Giro 2013 rumours

[Peccio89]

It appears that with the finish in Brescia there will be a road stage instead of a time trial. If that's the case a long time trial ( 50 km at least) in week 1 is needed.

 

[Descender]

Ok, so tuttobiciweb.it mirrors today some info from tuttosport about the final, "queen stage".

http://www.tuttobiciweb.it/index.php?page=news&cod=52957&tp=n

It seems they don't specify the start, but the final part of the stage will feature the Gavia through Ponte di Legno, the Stelvio through Bormio and then they'll finish in a relatively unknown climb, Val Martello. I drew the final part:

Climbs:

Passo di Gavia

Passo dello Stelvio

Val Martello

The Gavia and Stelvio are hard enough to create some carnage, but the last climb didn't need to be that hard and there is a lot of flat before the start of Val Martello.

 

[airstream]

the last climb is not good. idiotic shelfs make it a vuelta style climb. but such an mtf is clearly in spirit of the whole edition. to my great regret, with this profile, gavia and stelvio can not provide carnage, and the pack in the amount of as minimum 40 best climbers will quietly hit the foot of the last ascent, imo.

 

[Eshnar]

The Gavia and Stelvio are hard enough to create some carnage, but the last climb didn't need to be that hard and there is a lot of flat before the start of Val Martello.

The stage start is specified to be Ponte Di Legno itself, though they add that the first part of the stage could be a loop in Valtellina.

It'll be stage 19, so it'll be probably followed by the last mountain stage.
As such, I don't like it.

 

[Eshnar]

1 Napoli - Napoli TTT [flat] ****
2 Napoli - Vico Equense (or Monte Faito) [Mountain (or MTF)] ****
3 Sorrento - Ascea [hilly?] ****
4 Ascea? - Terme Luigiane [hilly] ****
5 Cetraro - Soverato [hilly?] ****
6 Cosenza - ???(somewhere in Puglia) ****
7 ??? - ???
8 ??? - ???
9 Sansepolcro - Firenze [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 Busseto - Cherasco [hilly] ****
14 Cervere - Monte Jafferau [MTF] ****
15 Cesana - Galibier [MTF] OFFICIAL
16 Valloire - Ivrea [flat] ****
REST
17 Caravaggio - Vicenza [hilly?] ****
18 Mori - La Polsa [MTT] ****
19 Ponte Di Legno - Val Martello [MTF] ****
20 ??? - ???
21 Milano or Brescia ITT ****

 

[Libertine Seguros]

They could always have finished on the last 10km of this, which would connect directly to the Stelvio.

I don't like them doing Stelvio two years straight, to be honest. I like it more than a Galibier MTF, for sure, but still don't like it.

 

[Eshnar]

They could always have finished on the last 10km of this, which would connect directly to the Stelvio.

I don't like them doing Stelvio two years straight, to be honest. I like it more than a Galibier MTF, for sure, but still don't like it.

when judging a stage, though, we should take into account that the finish place is almost always fixed for money reason. If they have a deal to finish in Val Martello, you can't complain they don't finish in Solda Having that place as a finish I can't say there are far better alternatives as run in. This stage, starting in Ponte Di Legno, is not good. I they add a boucle in Valtellina of, say, 70 kms I can change my mind.

 

[Descender]

So where will stage 20 finish at? Val Senales?

 

[Eshnar]

So where will stage 20 finish at? Val Senales?

Val Senales has been dropped and substituted by Val Martello they say.
I dunno.

 

[Ferminal]

The stage start is specified to be Ponte Di Legno itself, though they add that the first part of the stage could be a loop in Valtellina.

It'll be stage 19, so it'll be probably followed by the last mountain stage.
As such, I don't like it.

Padrio + Mortirolo loop?

We can dream

Sadly I think the best way to use Gavia + Stelvio going this way is actually Stelvio MTF. I'd much prefer the Stelvio -> Mortirolo -> Gavia -> Bormio/2000 run. Even better would be no Stelvio at all.

 

[Eshnar]

Padrio + Mortirolo loop?

We can dream

dreaming is free

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Val Senales has been dropped and substituted by Val Martello they say.
I dunno.

I suspect it will be a Dolomites stage. They can't make it too hard, as stage 19 is the supposed queen stage. To skip the Dolomites when you're practically there doesn't make much sense, so that would be my guess.

And it will be short because everyone's favorite rider David Millar asked for that. 120 kms tops.

 

[Eshnar]

I suspect it will be a Dolomites stage. They can't make it too hard, as stage 19 is the supposed queen stage. To skip the Dolomites when you're practically there doesn't make much sense, so that would be my guess.

calling a stage as queen stage doesn't make it true
Also the article about the Galibier stage called it queen stage.
Any mountain stage is called queen stage
Any slightly hilly stage is called "important stage".

That's marketing, bro'

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

calling a stage as queen stage doesn't make it true
Also the article about the Galibier stage called it queen stage.
Any mountain stage is called queen stage
Any slightly hilly stage is called "important stage".

That's marketing, bro'

I don't speak Italian. I was under the impression that the article on Bici called it the queen stage, not some local newspaper. Anyway, let's hope you're right as this stage doesn't cut it.

 

[Eshnar]

I don't speak Italian. I was under the impression that the article on Bici called it the queen stage,

It did. I just don't trust it at all.
Just like cyclingnews reported that Acquarone presented the Galibier stage as the queen stage.

 

[Ferminal]

lol, they did?

I agree that a Dolomites stage the next day sounds logical either that or what, they do an ASO and use Stelvio/Gavia twice, or a flat stage towards Milan?

 

[Eshnar]

lol, they did?

I agree that a Dolomites stage the next day sounds logical either that or what, they do an ASO and use Stelvio/Gavia twice, or a flat stage towards Milan?

If I could decide, I'd do simply a Palade - Tonale - Trivigno - Mortirolo - Aprica.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Shaping up to be a good parcours, especially if stage 18 MTT is correct.

 

[theyoungest]

Official promo for the Giro 2013

 

[Mellow Velo]

Official promo for the Giro 2013

Never mind "Pillars of the Earth", we need a few more, "Pillars of the Dolomites"!

They do these things well, though.

 

[Eshnar]

There's a rumour about a ITT!
Stage 8, from ??? to Gabicce a Mare
Unknown distance ofc.


1 Napoli - Napoli TTT [flat] ****
2 Napoli - Vico Equense (or Monte Faito) [Mountain (or MTF)] ****
3 Sorrento - Ascea [hilly?] ****
4 Ascea? - Terme Luigiane [hilly] ****
5 Cetraro - Serra San Bruno [hilly] ****
6 Cosenza - ???(somewhere in Puglia) ****
7 ??? - ???
8 ??? - Gabicce a Mare [ITT] ****
9 Sansepolcro - Firenze [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 Busseto - Cherasco [hilly] ****
14 Cervere - Monte Jafferau [MTF] ****
15 Cesana - Galibier [MTF] OFFICIAL
16 Valloire - Ivrea [flat] ****
REST
17 Caravaggio - Vicenza [hilly?] ****
18 Mori - La Polsa [MTT] ****
19 Ponte Di Legno - Val Martello [MTF] ****
20 ??? - ???
21 Milano or Brescia ITT ****

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

I hope they skip the last TT in favor of a hard road stage to Brescia then. The now traditional 30 km TT at the end bores the **** out of me. I'd much rather have a nice breakaway stage with the possibility of some GC action.

 

[Eshnar]

I hope they skip the last TT in favor of a hard road stage to Brescia then. The now traditional 30 km TT at the end bores the **** out of me. I'd much rather have a nice breakaway stage with the possibility of some GC action.

RCS (both Zome and Acquarone) stated a lot of times that the final stage will be always meaningful for the GC. A road stage finish in Brescia could be easily made tough. I dunno what they've chosen though.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

RCS (both Zome and Acquarone) stated a lot of times that the final stage will be always meaningful for the GC. A road stage finish in Brescia could be easily made tough. I dunno what they've chosen though.

True. There was a rumor that it was going to be a road stage, though. Someone Italian said so, so it must be true.

Not sure about stage 20, though, if 18, 19 and 21 are all proper hard. We already know about stage 19, which shouldn't be underestimated. There's always a chance that the weather doesn't cooperate, though, and then they'll have no decent alternative for Gavia and Stelvio. The same applies to the Galibier stage. I hope they know what they're doing.

 

[Bavarianrider]

I hope they skip the last TT in favor of a hard road stage to Brescia then. The now traditional 30 km TT at the end bores the **** out of me. I'd much rather have a nice breakaway stage with the possibility of some GC action.

Totally agree! A road stage would be much better.
Why don't they just make one really long flat TT (60km) and one MTT.
Would be a good mix for the Giro. No need to waste race days with those silly 20km TT and that TT thhe last day.