Giro 2011: Stage 16 Belluno - Nevegal12.7 km ITT

[auscyclefan94]

I don't get this stage. If you are going to have a mountain ITT, forget the 5 or 6 km of flat or descent. Otherwise it just seems stupid to have a MITT. Make it up a climb with less than or equal to 2km lead in.

 

[Kwibus]

I don't get this stage. If you are going to have a mountain ITT, forget the 5 or 6 km of flat or descent. Otherwise it just seems stupid to have a MITT. Make it up a climb with less than or equal to 2km lead in.

Why make a problem of this? I think it's interesting that half of the TT is flat and the other half a climb.
It's something different than just a climb or a pancake flat TT.
I really don't understand why someone complains, because he can't put the TT into a category.

 

[Bavarianrider]

It's a wasted race day. A Giro with so many mountains doesn't such a rather easy mounatin TT. That doesn't really effect the classement a lot. It would have been munch smarter to have a 50k flat time trial today and make a sprinter stage in the last day in Milano.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I don't get this stage. If you are going to have a mountain ITT, forget the 5 or 6 km of flat or descent. Otherwise it just seems stupid to have a MITT. Make it up a climb with less than or equal to 2km lead in.

Back in the days mountain tts in the Giro most of the time had 15-25km flat parts in them.

 

[Kwibus]

As I've mentioned before, this could be my last race as a pro cycling fan, so I'd love for Contador to give it all he has. If for some reason he doesn't win, I still expect the podium interview to be held in Spanish.

What's this supposed to mean? You will never watch pro cycling again in your life after this stage? This sounds quite mysterious and makes me very curious
Your a good poster so if this means your leaving because of whatever reason than that's a shame.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Why make a problem of this? I think it's interesting that half of the TT is flat and the other half a climb.
It's something different than just a climb or a pancake flat TT.
I really don't understand why someone complains, because he can't put the TT into a category.

I just thought it would be better that if the tt is predominantly going up a mountain that you might as well choose something longer or just have climbing with a small lead in (imho).

Back in the days mountain tts in the Giro most of the time had 15-25km flat parts in them.

Interesting, how long were the climbs at the end of those tt's?

 

[Kwibus]

It's a wasted race day. A Giro with so many mountains doesn't such a rather easy mounatin TT. That doesn't really effect the classement a lot. It would have been munch smarter to have a 50k flat time trial today and make a sprinter stage in the last day in Milano.

I know you are an hardcore TT lover and usually I don't really agree with you, but I do agree on this. With this much climbing it would be better if this was a 20km hilly TT and the last stage a 40+km flat TT in Milan.

The problem is that Contador usually also dominates the TT's so it's not going affect the nr.1 spot. Behind him things would spice up indeed.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I know you are an hardcore TT lover and usually I don't really agree with you, but I do agree on this. With this much climbing it would be better if this was a 20km hilly TT and the last stage a 40+km flat TT in Milan.

The problem is that Contador usually also dominates the TT's so it's not going affect the nr.1 spot. Behind him things would spice up indeed.

I would make today a longer TT and skip the one in Milano in sake of the sprinters. I think this would be a fair solution.
I am not gainst mountain TTS, actually ilove them. But if you make one in this Giro it has to be areally hard one. But this one to Nevegal won't effect the classement that much so i considere it a bit of a wasted day.

 

[Jan the Man]

1. Menchov
2. Contador
3. Scarponi
4. Nibali
5. Kreuziger

 

[Fus087]

The 2007 edition had a similar stage: The time trial from Biella to the Santuario di Oropa. 12,58 km (so almost the same length), with a longer, but slightly flatter climb.
Bruseghin won that one, and Zabriskie placed 4th. And while Bruseghin had a good Giro, finishing 8th overall, Zabriskie was an also-ran in the mountains.

I think we can expect some surprises (as in not being top climbers) in the top 10-20. Konovalovas isn't a stretch.

Is there are specific reason why they aren't climbing to the top of the road? Didn't want to make it too hard?

Probably there is no way to get finished riders, team cars etc. away from La Casera (the top) - there's only one road. The teams don't have 9 cars each, and you can't reasonably ask the first guys to ride this to wait for ~4 hours in a tiny mountain hut until everyone's finished.

I guess if you really wanted to you could fly the riders out with a helicopter, organise 200 cars and push them off the road at the finish (doesn't look like there's any room up there) - but even the Giro has to draw the line somewhere.

 

[Moncoutie]

Kiriyenka to suprise!

 

[boomcie]

Kiriyenka to suprise!

Don't think so. He's more likely to try a breakaway in one of the last stages.

 

[Sasquatch]

1. Sella
2. Contador
3. Scarponi
4. Serpa
5. Rujano

 

[Ferminal]

I don't get this stage. If you are going to have a mountain ITT, forget the 5 or 6 km of flat or descent. Otherwise it just seems stupid to have a MITT. Make it up a climb with less than or equal to 2km lead in.

The climb officially starts after the 1.5km "descent".

The extra downhill bit at the start could be there simply for logistical reasons, or because they want to start in the middle of town, not on the outskirts.

 

[Winterfold]

I went Scarponi, just to annoy Boomcie - but also because he finished strong Sunday.

Clip-ons would make quite a difference in that first 5km. Particularly the downhill section, you reach a higher top speed much quicker, as long as you dont crash*.

(The bikes are so light I am sure they can get a light pair of clip-ons on (mine are 350gm and not even very expensive) and still be on 6.8kg so there is no weight penalty.)

*Hmm, having said Scarponi, maybe Nibbles would have been a better option.

 

[superconfex]

Don't care who wins as long as Team Gadret does a good TT and keep in the top 5 in the overall

 

[Scirea]

1. Sella
2. Contador
3. Scarponi
4. Serpa
5. Rujano

Don't really see how Serpa could get into the top5.

 

[Koub3c]

RK to win today

Because of this excellent performance my darkhorse will be Roman Kreuziger

2008, Tour de Suisse, Klausenpass ITT

1. [CZE] KREUZIGER Roman LIQ 1h00'22" 40
2. [VEN] RUJANO GUILLEN Jose Humberto GCE 16" 25
3. [GER] KLÖDEN Andreas AST 18" 15
4. [ITA] CUNEGO Damiano LAM 54" 10
5. [LUX] SCHLECK Fränk CSC 01'27" 5
6. [GER] VOIGT Jens CSC 01'35" 3
7. [ESP] ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor EUS 01'49" 2
8. [SWE] LÖFKVIST Thomas THR 02'08" 1
9. [LUX] SCHLECK Andy CSC 02'20" 0
10. [NED] TEN DAM Laurens RAB 02'50" 0

 

[boomcie]

I went Scarponi, just to annoy Boomcie - but also because he finished strong Sunday.

You succeeded

 

[python]

given the course profile - modest average grade and a circular wind-canceling route - i vote for the riders known for their itt skills rather than for pure climbers, thus

contador
menchov
kreuziger

 

[Sophistic]

the first 5k will last just 6-7 minutes(and every second you try to gain costs a lot extra energy because of the wind resistance) but the last 7k about 20 so this is def more a climbers ITT.

 

[Bavarianrider]

Does anyone think Porte might have a good ride today?

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

Lofkvist should go all out for this. Could get a top 10 if he's over his illness.

Contador for the win though for me.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Does anyone have a start list for the riders?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Does anyone think Porte might have a good ride today?

nope. what's the point?
He wont contend for the win on this, and he has no need to put a good ride in. Why waste energy.