I swear I just had the same thought tonight. That stage ends up being a Stelvio mtf like that 2009 Blockhaus stage!Are we going to for once cheer for the application of the EWP when stage 16 route is altered due to extreme weather conditions?
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I swear I just had the same thought tonight. That stage ends up being a Stelvio mtf like that 2009 Blockhaus stage!Are we going to for once cheer for the application of the EWP when stage 16 route is altered due to extreme weather conditions?
Looks like the intergiro classification officially returns at the 2024 Giro d'Italia! 😍
Eurosport's Karsten Migels & a certain cycling fan from nearby Enschede are delighted! 😄
Wait, wasn't that already the case with the intermediate sprint classification Migels & me used to call "the former intergiro classification"?And the Intergiro ends being a banal sprint with bonifications for GC and point for the points jersey with the same points also for the Intergiro classification.
So instead of the GC Intergiro we get the points based one. Meh.
Wait, wasn't that already the case with the intermediate sprint classification Migels & me used to call "the former intergiro classification"?
Near as I can tell from looking at the timetables on the official website, there will be 3 intermediate sprints per road stage:I think so, but I am now somewhat confused as to what will happen in the other 2 sprints (will there be 3 intermediate sprints per stage now?)
This could be the worst route in decades!Local newspaper reports that if Stelvio is impassable, alternates would be Umbrailpass (what would mean going through Switzerland), Ofenpass (same problem) or passo tonale.
The 2004 Giro d'Italia had an absolute joke of an Dolomites stage even. Which actually played out with Cunego cracking Popovych in the end!This could be the worst route in decades!
It also had Gavia + Bormio 2000The 2004 Giro d'Italia had an absolute joke of an Dolomites stage even. Which actually played out with Cunego cracking Popovych in the end!
Yeah, but Bormio 2000 ended with Cunego winning the stage with an uphill sprint. But yeah, Honchar truly fought for his 2nd spot there and on the next day.It also had Gavia + Bormio 2000
In terms of GC it's gonna be the worst but nobody will admit it cause a majority of fans like the rider that's sleepwalking it.Yeah, but Bormio 2000 ended with Cunego winning the stage with an uphill sprint. But yeah, Honchar truly fought for his 2nd spot there and on the next day.
So the 2024 Giro d'Italia absolutely has on cards becoming a worse edition. Unless there's some sudden resurrection of Bardet or Thymen Arensman spectacularly saves Ineos Giro d'Italia in the last week (If Thomas has already abandoned only)!
But isn't that the difference? Like if you re-watch Paris-Roubaix isolated from the Tour of Flanders, then it was a nice parade by Van der Poel. Steering and riding over the cobbles technically fine. Spectacular win. Plus there still was a race going on behind. It wIn terms of GC it's gonna be the worst but nobody will admit it cause a majority of fans like the rider that's sleepwalking it.
It also had 11 sprint stages and a Montevergine MTF was one of the five hardest mountain stages. As poor as this route is, that one was unquestionably even worse.It also had Gavia + Bormio 2000
Yep, In the 20+ years I've watched the Giro, this was without a doubt the worst route. Perhaps also the worst GT route overall in this period (maybe a couple of Vueltas in contention).It also had 11 sprint stages and a Montevergine MTF was one of the five hardest mountain stages. As poor as this route is, that one was unquestionably even worse.
Arguably that Giro d'Italia even missed a 2nd TT to make Honchar win it. Which eventually at least would've been logical given the route.Yep, In the 20+ years I've watched the Giro, this was without a doubt the worst route. Perhaps also the worst GT route overall in this period (maybe a couple of Vueltas in contention).
Cunego is forever carved into the CN forum mythos by the outrage it created when he lost Tour de Suisse to Levi Leechheimer in 2011.Arguably that Giro d'Italia even missed a 2nd TT to make Honchar win it. Which eventually at least would've been logical given the route.
I like Cunego though. But his grand tour pedigree was clearly overestimated in the zeros based on his 2004 Giro d'Italia victory!
That route was so horrible, Bradley McGee finished 8th, his only ever Top-80 finish in a GT.Yep, In the 20+ years I've watched the Giro, this was without a doubt the worst route. Perhaps also the worst GT route overall in this period (maybe a couple of Vueltas in contention).
I was angry back then too. Frankly, Leipheimer fully deserved that 2011 Tour de Suisse victory. Levi even attacked up towards Malbun. That's like his only ever attack in big races. Apart from Plateau de Beille 2007 and those testing balloons for Contador at the 2008 Vuelta a Espana!Cunego is forever carved into the CN forum mythos by the outrage it created when he lost Tour de Suisse to Levi Leechheimer in 2011.
It had 11 sprints. Not 11 nailed on sprint stages. Some weird *** was going on that Giro even outsdie the parcoursIt also had 11 sprint stages and a Montevergine MTF was one of the five hardest mountain stages. As poor as this route is, that one was unquestionably even worse.
11 sprint opportunities then, that's still significantly more than this Giro.It had 11 sprints. Not 11 nailed on sprint stages. Some weird *** was going on that Giro even outsdie the parcours
Don't forget Alessandro Petacchi winning 9 stages, and there were still more sprint stages won by other riders.That route was so horrible, Bradley McGee finished 8th, his only ever Top-80 finish in a GT.
NARRATOR: You do get a better stage by not "wasting" Stelvio. And it is possible to use the tunnel.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.