the mountains at the tour sure had no problem causing big gaps. The riders actually RACED instead of sucking wheel until 1.5k to go
stick 115km of flat ITT, the climbers will be forced to attack 3 climbs from the finish once again
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the mountains at the tour sure had no problem causing big gaps. The riders actually RACED instead of sucking wheel until 1.5k to go
stick 115km of flat ITT, the climbers will be forced to attack 3 climbs from the finish once again
They raced like crazy because the level difference were crazy and it was a practical 1v1. It's not a very common situation at all.
I don't mind two long TT as long as they put 2-400 km mountain stage climbing the Himalayas and coming back. Only 1 sherpa per team allowed. Otherwise is out of date!
Nothing against Blockhaus, but again? Its not like it produced fireworks this year.
I had nothing against 3 ITTs in the old days but I agree that if they're doing them with 15/30/15km splits I'd definitely prefer two with one short and one proper long one.
Bondone MTF to start third week at least sounds good but otherwise all of this is giving me meh vibes already.
Eshnar
Moderator
Lol oasport.it
Ignore the Blockhaus thing.
The MTF in Abruzzo will probably come in the second weekend, and probably will be to Campo Imperatore.
Ignore the Blockhaus thing.
The MTF in Abruzzo will probably come in the second weekend, and probably will be to Campo Imperatore.
Eshnar
Moderator
it was.
They just finished putting some "ecological" tarmac on it.
That is what pisses me off the most about that stage. We have enough awesome climbs that are paved and would just need to get repaved, no need to put even more tarmac out there.
Cheers, had no idea how much value to put into the source. The Campo Imperatore finish sounds decent but will obviously depend on the stage around it.
Which isn't necessarily better is it? Has Gran Sasso d'Italia ever produced significant gaps apart from 1999 Pantani?
Still no more exciting rumours. Campo Imperatore is okay, but no more than that . A tough hilly stage around Bergamo, a Bondone MTF and a Tre Cime finish are the best rumours this far. Bondone is probably one of the top 5 big MTFs that could/should be used for the Giro, and there should at least 1-2 of these each version. And Tre Cime is a potential finish for a proper queen stage, but it really shouldn't be followed by a Lussari MTT the day after.
The problem is the backloading, the lack of stages encouaring long range attacks (no Finestre, Motirolo, Stelvio, San Pellegrino in Alpe or other possible stages in this category), probably only mediocre medium mountain stages and the Lussari MTT as the penultimate stage. As stated earlier. That is superseded only by the last ramp at Belles Filles as the worst gimmick finish in Grand Tour history.
The problem is the backloading, the lack of stages encouaring long range attacks (no Finestre, Motirolo, Stelvio, San Pellegrino in Alpe or other possible stages in this category), probably only mediocre medium mountain stages and the Lussari MTT as the penultimate stage. As stated earlier. That is superseded only by the last ramp at Belles Filles as the worst gimmick finish in Grand Tour history.
Just noticed that Italy does not have any world class road elite men any more (exception: Ganna). So the Tifosi probably won‘t get to see too many Italian stage wins.
In general, Italy offers many steep, long climbs, also such on narrow roads. So I don‘t know why they ride Blockhaus and similar climbs almost every time. That‘s like PDBF in the Tour.
There are Italian climbs with more than ten or even more than 15 kilometers, with an average gradient of ten to 12%, and steep parts up to 25 or 30%. That would be something nice to watch for us spectators.
Zoncolan is good, but there are climbs in Italy which make Zoncolan look like a „false flat“…
In general, Italy offers many steep, long climbs, also such on narrow roads. So I don‘t know why they ride Blockhaus and similar climbs almost every time. That‘s like PDBF in the Tour.
There are Italian climbs with more than ten or even more than 15 kilometers, with an average gradient of ten to 12%, and steep parts up to 25 or 30%. That would be something nice to watch for us spectators.
Zoncolan is good, but there are climbs in Italy which make Zoncolan look like a „false flat“…
I'm on vacation at Lago di Garda right now, and yesterday I actually sat and looked directly at a climb that really should be used in the Giro. From Monte Altissimo in the Monte Baldo chain I looked directly over to the southern approach of Passo Bordala. This could be used in combo with the steep climb to Monte Faè, about 7 km at 10 %, last 2,5 km at over 12 %.
First Faé, a short descent followed by about 10 km at 6,5 % to Bordala before a descent straight into the town of Rovereto, one of the largest towns in Trentino. Faé and Bordala could also easily be preceeded by another 2 or 3 (at least) big climbs making it a real queen stage at a but lower altitudes than the more common queen stages.
First Faé, a short descent followed by about 10 km at 6,5 % to Bordala before a descent straight into the town of Rovereto, one of the largest towns in Trentino. Faé and Bordala could also easily be preceeded by another 2 or 3 (at least) big climbs making it a real queen stage at a but lower altitudes than the more common queen stages.
Sporza also reporting the rumoured TT's, they do not quote a source other than "Italian media":
Opening stage 18km TT
Somewhere in the middle a 25-30km flat TT
Mountain TT of 16km on day 20 with 1000m elevation.
Opening stage 18km TT
Somewhere in the middle a 25-30km flat TT
Mountain TT of 16km on day 20 with 1000m elevation.
The design would be far better if they replaced these two stages with a 50 km ITT in the second week and a big medium mountain stage in Friuli instead of the Lussari MTT.
I don't mind the MTT (so long as there isn't a really important road mountain stage the day before).
But if 70kms is the limit I'd reduce the first ITT to a prologue and add 10 kms to the middle ITT.
But if 70kms is the limit I'd reduce the first ITT to a prologue and add 10 kms to the middle ITT.
Eshnar
Moderator
It isn't better, but I prefer to have right bad rumours rather than wrong bad rumours.
So it seems. I don't know when they started though.
More news, yesterday Beppe Conti said that stage 18 will finish in Zoldo Alto, which would be really good news and I don't see any reason to discard it, considering that stage 19 is supposedly starting in Longarone. He also said the finish will be in Rome, which is very weird.
Today a local article claimed that stage 8 will finish in Fossombrone, likely starting from Terni, which would mean that Campo Imperatore would actually be stage 7. I still wonder where stage 9 would go. Either something in Tuscany or they go directly to the ITT in Emilia.
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Zoldo Alto would indeed be great news. So stage 19 is supposed to start in Longarone and go eastwards?
Eshnar
Moderator
no, stage 19 is the Tre Cime one. The last week should be:
16 Brescia? - Monte Bondone
17 Trento? - Caorle
18 ? - Zoldo Alto
19 Longarone - Tre Cime
20 Tarvisio - Monte Lussari MTT
21 final parade somewhere idk
Tre Cime after a stage where you can attack on the penultimate climb? That's meh...
Also, that would be an at least 160km transfer before the final ITT and it's not just all flat roads.
This doesn't really look like good pacing of mountains, and it seems incredibly backloaded as well.
In other words, classic Mauro Vegni
In other words, classic Mauro Vegni
Eshnar
Moderator
Well I didn't design this....
Tbf the real problem is the MTT. With that fixed as stage 20, I don't mind having the long range attack type on stage 18 and a straightforward MTF on stage 19.
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