2019 Tour of the Alps 22 - 26 April

[Robert5091]

Thread for all things on the 2019 Tour of the Alps 22 - 26 April

Website (English) at https://www.tourofthealps.eu/en/

Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/Tourof_TheAlps

Startlist at https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/tour-of-the-alps/2019/gc/startlist
BahrainM, Sky, AG2R, Bora & Astana + lesser teams. Dawg versus Nibs ... or training jaunt.

TV times 14.00 CET

Stage 1 Kufstein to Kufstein 144 km start 11.45 CET

The 2019 TotA starts from Kufstein with a lumpy stage, in spite of the lack of long climbs. The opening stage features two different circuits: the first one, of about 34,5 km, to be repeated three times, followed by a second one to be taken in twice. The first loop unrolls through the Inn valley, and presents a climb to the Mariastein sanctuary (featuring a short stint with gradients grazing 10%), and a second one that alternates gradients and flatter stints to recover. As the race passes on the finish line for the third time, the peloton will tackle a second loop, characterized by two climbs. The first one measures about 3 km, with a 6,5% average gradient, whilst the second and most demanding of the two - about 2 km at a 10% average gradient - will have to be climbed twice in the 13,5 km loop. The first time on the ascent will award KOM points, and only 13 km will be left in the stage when the riders will reach the top for the second time. After the descent, the peloton will rise again - though shortly - to the Marblinger Hohe. From there, only 3 km on descent and 1,5 flat km will separate the leaders from the finish line.

Profile

Map of stage

 

[Pantani_lives]

I was hoping for more Giro favorites. Contenders seem to be Nibali, Bilbao and Majka. Elissonde has dorsal No. 1, so Froome probably won't bother about the GC.

 

[Robert5091]

'Twil be Team Sky's last race before becoming team .... er .... something at Romandie and then Team Ineos.

https://twitter.com/Tourof_TheAlps/status/1119984962655215616

From #Kufstein, @chrisfroome: "It's strange to think that this will be the last stage race under the current naming for @TeamSky, but it would be nice to end with a great win to honor the race and the sponsor".

(Let us hope that Little Kenny E gives his all in the Vockler Guerning Award)

 

[gregrowlerson]

Is Nibali really the only serious Giro contender here?

Giro contenders usually don't bother with Romandie.

Which means that they will all (Nibali always peaks third week) enter the race with very little form, and won't mind just getting through the stage 1 ITT and will hope to ride into form by the stage 9 second ITT, but still not hitting close to a peak until stages 13-16.

It will be interesting to see if stage 6 or 7 catch a big gun out. The profiles don't look like much, but this is the Giro, not the Tour.

 

[search]

Re:

Is Nibali really the only serious Giro contender here?

the last time Majka did the Giro, he came 5th. So I would still count him in as a contender

 

[Robert5091]

Re:

Is Nibali really the only serious Giro contender here?

Giro contenders usually don't bother with Romandie.

Which means that they will all (Nibali always peaks third week) enter the race with very little form, and won't mind just getting through the stage 1 ITT and will hope to ride into form by the stage 9 second ITT, but still not hitting close to a peak until stages 13-16.

It will be interesting to see if stage 6 or 7 catch a big gun out. The profiles don't look like much, but this is the Giro, not the Tour.

With so many doing Giro & TdF it sounds like the plan for a few riders.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Yes, the easy first half of the Giro is the reason why many are skipping this race.
I hope that the Italian pct teams will do well, against this field they have a chance (mainly Androni and Neri)

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

Yes, the easy first half of the Giro is the reason why many are skipping this race.
I hope that the Italian pct teams will do well, against this field they have a chance (mainly Androni and Neri)

Indeed. Masnada will be in the Top 5.

 

[Robert5091]

4 man break - local man Kuen (VBG), Gamper (TIR), Krizek (RSW) and Dima (GTV): 5.40 their lead over the peloton after first 34.5 km lap.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Re: Re:

Yes, the easy first half of the Giro is the reason why many are skipping this race.
I hope that the Italian pct teams will do well, against this field they have a chance (mainly Androni and Neri)

Indeed. Masnada will be in the Top 5.

I hope so and maybe Carboni will also show some signs of life before the Giro.

 

[Red Rick]

Antonio Nibali will win this bike race.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I like the route this year. Every stage looks pretty good and there's no obvious place to take a lot of time. Should be pretty unpredictable, but Im guess a little down on the startlist which is much worse than usually unfortunately. At least I can laugh at Froome.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Bilbao, Majka and Vuillermoz are my picks for the gc, with no mtf having a good sprint to pick up bonus seconds will be rather important.

 

[Climbing]

Looks like TBM Sky and Astana pulling the main peloton.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

#TotA Unlucky Pascal Ackermann is out of the race: the @BORAhansgrohe has reportedly suffered an arm fracture

 

[Laplaz]

Shark looks sharp

 

[Lequack]

Nibali showing he is a Giro contender after all. Commentator mentioned that Nibali's trainer/manager said his high altitude training numbers are as high as they were where he was at his best.

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

Nibali showing he is a Giro contender after all. Commentator mentioned that Nibali's trainer/manager said his high altitude training numbers are as high as they was where he was at his best.

And maybe also LBL contender

 

[MartinGT]

Majka looking good

 

[MartinGT]

Tao Geoghegan Hart, takes in. The man who looks like his helmet is two sizes too small for him.

 

[postmanhat]

Pleased for Hart. Though I'd pretty much forgotten he existed this season :redface:

Froome's probably here for the scenery, so will Sky get behind Tao for the GC?

 

[Laplaz]

Great last 20km. Tao with his first win.

 

[Robert5091]

Sprint between Hart & Deba - who hade money on that?!

Stage 1

Good news for Ackermann -
https://twitter.com/BORAhansgrohe/status/1120311691735130122

We have just received an update on @Ackes171's condition from the hospital, and are relieved to report that he has not sustained any fractures after his crash today.

 

[Poursuivant]

Enjoyed this race last year, and enjoyed today. Amazing scenery, and good parcours.

Nibali looked really good, that was a very solid attack.

 

[Red Rick]

Nibali will drop the hammer on Monte Giovo tomorrow.

No man can stand in Antonio's way.