Giro d'Italia 2021 Giro d'Italia, Stage 12: Siena – Bagno di Romagna 212 km

[Bonimenier]

It's already past midnight so I expect no '2 days in advance' complaints.

Stage 12: Siena – Bagno di Romagna 212 km

Thursday, May 20th, 11.20 CEST

Technical Overview:

A very tough medium mountain stage, of the kind that should be more common in a GT. The start is in Siena, and the first 70 km pass through some rolling terrain all the way to Firenze and the neighbouring town of Sesto Fiorentino, where the first intermediate sprint is placed and the first climb starts. Monte Morello (GPM3, 7.6 km at 6.6%) is a short but quite serious climb, that should deserve more than a third category, especially considering its 2.5km section at 11.2%, including a passage at 19%. At the top there is a long plateau of about 15 km, before a very fast descent brings everyone down again. From there, little more than 10 km and the road rise again, heading to the other side of the Appennines. The Passo della Consuma (GPM2, 17.1 km at 5.7%) is a long climb, with good gradients especially in the first half and on a small steep section towards the end. The descent is again very fast and on quite a wide road, so it should not present any issue to the riders. Straight after it, the peloton will hit another climb, the Passo della Calla (GPM2, 15.3 km at 5.5%), another long one, but more constant in its gradient than the previous one. The top is at 48 km to go. This time the descent, 12 km long, is pretty technical. At the bottom there is a 15 km descending false flat until the town of Santa Sofia, the second intermediate sprint and start of the final climb of the day, which should be the decisive one. The Passo del Carnaio (GPM3, 10.8 km at 5.1%) is a serious climb, despite its average gradient that is affected by its false flat section near the top. In particular, the climb offers a central section of 3 km at 9.5%, ending at 4.8 km to the top and 14 to the finish line. The pass itself tops at 9.4 km to go, of which about 5 km consist of a descent of a certain difficulty and 4 km of flat to the reach Bagno di Romagna.



Final Kilometers

The Climbs:

Monte Morello: GPM3, 7.6 km at 6.6%

A short climb with a very demanding section of 2.5 km at 11.2% surrounded by false flats.

Passo della Consuma: GPM2, 17.1 km at 5.7%

A long climb with some tough ramps, especially a 2 km section at over 8.5% in the middle.

Passo della Calla: GPM2, 15.3 km at 5.5%

A long and steady climb, with its highest gradients in the second half.

Passo del Carnaio: GPM3, 10.8 km at 5.1%

Very irregular, with a tough central section of 3 km at 9.5% in between two short descents. It should do a lot of damage, considering the steepness and the short distance to the finish.

What to expect:

Depending on how much damage the Montalcino stage has done, this stage could see a lot of action also by GC guys. Breakaways will also be hard to keep in check. The stage is long and if legs are tired it should not be hard to force a big selection on the last climb.

Piazza del Campo, Siena

 

[Devil's Elbow]

The evening after this stage will mark 10 years exactly since Monte Crostis was scrapped. Rest in peace.

The stage itself could be a GC banana skin, but even if not it's a much more interesting finale than four years ago.

 

[houtdffan]

Not a medium mountain stage at all. This is the first full fledged real mountain stage, plus it is rather long. Likely more than 6 hours in the saddle

RCS seems to have been on crack when they assigned the categories. 17.1km at 5.7% is a rather hard cat 1, that has a cat 2 rating. The next climb at 15.3km at 5.5% is also a cat 1. Final climb is easily a cat 2, as is the initial climb.

May not see big time gaps on this stage, but someone in the GC, unless this becomes a total piano stage, will lose big time here

 

[Publiuszam]

The evening after this stage will mark 10 years exactly since Monte Crostis was scrapped. Rest in peace.

The stage itself could be a GC banana skin, but even if not it's a much more interesting finale than four years ago.

Here in the forum Hitch was called Monte Crostis propoganda minister. Ah... how badly i wished they didnt cancel that stage ...look at how beautiful the descent is/was

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2gv_Yr-S_s

 

[Gigs_98]

This could go two ways. Either absolute carnage because of tired legs from today and riders blowing up left and right. Or everyone agrees they have suffered enough for a beginning and they take it easy. Badly hoping for the first option.
Also, Remco to start his redemption tour with a solo victory starting on the penultimate climb.

 

[sir fly]

Friday's the rest day on wheels.

 

[MrTea1976]

Expecting Dan Martin to attack this one.

 

[titan31]

This could go two ways. Either absolute carnage because of tired legs from today and riders blowing up left and right. Or everyone agrees they have suffered enough for a beginning and they take it easy. Badly hoping for the first option.
Also, Remco to start his redemption tour with a solo victory starting on the penultimate climb.

I'm hoping for the first option there too. Maybe even someone attacks from far out with their team to bring time back.

Could easily get a big group and the Ineos led group ride easy in though and the stage to be a complete bore.

 

[Eclipse]

I think this is a beautiful stage and perfectly placed after a day that couldn't be taken easily.

Riders could obviously cry off and soft pedal through but there's many that might fancy their chances of causing a surprise here imo and a quiet Friday gives a buffer to risk things.

 

[AlfaLum]

Remco will get the final knock-out here.

 

[SafeBet]

Depends on Ineos really. If they want to test how well the other GC riders recovered they have the firepower to make this stage really good.

 

[broppo]

mader, bouchard and mollema will fight for the KoM jersey this stage,

 

[Red Rick]

Attacks on the final climb. Don't think Bernal has teammates that can easily control everything, but he can respond easily himself. Break takes stage.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I wonder if Mäder suffered any problems today or if he just wanted to make it a Swiss first and last.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Breakaway - de Gendt

 

[tobydawq]

Well, you only have to read the first three letters of the finishing city to realise who will win this stage.

 

[RedheadDane]

Well, you only have to read the first three letters of the finishing city to realise who will win this stage.

Yeah, but if you go by the entire first word making up the name of the finishing city, it's "bag no", so... probably not Nibali...

 

[hfer07]

Another killer stage and another breakaway stage winner
the Length and the Mountains will continue to separate the real GC contenders from the pretenders. Team depth will make a big difference in this stage.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Yeah, but if you go by the entire first word making up the name of the finishing city, it's "bag no", so... probably not Nibali...

If it's said by a Spaniard or Denis Menchov it might still mean he will.

 

[Panda Claws]

Surely they are not going to give this one to the breakaway are they? Even the stage that Bernal won was pretty much a gift for the breakaway. Buchmann looked good today so he is my bet for an attack somewhere.

 

[yaco]

There is every likelihood all the remaining mountain stages will go to the break, unless other teams take control - This has been Ineos' tactics since 2012.

 

[titan31]

There is every likelihood all the remaining mountain stages will go to the break, unless other teams take control - This has been Ineos' tactics since 2012.

Nah, Bahrain will do something guaranteed, they've already tried it on easier stages so they'll go full out again at some point. I could see EF and Astana do something too. They're not teams who'll sit back and do nothing imo.

 

[IndurainsTdF1994]

I am worried about Horner. I really hope Remco won't feature much - if Horner will have to pronounce his last name a couple of more times, his head will explode.

Good Evening Pool to everyone!

 

[Eyeballs Out]

This is the queen stage for breakaway riders

 

[Cookster15]

A long and beautiful classic Giro stage. After today it should produce some gaps. What's the weather forecast, that final descent could be interesting?