonder how many KMs we're talking
I mean, we don't know all of the agreements that vegni has with local towns etc, or even the state of the road that goes up to Trivigno. It's not overly high but I imagine there could still be some snow in the vicinity, and it is pretty much out of use really so wouldn't be clean. It would be better for racing purposes sure but there are probably reasons why they've avoided it. Not to mention the fact I feel Vegni would rather announce the entry of a new climb in a better way.Red Rick said:Trivigno is the obvious option. It would still be short, but nah. Hell you can exclude all the early fluff and go over Foscagno and Livigno and it would still be 235km and doable.luckyboy said:Amazinmets87 said:Seems the race no longer has a queen stage. Organizers claimed a double ascent of the Mortirolo would make the stage too long. I wonder how many KMs we're talking
It would be like 245-250km if you take away Cevo and the stage is start-Presolana-Salven-Aprica-Mortirolo-Aprica-Mortirolo-finish
This solution is basically showing that either the logistics must be impossible or Vegni doesn't give a ****.
Forever The Best said:So how long is the new stage? I can't see the distance from the image.
194 according to Gazzetta article.Forever The Best said:So how long is the new stage? I can't see the distance from the image.
Yea, I had the same line of thinking. Unless a rider is ridiculously strong or sacrificing themselves for a teammate they're not going for broke on Gavia.Arked said:On Vuelta Aprica "climb" wouldn't even be marked on the profile or map It's false flat. Cevo could be difficult if ridden especially hard but it's way to early and it's a bit too fast which makes it "drafting" climb. No one half decent will be dropped there. Mortirolo is our only hope Paradoxically hell might break loose there because favorites will still be relatively fresh on the bottom of the climb.
luckyboy said:Yesterday's finish was over 2000m and Zakarin won the Cima Coppi now lol. Passo Manghen on stage 20 is just over 2000m as well
Eshnar said:Apparently the road of Trivigno is in a very poor state and they cannot use it without having to work on it in advance. Monte Padrio is going to be raced in the Baby Giro so I assume they are working on it, which means it is also not passable right now. Plan B sucks of course, but that's what we get and it's not like the stage as a whole becomes bad because of it.
Cima Coppi cannot be awarded retroactively (I think it's in the rules), so either they cancel it or they select the next high pass. They chose the latter option.
Yeah that's what I thought as well and what keeps me at least a little happy. With the racing situation like a few days ago, when everyone wanted to gain minutes, the Gavia might have been pure madness. Now the only riders who might have considered attacking there would have been someone like Yates and Lopez and with how strong Movistar is, they wouldn't have had a shot. Nibali might have tried as well but I think he is still confident enough to just go for it on the Mortirolo. I mean after all even now this is a stage where gaps will be meassured in minutes.gregrowlerson said:With Moviestar back in the thick of the GC battle, I don't think that Gavia out will harm the race too much. Still plenty of climbing on stage 16 before Mortirolo (even if it is not particularly steep climbing, it will continue to add to rider fatigue), and Carapaz could gain over a minute on this stage imo, or Landa might even gain a little more than that if he attacks. Either or both of them could gain further time on stage 19, and then there is still the unpredictability of the monster stage 20. The key to the race now might be Carapaz not losing time on stage 15 (which is possible given his energy expenditure stages 13/14).