Giro d'Italia 2024 Giro d'Italia route rumours

[Devil's Elbow]

Sure, you can argue that Stelvio is not in fact wasted, but don't call it a forced move when others complain about it.

Stages can be longer than 240 km.

A 240k+ stage requires UCI dispensation, that is simply not happening for a major mountain stage. You also haven't explained why you think going around Stelvio would be better than going over it.

If you could start the stage after Brocon from somewhere further north and/or west in Trentino than Fiera di Primiero, you could do Manerba - Brocon on stage 15, Livigno via Stelvio on stage 16, Livigno - Val Gardena on stage 17, Val Gardena - Padova on stage 18 and the remainder as planned. That is about the only option I see that doesn't require multiple stage hosts to be changed, and it would worsen the pacing (mainly in terms of backloading) significantly. This year was simply not a great opportunity to put Stelvio in a relevant spot, and as a result a year where putting Stelvio in an irrelevant spot was the most logical option. Like I said previously, it's the one annoying thing about this route that RCS had little control over.

 

[Netserk]

You also haven't explained why you think going around Stelvio would be better than going over it.

I didn't say that I think that. I simply refuted your argument that it was a forced move, and that only ignorant idiots could complain about it being wasted.

Not using Stelvio would shorten the first part of the stage by ~36 km, so it'd also give the organisers more leeway for the second half of the stage, if they so wished. It's not obvious to me that Stelvio adds more value than the alternative:

 

[zlev11]

Stelvio being "wasted" is like the 400th worst thing wrong with this route, but you know they put it in there so they could say "there, we gave you piggies the Stelvio, now eat up"

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I didn't say that I think that. I simply refuted your argument that it was a forced move, and that only ignorant idiots could complain about it being wasted.

Not using Stelvio would shorten the first part of the stage by ~36 km, so it'd also give the organisers more leeway for the second half of the stage, if they so wished. It's not obvious to me that Stelvio adds more value than the alternative:

It is simply a case of Stelvio versus Hafling/Avelengo as the mid-stage climb there, Collalbo and the correct side of Pinei are not mutually exclusive with Stelvio whatsoever, so you don't get a better stage by not 'wasting' Stelvio. Also, the fact that the tunnel was possible in 1972 doesn't automatically mean it still is over half a century later - a) there is much more traffic in and out of Livigno nowadays, so the effect of closing the tunnel would be more severe, b) there is no sporting benefit to going around Stelvio (unlike in 1972 when it was the only way of using Stelvio from Prato), c) the Swiss authorities might also simply not be open to it anymore for all we know, and d) it would still be a bigger logistical hassle than just going over Stelvio and thereby not having to close a tunnel that already has capacity issues whilst also crossing a Schengen border twice. For all those reasons, it isn't really a credible alternative, IMO.

 

[Red Rick]

It is simply a case of Stelvio versus Hafling/Avelengo as the mid-stage climb there, Collalbo and the correct side of Pinei are not mutually exclusive with Stelvio whatsoever, so you don't get a better stage by not 'wasting' Stelvio. Also, the fact that the tunnel was possible in 1972 doesn't automatically mean it still is over half a century later - a) there is much more traffic in and out of Livigno nowadays, so the effect of closing the tunnel would be more severe, b) there is no sporting benefit to going around Stelvio (unlike in 1972 when it was the only way of using Stelvio from Prato), c) the Swiss authorities might also simply not be open to it anymore for all we know, and d) it would still be a bigger logistical hassle than just going over Stelvio and thereby not having to close a tunnel that already has capacity issues whilst also crossing a Schengen border twice. For all those reasons, it isn't really a credible alternative, IMO.

I love how we always complain breakaway phases being flat now Stelvio is wasted while in that part of the stage.

 

[ashhutch1997]

This, if they wasted Stelvio from Prat early on I'd be actually pissed.

Technically they wasted the Stelvio from Prato in 1994...

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I love how we always complain breakaway phases being flat now Stelvio is wasted while in that part of the stage.

Plenty of mountainous breakaway phases in this Giro, thankfully. IMO you need a mix of the two, which we are getting from this route.

 

[pastronef]

all I know is I like the first 3 stages and the Bocca della Selva should be where Mohoric did a somersault crash. I don't even know which side of the Stelvio they climb (without looking). I'm not a fan of the Rome finish

 

[Netserk]

the Bocca della Selva should be where Mohoric did a somersault crash.

No. It was the day after on the descent of Passo Godi, after Caruso had bridged to the break with Mohoric.

 

[gregrowlerson]

I will take credit for actually being hyped for Finestre 2018 opposed to the majority thinking Finestre was wasted and then I'll ignore just about everything else.

Next level.

 

[staubsauger]

This route has written Remco versus Ayuso all over it. Similar to the 2009 Giro d'Italia and Menchov versus Di Luca I'm quite optimistic this could result in a close battle, despite a rather weak course design.

If both don't attend and don't seek their chance it's not the Giro d'Italia organizer's fault.

Route is a gamble. It either works off great or ends up big shart!

 

[Poursuivant]

Has the Giro ever had a night stage?

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Has the Giro ever had a night stage?

Yes, I remember one…

I think it was 2005 when Brett Lancaster won the prologue. 1km long, ridden in the dark.

 

[staubsauger]

Yes, I remember one…

I think it was 2005 when Brett Lancaster won the prologue. 1km long, ridden in the dark.

That was a super cool prologue actually! It was all enlightened. Crowds were big. Sprinters versus TT'ers. Super Mario waving goodbye.

 

[nightowl]

An updated profile for stage 6 popped up on LFR today with a 700m @ 10.6% wall just over 4km from the finish. Assuming it’s an official change, it certainly makes the finale much more interesting (if still a waste of a sterrato stage in general).

https://www.la-flamme-rouge.eu/maps/viewtrack/548802

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Will Teddy decide the race during the opening weekend in Oropa or will he wait till Perugia+Prati di Tivo at the end of the first week?

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Will Teddy decide the race during the opening weekend in Oropa or will he wait till Perugia+Prati di Tivo at the end of the first week?

I thought the race was already decided. It's just a question of who wins the most stages, Pog or WVA, and who finishes the podium off.

 

[OlavEH]

Have the start list ever looked worse for the Giro? Especially compared to the Tour?

Giro: Pog, Ciccone, O'Connoer, Rubio, Woods, Bardet, Caruso, Kämna, Cian, Thomas and Van Aert
Tour: Big four, both Yates brothers, Almeida, Bilbao, Landa, Kuss, Gall, Vlasov, Hindley, Ayuso, Rodriguez and Mas.

The difference in quality is just enormous!

 

[Netserk]

Have the start list ever looked worse for the Giro? Especially compared to the Tour?

Giro: Pog, Ciccone, O'Connoer, Rubio, Woods, Bardet, Caruso, Kämna, Cian, Thomas and Van Aert
Tour: Big four, both Yates brothers, Almeida, Bilbao, Landa, Kuss, Gall, Vlasov, Hindley, Ayuso, Rodriguez and Mas.

The difference in quality is just enormous!

2022.

 

[OlavEH]

2022.

Besides Pog, I definitely think total quality of Hindley, Carapaz, Landa, Bilbao and Nibali are a level above Ciccone, Rubio, O'Connor, Woods, Caruso, Thomas and Cian.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Besides Pog, I definitely think total quality of Hindley, Carapaz, Landa, Bilbao and Nibali are a level above Ciccone, Rubio, O'Connor, Woods, Caruso, Thomas and Cian.

If you ignore Pogacar, you also need to ignore the favourite going into that Giro (i.e. Carapaz). Moreover, Nibali was just about finished, Bilbao has never been close to podiuming a GT and Hindley was not even seen as a threat for even a podium at the time. Especially without the benefit of hindsight, this field looks less weak.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Pogacar starting automatically makes it not one of the weakest Giro fields.

 

[Rob5091]

I do not expect UAE will want to take the pink jersey too early so a calm start for Pogacar (or get rid of it after the first weekend). Then the problem is for Pogacar to take it easy instead of chasing down everyone who might be a danger on GC. Thomas, Caruso and Bardet are some wily old birds so I expect UAE to not have just plain sailing.

 

[Froome]

Pogacar will take the yellow very soon, but it will not take easy during all race, because it's not who he is.

 

[Rob5091]

Pogacar will take the yellow very soon, but it will not take easy during all race, because it's not who he is.

... and that might be his biggest problem.