- May 5, 2010
- 48,041
- 26,460
- 28,180
Since when did I become the thread-starter?
You know the drill; Eshnar's done the work:
Stage 18: Rovereto – Stradella 232 km
Thursday, May 27th, 11.35 CEST
Technical Overview:
The longest stage of the Giro is, like last year, a transitional stage in the final week. Unlike last year’s stage to Asti, however, this stage has good potential with an extremely interesting finale. The finale itself has been changed after the presentation, when it was nothing special, in sort of the opposite way they did to stage 3. The stage starts in Rovereto and proceeds west for around 200 km through the Po Valley, without any notable difficulty. At km 196 the flat roads end for good, and what comes after it are 35 km without any respite along the vineyards, although also without steep ramps. The first climb of the day is uncategorized, Montu’ Beccaria (3.4 km at 4.1%), little more than a false flat but it is only the beginning. A short and twisty descent leads directly to the only categorized climb of this stage, Castana (GPM4, 5 km at 4.2%). Once again, the descent is short and twisty and might cause splits in the peloton if a team puts the hammer down. The third climb is the shortest and steepest of the day, Cicognola (1.4 km at 7.5%), and its descent brings to the intermediate sprint of Broni and the foot of the final climb. Canneto Pavese (2.6 km at 5.7%). The top is at 6 km to go, 3 km of descent and 3 of flat and straight roads to the finish.
Final Kilometers
The Climbs:
Castana: GPM4, 5 km at 4.2%
Hard to understand why this climb is the only categorized one of the stage. No profile obviously.
What to expect:
I would expect the breakaway to battle it out, considering this stage is sandwiched between four mountain stages. If the peloton wants to bother (and if the riders do not strike in case of rain…) the finale is perfect for an attacker or at the very least a Sanremo-style resolution.
Stradella
You know the drill; Eshnar's done the work:
Stage 18: Rovereto – Stradella 232 km
Thursday, May 27th, 11.35 CEST
Technical Overview:
The longest stage of the Giro is, like last year, a transitional stage in the final week. Unlike last year’s stage to Asti, however, this stage has good potential with an extremely interesting finale. The finale itself has been changed after the presentation, when it was nothing special, in sort of the opposite way they did to stage 3. The stage starts in Rovereto and proceeds west for around 200 km through the Po Valley, without any notable difficulty. At km 196 the flat roads end for good, and what comes after it are 35 km without any respite along the vineyards, although also without steep ramps. The first climb of the day is uncategorized, Montu’ Beccaria (3.4 km at 4.1%), little more than a false flat but it is only the beginning. A short and twisty descent leads directly to the only categorized climb of this stage, Castana (GPM4, 5 km at 4.2%). Once again, the descent is short and twisty and might cause splits in the peloton if a team puts the hammer down. The third climb is the shortest and steepest of the day, Cicognola (1.4 km at 7.5%), and its descent brings to the intermediate sprint of Broni and the foot of the final climb. Canneto Pavese (2.6 km at 5.7%). The top is at 6 km to go, 3 km of descent and 3 of flat and straight roads to the finish.
Final Kilometers
The Climbs:
Castana: GPM4, 5 km at 4.2%
Hard to understand why this climb is the only categorized one of the stage. No profile obviously.
What to expect:
I would expect the breakaway to battle it out, considering this stage is sandwiched between four mountain stages. If the peloton wants to bother (and if the riders do not strike in case of rain…) the finale is perfect for an attacker or at the very least a Sanremo-style resolution.
Stradella
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