Analysis on the 2013 GTs mountains by PRC

[Eshnar]

Like every year, PRC blog published the comparison between the three GTs of 2013. Interesting stuff as always.
http://plataformarecorridosciclistas.org/2013/01/30/comparativa-de-los-puertos-de-giro-tour-y-vuelta-2013/
It's in spanish, but many tables don't require an extensive knowledge of the language to be interpreted

Particularly funny the fact that the Giro is the GT with more HC and 1st cat climbs ever, despite being called a weak edition by the press and by a few riders.

 

[Ferminal]

Oh look, the impossibly hard Vuelta has three "HC" climbs.

 

[Eshnar]

Oh look, the impossibly hard Vuelta has three "HC" climbs.

tbh this year there have been less people than usual calling that "hard".

 

[hmsgenoa]

Interesting stuff, shame i cannot read properly at work as our IT filters blog sites, but will check out later. Funnily enough, only last night while checking out the TDF route to see which stages I'll go and watch, it occured to me that, in fact, this years tour does not look particulary hard.

Not many climbs on Pyrenean roads and nothing in the massif central to speak of. So, despite the inclusion of Ventoux and 2 x Alpe D'Huez, there's actually not much to be frightened of for someone like Wiggins, nothing over 2000m so no rarified climbing (again), no wonder he's hedging his bets.

No doubt twice up the alpe will be a pain for some, but, when you consider Cadel won in a year when the went over the Agnel, Izoard & Galibier twice I think 2013 doesn't favour the Schlecks etc (sorry Schleck unless Franks ban is timed to finish before the start- if it is funny that eh) .

I can see a fit Cadel fancying his chances and I reckon someone like Voeckler might even be in the mix, at least well placed again. From this point of view it could be a very good tour, plenty of riders will be in with a shout I reckon. I expect to see Froome and Wiggins very close on GC and Wiggins to win the TT's or be best placed GC contender in them, which will force Froome on the offensive (hopefully if Brailsford doesn't stop play). I don't think Contador will take any chances performing track stands with Froome.

 

[Lexman]

Thanks, very interesting at first site it seems the Giro is still the toughest GT this year...

 

[Eshnar]

Thanks, very interesting at first site it seems the Giro is still the toughest GT this year...

by a long shot... the Tour isn't even trying and the Vuelta is... a Vuelta. So no chance the Giro will cease to be the hardest

 

[burning]

The problem with Giro is not the climbs (As stated in the link, there are plenty of hard climbs) but the length of the mountain stages (except the Tre Croci-Tre Cime) I like short mountain stages but I think this Giro has way too many of them

 

[The Hitch]

meh. More meaningless Giro propaganda. Tour has 2 x alpe d huez. 2 times up alpe. Don't you get it? Thats like doing Liege and PR on the same day.

 

[Eshnar]

The problem with Giro is not the climbs (As stated in the link, there are plenty of hard climbs) but the length of the mountain stages (except the Tre Croci-Tre Cime) I like short mountain stages but I think this Giro has way too many of them

definitely. Plus, the design of all but the final mountain stages is far from good. This year Giro delivers with its medium mountain and with the ITT. As for high mountains, only Lavaredo is good (great actually).

 

[burning]

meh. More meaningless Giro propaganda. Tour has 2 x alpe d huez. 2 times up alpe. Don't you get it? Thats like doing Liege and PR on the same day.

They should make a stage with 3x alpe, that would make the hardest race ever

 

[Eshnar]

meh. More meaningless Giro propaganda. Tour has 2 x alpe d huez. 2 times up alpe. Don't you get it? Thats like doing Liege and PR on the same day.

When I'll become mod posts like this will be deleted in no time

 

[burning]

definitely. Plus, the design of all but the final mountain stages is far from good. This year Giro delivers with its medium mountain and with the ITT. As for high mountains, only Lavaredo is good (great actually).

I fear that the medium montain stages will be raced like the stage that Rubiano won

 

[Eshnar]

I fear that the medium montain stages will be raced like the stage that Rubiano won

I fear a lot of things. But the chance to see something good is there. Especially since there's the ITT and hopefully someone will think of gaining time before the final stage. Plus, there are gc guys who can potentially attack in these kind of stages this time.

 

[Descender]

Too bad the hardness is so badly distributed in the Giro.

And I don't think that Tre Cime stage is that good. Good, yes, but not great.

 

[burning]

I think that nothing serious will happen in medium mountain stages, I hope that I will be wrong

 

[Eshnar]

Good, yes, but not great.

can we agree on "very good" then?

 

[Red Rick]

They should make a stage with 3x alpe, that would make the hardest race ever

Yeah, cause that´s why thousands of people can do that climb 3 or more times on one day to raise money for cancer research

 

[Eshnar]

Yeah, cause that´s why thousands of people can do that climb 3 or more times on one day to raise money for cancer research

he was being ironic you know.
At least I hope.

 

[The Hitch]

he was being ironic you know.
At least I hope.

nope, he was being sarcastic

 

[Netserk]

Off-topic, but just viewed the stages of the Giro one more time..

Stages I like in the Giro:
Stage 3
Stage 7
Stage 8
Stage 9
Stage 16
Stage 20

Stages I dislike in the Giro:
Stage 2
Stage 10
Stage 14
Stage 15
Stage 19
Stage 21

 

[Miburo]

Doing the crostis and the zoncolan on one day, now that would be something else

If Zomegnan still was here he might have made a ITT of that, would be awesome

Obviously day after we should get a Mountain stage of 250 km, it was only a ITT after all

 

[Libertine Seguros]

meh. More meaningless Giro propaganda. Tour has 2 x alpe d huez. 2 times up alpe. Don't you get it? Thats like doing Liege and PR on the same day.

At the same time though, in order to make sure the riders aren't killed by the savagery of 2 times up Alpe, they've had to remove the Tourmalet from the route. Oh for a day with Tourmalet AND double Alpe on the route.

 

[The Hitch]

. Oh for a day with Tourmalet AND double Alpe on the route.

Agreed but that panzie David.millar and those pussies the schlecks would probably complain its too long. Wah we don't want mountain stage over 500k, as if this was a track sprint.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Agreed but that panzie David.millar and those pussies the schlecks would probably complain its too long. Wah we don't want mountain stage over 500k, as if this was a track sprint.

Blame Octave Lapize. If it weren't for him and his "assassins" schtick we might get these proper epic mountain stages, instead they've been getting shorter and shorter since 1910 to the point where we seldom see anything over 200km, let alone 4-500km like we ought to.

 

[skidmark]

Blame Octave Lapize. If it weren't for him and his "assassins" schtick we might get these proper epic mountain stages, instead they've been getting shorter and shorter since 1910 to the point where we seldom see anything over 200km, let alone 4-500km like we ought to.

If Desgrange was still alive, he'd make the stage from the Alpe D'Huez to the Tourmalet, then transfer back to the Alpe for a mountain ITT for the b stage of the day. Like to see that ***** Prudhomme do that.