Giro 2013 rumours

[will10]

I pray to see Tre Cime return.

 

[SafeBet]

Looks promising. Can't wait for the presentation.

 

[Renko1]

Giro Rumour

This is a rumour from Friuli, the province in N.E. Italy.
Opposite from Monte Zoncolan, there is another road starting from Ovaro, leading up the other side of the valley. Popular with motorcyclists due to its steepness and lack of asphalt, it has been tipped in the past as a possible ultimate steep climb for the Giro.

I went to have a look in August, and found it being modernised in exactly the same way as the climb from Ovaro to Monte Zoncolan was: new asphalt, new stone walls, trees on the edge of the road being cleared.
The work on the road is due to be completed in November 2012.

The road leads to a cleft in the ridge called Passo della Forcella (or Forchia), 1824 metres high. The core section climbs a staggering 1100m in just 6.5km; this is gaining close to 1000ft per mile!

I took some pictures: see here.
This is the profile: here.

Beyond the pass, the route continues to the village of Sauris; the road has also seen improvement. This would suggest that the climb from Ovaro would not finish on the pass, but continue to Sauris.

The climb from Ovaro gains 272 points compared to the Zoncolan's 224.

All the locals I spoke to said the Giro was coming, be it 2013 or 2014. In any case, the road will be ready by the end of 2012.

As the road was under construction when I visited and in fact officially closed, it was only possible to cycle just a few short sections. But it is definitely harder than its more famous neighbour - and steeper still: up to 28%!

Hope this is of interest...

 

[Eshnar]

Very old rumour. One day they'll climb it but definitely not 2013.

This is a rumour from Friuli, the province in N.E. Italy.
Opposite from Monte Zoncolan, there is another road starting from Ovaro, leading up the other side of the valley. Popular with motorcyclists due to its steepness and lack of asphalt, it has been tipped in the past as a possible ultimate steep climb for the Giro.

I went to have a look in August, and found it being modernised in exactly the same way as the climb from Ovaro to Monte Zoncolan was: new asphalt, new stone walls, trees on the edge of the road being cleared.
The work on the road is due to be completed in November 2012.

The road leads to a cleft in the ridge called Passo della Forcella (or Forchia), 1824 metres high. The core section climbs a staggering 1100m in just 6.5km; this is gaining close to 1000ft per mile!

I took some pictures: see here.
This is the profile: here.

Beyond the pass, the route continues to the village of Sauris; the road has also seen improvement. This would suggest that the climb from Ovaro would not finish on the pass, but continue to Sauris.

The climb from Ovaro gains 272 points compared to the Zoncolan's 224.

All the locals I spoke to said the Giro was coming, be it 2013 or 2014. In any case, the road will be ready by the end of 2012.

As the road was under construction when I visited and in fact officially closed, it was only possible to cycle just a few short sections. But it is definitely harder than its more famous neighbour - and steeper still: up to 28%!

Hope this is of interest...

 

[Eshnar]

A few updates...
Stage 12 is being rumoured to be Longarone - Treviso. It could have a few hills in the middle but overall it's to be considered a flat stage. Stage 13 at 99% will involve Vicenza, and at 80% (percentage are mine ofc) will be a ITT. The previously rumoured queen stage to Gavia hes gone into hiding apparently. I'm quite sure stage 15 will go there but no one says anything. Strange.
As for the third week, I don't know anything but the Galibier rumour. Lord knows if it's reliable. It's not even sure at 100% (let's say 90%) that the final ITT will be in Milan.
There's a new rumour about a hilly stage finishing in Bra (or surroundings). It must be in the third week.
Really, the stages from 9 to 13 are almost sure, but the rest of the Giro is quite a secret. Only three weeks to the presentation Last years we had a lot more rumours by this time

1 Napoli - Napoli [flat] (Napoli is official. Still not clear if TTT or road stage)
2 Ischia TTT ****(circuit if Napoli is TTT)
3 ??? - ???
4 ??? - ???
5 ??? - ???
6 ??? - ???
7 ??? - ???
8 ??? - ???
9 ??? - Firenze [3x Worlds circuit] *****
REST (transfer to Cordenons)
10 Cordenons - Malghe Del Montasio [MTF] *****
11 Tarvisio (or Cave Del Predil) - Vajont [Hilly]*****
12 Longarone - Treviso [flat] *****
13 Vicenza ITT ****
14 ??? - Val Senales [MTF] ***
15 ??? - Gavia [MTF] ***
REST
16 ??? - Parma(or Busseto) [flat] ***
17 ??? - Bra (?) [hilly] ****
18 ??? - ???
19 Bardonecchia - Galibier [MTF] ****
20 ??? - ???
21 Milano ITT **

 

[Descender]

A few updates...
Stage 12 is being rumoured to be Longarone - Treviso. It could have a few hills in the middle but overall it's to be considered a flat stage. Stage 13 at 99% will involve Vicenza, and at 80% (percentage are mine ofc) will be a ITT. The previously rumoured queen stage to Gavia hes gone into hiding apparently. I'm quite sure stage 15 will go there but no one says anything. Strange.
As for the third week, I don't know anything but the Galibier rumour. Lord knows if it's reliable. It's not even sure at 100% (let's say 90%) that the final ITT will be in Milan.
There's a new rumour about a hilly stage finishing in Bra (or surroundings). It must be in the third week.
Really, the stages from 9 to 13 are almost sure, but the rest of the Giro is quite a secret. Only three weeks to the presentation Last years we had a lot more rumours by this time

1 Napoli - Napoli [flat] (Napoli is official. Still not clear if TTT or road stage)
2 Ischia TTT ****(circuit if Napoli is TTT)
3 ??? - ???
4 ??? - ???
5 ??? - ???
6 ??? - ???
7 ??? - ???
8 ??? - ???
9 ??? - Firenze [3x Worlds circuit] *****
REST (transfer to Cordenons)
10 Cordenons - Malghe Del Montasio [MTF] *****
11 Tarvisio (or Cave Del Predil) - Vajont [Hilly]*****
12 Longarone - Treviso [flat] *****
13 Vicenza ITT ****
14 ??? - Val Senales [MTF] ***
15 ??? - Gavia [MTF] ***
REST
16 ??? - Parma(or Busseto) [flat] ***
17 ??? - Bra (?) [hilly] ****
18 ??? - ???
19 Bardonecchia - Galibier [MTF] ****
20 ??? - ???
21 Milano ITT **

Bras are always on hilly places.

Very little info indeed... two ITTs though? Good Lord, I guess they were right about 2012 and the end of the world...

 

[Eshnar]

Bras are always on hilly places.

I knew someone would come up with this

Very little info indeed... two ITTs though? Good Lord, I guess they were right about 2012 and the end of the world...

All seem to point towards two ITTs, yes. Someone say it's in order to encourage Wiggo.
I'm particularly concerned by the fact we don't know anything about the queen stage. It's always been the first stage to pop out.

 

[profff]

bra is in the middle of the langhe, the wine region of barolo and barbaresco. it is a very hilly landscape, similar to the ardennes as kind of climbs. nevertheless bra is not on a top of a hill and the last 5-6 km will be flat or almost flat.
the closest climb is la morra that is about 5km climb, 10% maximum .
if it is well designed it could be a very interesting stage.

 

[Eshnar]

bra is in the middle of the langhe, the wine region of barolo and barbaresco. it is a very hilly landscape, similar to the ardennes as kind of climbs. nevertheless bra is not on a top of a hill and the last 5-6 km will be flat or almost flat.
the closest climb is la morra that is about 5km climb, 10% maximum .
if it is well designed it could be a very interesting stage.

indeed.
Anyway the rumours say only that region (not Bra in particular) so the finish could be also in another town, I just posted one of them
In any case it should be interesting.

 

[profff]

there are rumours that a stage can start or finish in cervere o cherasco. cervere is 10-15 km from bra and all around is flat and could be a stage for sprinter.
cherasco is at the same distance but is closer to the hill and you can arrive in town after a climb of 1km , quite hard, if you arrive on the right side. if you come from the other side of town it will bea sprint finish.
this year there was a finish in cervere and it was won by cavendish. it is difficult that cervere will get two stage finish in a row.

 

[Eshnar]

there are rumours that a stage can start or finish in cervere o cherasco. cervere is 10-15 km from bra and all around is flat and could be a stage for sprinter.
cherasco is at the same distance but is closer to the hill and you can arrive in town after a climb of 1km , quite hard, if you arrive on the right side. if you come from the other side of town it will bea sprint finish.
this year there was a finish in cervere and it was won by cavendish. it is difficult that cervere will get two stage finish in a row.

Same for Cherasco, that was stage start of stage 14 this year.

 

[profff]

maybe cervere start and cherasco finish...this is the real rumour i got...

 

[The Hitch]

Eshnar, i wonder, do you think this giro will be lighter mountain wise and give maybe give wiggins more of a chance. Obviously one has no idea what the stages will be and what mountains will be climbed before any finish, but all the mountain finishes in your recent update were quite weak. Gavia which we often see as meh by giro standards seemed to be by far the steepest one.

And whatsmore they were all quite long, meaning people are less likely to attack 2 mountains from the end if the last one is even longer.

 

[Eshnar]

Eshnar, i wonder, do you think this giro will be lighter mountain wise and give maybe give wiggins more of a chance. Obviously one has no idea what the stages will be and what mountains will be climbed before any finish, but all the mountain finishes in your recent update were quite weak. Gavia which we often see as meh by giro standards seemed to be by far the steepest one.

And whatsmore they were all quite long, meaning people are less likely to attack 2 mountains from the end if the last one is even longer.

What bothers me now it's that I don't see any real multiple mountain stage. The MTFs aren't bad. Galibier, Gavia, Malghe Del Montasio are actually good climbs. Val Senales a bit less. If there's the Nivolet, which was rumoured a lot but now seems faded away, that would be another great MTF... without any mountain as run in. I'm certain after the Galibier there will be another mountain stage. Maybe the decisive. But I have no rumours about that. Yes, it's certainly possible they could decide to soften this edition in order to attract Wiggins. I dunno if they will, but they can. Hell, Zome did it in 2009, for the friggin' 100 years edition.

Edit:
Probly the gavia stage will have the Mortirolo. Very similar to the Stelvio stage of this year.

 

[pastronef]

maybe cervere start and cherasco finish...this is the real rumour i got...

that would be a boucle, just like doing a circle between let's say... gap and embrun

 

[Eshnar]

that would be a boucle, just like doing a circle between let's say... gap and embrun

he was probly meaning two different stages.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

What bothers me now it's that I don't see any real multiple mountain stage. The MTFs aren't bad. Galibier, Gavia, Malghe Del Montasio are actually good climbs. Val Senales a bit less. If there's the Nivolet, which was rumoured a lot but now seems faded away, that would be another great MTF... without any mountain as run in. I'm certain after the Galibier there will be another mountain stage. Maybe the decisive. But I have no rumours about that. Yes, it's certainly possible they could decide to soften this edition in order to attract Wiggins. I dunno if they will, but they can. Hell, Zome did it in 2009, for the friggin' 100 years edition.

Edit:
Probly the gavia stage will have the Mortirolo. Very similar to the Stelvio stage of this year.

The S side of Gavia is far harder for a guy like Wiggins than the W side of Stelvio. Mortirolo - Gavia would certainly put him to the test. If that's the only very hard stage, though...

 

[Eshnar]

The S side of Gavia is far harder for a guy like Wiggins than the W side of Stelvio. Mortirolo - Gavia would certainly put him to the test. If that's the only very hard stage, though...

indeed.
As for now, we have more or less reliable rumours for
- Montasio: It could have quite hard climbs but at least 20 kms of valley before the final climb.
- Val Senales: As above.
- Gavia: Everything is possible here
- Galibier: Moncenisio but a long valley in between.

That is, 4 high mountain stage. We definitely lack at least one, maybe 2.

 

[airstream]

With such a course Wiggins will teach italians craft of climbing. Though I don't see how steep climbs might affect on this drastically. Is Nibali a king of steep ramps?

 

[Eshnar]

With such a course Wiggins will teach italians craft of climbing. Though I don't see how steep climbs might affect on this drastically. Is Nibali a king of steep ramps?

He did quite well on the Zonc in 2011. And on the Bola 2010.

 

[Descender]

Senales isn't far from Merano, right? Perhaps we might see something like this?

Stelvio + Mortirolo + Gavia


I'd prefer them to descend and finish in Bormio, but it would be a good stage nonetheless.

 

[Eshnar]

Senales isn't far from Merano, right? Perhaps we might see something like this?

Stelvio + Mortirolo + Gavia


I'd prefer them to descend and finish in Bormio, but it would be a good stage nonetheless.

yes, it's very likely imho.
And yes, finishing in Bormio would be better.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

With such a course Wiggins will teach italians craft of climbing. Though I don't see how steep climbs might affect on this drastically. Is Nibali a king of steep ramps?

They're about equal, IMO, but Nibali may be better on the more irregular / steeper climbs. I may be biased, but Wiggins looked really bad on the Glandon / Croix de Fer, IMO, the hardest climb of this year's edition no doubt. It could have been a bad day, but I doubt it.

 

[Netserk]

His biggest weakness is IMO his descending abilities. In a hard mountain stage finishing at the bottom of a mountain, where he would have no team mates to protect him, he could lose a lot of time to Nibbles and others.

 

[Descender]

His biggest weakness is IMO his descending abilities. In a hard mountain stage finishing at the bottom of a mountain, where he would have no team mates to protect him, he could lose a lot of time to Nibbles and others.

Sadly it looks like we might not have one of those in the upcoming Giro.