Gardeccia 2011 vs Aprica and Montalcino 2010

[Libertine Seguros]

Aprica, just shading it from Gardeccia.

Montalcino is a distant 3rd.

I actually think Arroyo's ride to Montalcino is one of the most underrated rides of that Giro. It was that that got him on the podium, because when Vino and Evans had their last couple of digs, at one point Arroyo bridged from Cunego's group to the two of them. He was unable to do a turn, but he was able to get to the front. He lost 12" on the final straight alone though.

David Arroyo made the Giro. He was the perfect standard of rider to have in that position - just weak enough to mean he would lose time in all the toughest mountains, but strong enough that you didn't know if it would be enough. Though I was absolutely apoplectic at nobody helping him on Aprica, and Vino just ushering him through and refusing to work with him at the bottom of the descent, they had every right to act as they did. It just frustrated me because I so totally wanted Arroyo to win the Giro.

Gardeccia this year was partly made by Rodríguez and Arroyo attacking with 60km to go, too. It shook off most of the domestiques, and at one point Acqua e Sapone looked to be the only team with 2 riders in the group. Nibali attacking on the Giau descent was brave but ultimately doomed, but the scenery was magnificent, and Nieve and Garzelli both spent over 60km riding solo over multiple climbs. This was GT racing in its old ways. And even to the last I was terrified that super-Contador was going to blast his way past the breakaways, but even Contador is human enough on a stage like that.

 

[Fus087]

Just reading the choices available decides it for me:
Gardeccia? First thoughts through my head: "Nieve winning, Garzelli doing great, another show from Contador."
Aprica? "Mortirolo. Anything else? Right, Arroyo going into suicide mode."

Montalcino? "Evans doing the rainbow stripes justice, Vino wiping his eyes, riders battling for the stage win on a narrow city street, Nibali & Basso chasing, everybody giving their all, Strade Bianche turning into Strade Rosse..." I could go on. And this one is the longest ago.

Without the rain it would already have been one of the better stages of last year's Giro - with the rain it became epic.
Montalcino will be remembered for the ages.

 

[luckyboy]

Think Aprica should get more votes, that was totally edge-of-the-seat stuff. So disappointing when Arroyo and co. couldn't hold on. The descent was some of the best racing I've ever seen.

Taking the other two into consideration, it's really too hard to choose.

 

[aarnold517]

I voted gardeccia not only for the epic nature of the stage, the 7.5 hours, and the euskaltel victory but also because of the absolutely stunning backdrop the battle was forged on. Cannot beat the giau and fedaia (sottoguda gorge, possibly the most beautiful place in the world IMHO)

 

[hfer07]

Difficult to vote- Aprica has given us unforgettable moments going back to Pantani- Gardaccia was a "survival camp" & Montalcino was a jewel with the rain/mod conditions to make it a fierce battle field.
I choose them all

 

[craig1985]

Aprica, just shading it from Gardeccia.

Montalcino is a distant 3rd.

I actually think Arroyo's ride to Montalcino is one of the most underrated rides of that Giro. It was that that got him on the podium, because when Vino and Evans had their last couple of digs, at one point Arroyo bridged from Cunego's group to the two of them. He was unable to do a turn, but he was able to get to the front. He lost 12" on the final straight alone though.

David Arroyo made the Giro. He was the perfect standard of rider to have in that position - just weak enough to mean he would lose time in all the toughest mountains, but strong enough that you didn't know if it would be enough. Though I was absolutely apoplectic at nobody helping him on Aprica, and Vino just ushering him through and refusing to work with him at the bottom of the descent, they had every right to act as they did. It just frustrated me because I so totally wanted Arroyo to win the Giro.

Gardeccia this year was partly made by Rodríguez and Arroyo attacking with 60km to go, too. It shook off most of the domestiques, and at one point Acqua e Sapone looked to be the only team with 2 riders in the group. Nibali attacking on the Giau descent was brave but ultimately doomed, but the scenery was magnificent, and Nieve and Garzelli both spent over 60km riding solo over multiple climbs. This was GT racing in its old ways. And even to the last I was terrified that super-Contador was going to blast his way past the breakaways, but even Contador is human enough on a stage like that.

I think Contador would of given the stage to Nieve had he caught him. I thought Scarponi had a great ride that day as well, he nearly caught Contador and he was able to put time in Nibali, Gadret etc.