Giro 2014 Route Rumours

[jens_attacks]

abruzzo wall, gran sasso, oropa, mortirolo....fantastic news!

 

[all_in]

I hope they will do Zoncolan from Ovaro.

 

[Netserk]

I hope they will do Zoncolan from Ovaro.

I think that is pretty much guaranteed.

 

[Cult Classics]

Eshnar - wrong thread but while I've got you - have your ears to the ground heard anything about this year's Lombardy route? Lecco's contract ended last year. I heard something about returning to Bergamo a while back but no idea how truthful it was.

 

[Eshnar]

Eshnar - wrong thread but while I've got you - have your ears to the ground heard anything about this year's Lombardy route? Lecco's contract ended last year. I heard something about returning to Bergamo a while back but no idea how truthful it was.

I'm sorry I don't know anything. I wonder too.

Zoncolan, if doubled, will be from Ovaro, since it would be impossible to descend otherwise.

 

[all_in]

Would be great if after Mortirolo they'll climb Colmo.Will be a great stage.

 

[Eshnar]

Would be great if after Mortirolo they'll climb Colmo.Will be a great stage.

actually I hope they just stick with Aprica. There are too many hard MTFs according to the rumours. Better have also a stage where people can go all out earlier.

 

[nick101]

well as someone said earlier the mountain stages will probably relate to pantani. possibly mortirolo and aprica (although summit on the mortirolo would be nice), the race director mentioned the jafferau and Grossglockner (I think? either that or an austrian mountain stage?) will be back, stelvio, gavia and mortirolo will no doubt also feature. have heard rumours about a passo pordoi summit finish. I was expecting the plan de corones to return but if val martelo is the mtt then it won't. also I definitely expect zoncolan to sadly return despite being overused. Two times up would be impossible as the descent down the steep side would be just too dangerous, so a crostis then zoncolan stage most likely or the (other way round). as well as that I expect the pampeago to also return because of its significance to pantani. the full Blockhaus of 28 kms at 7% would be epic and also another finish at gran sasso would be awesome, but I doubt the last two will happen. lastly I expect the return of more white gravel after the epic stage in 2010.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2014-giro-ditalia-could-include-the-mortirolo-but-not-sicily

 

[Eshnar]

well as someone said earlier the mountain stages will probably relate to pantani. possibly mortirolo and aprica (although summit on the mortirolo would be nice)

please, no

the race director mentioned the jafferau and Grossglockner (I think? either that or an austrian mountain stage?) will be back

really? when? I missed that

stelvio, gavia and mortirolo will no doubt also feature. have heard rumours about a passo pordoi summit finish. I was expecting the plan de corones to return but if val martelo is the mtt then it won't.

Stelvio and Gavia won't be there I'm sure. Kronplatz, if ridden, would be a road stage, so it doesn't conflict with Val Martello

also I definitely expect zoncolan to sadly return despite being overused. Two times up would be impossible as the descent down the steep side would be just too dangerous

Not at all, the steep part of the Sutrio side is only 4 kms long and has no really dangerous parts to my knowledge, so it is definitely possible. Only problem would be the team cars would not be able to follow the riders on the climb, so they'll have to figure out something to make them available for the descent.

 

[nick101]

kronplatz is just too dangerous to be a road stage. too narrow plus the gravel will certainly cause a crash or two. attacking is impossible as an acceleration on the gravel would only cause wheel slip. as for the zoncolan, the tunnels can only fit one rider, maybe two if they were within 10cms or so. the descent of the ovaro side is dangerous, descending the sutrio side would be fine. if they neutralised the ovaro descent then yes that would be possible. but a zoncolan and crostis stage seems to fit perfectly together and crostis would be more suitable to be a mtf than zoncolan (if they're in the same stage) due to the reaction of using the descent of it in 2011. acquarone has said famous high mountains definitely will be included (stelvio, gavia etc) as they don't think weather like that will be a trouble for next year so are ignoring this years weather. I can't remember where I read about Austria but it was this year they mentioned it. would a mortirolo summit be possible?? I remember there's very little room at the summit..

 

[Eshnar]

kronplatz is just too dangerous to be a road stage. too narrow plus the gravel will certainly cause a crash or two. attacking is impossible as an acceleration on the gravel would only cause wheel slip. as for the zoncolan, the tunnels can only fit one rider, maybe two if they were within 10cms or so. the descent of the ovaro side is dangerous, descending the sutrio side would be fine. if they neutralised the ovaro descent then yes that would be possible. but a zoncolan and crostis stage seems to fit perfectly together and crostis would be more suitable to be a mtf than zoncolan (if they're in the same stage) due to the reaction of using the descent of it in 2011. acquarone has said famous high mountains definitely will be included (stelvio, gavia etc) as they don't think weather like that will be a trouble for next year so are ignoring this years weather. I can't remember where I read about Austria but it was this year they mentioned it. would a mortirolo summit be possible?? I remember there's very little room at the summit..

currently they're resurfacing the road up the Crostis, but it's unlikely they'll finish in time for next year. Ofc the Zoncolan would be climbed from Ovaro and descended to Sutrio, that is the only way. There's no room at the top of the Mortirolo, but even if it were, I'd really hate that. The finish in Aprica works perfectly as it is.
edit: and about the Kronplatz - dangerous? uphill? Only for Menchov

 

[all_in]

currently they're resurfacing the road up the Crostis, but it's unlikely they'll finish in time for next year. Ofc the Zoncolan would be climbed from Ovaro and descended to Sutrio, that is the only way. There's no room at the top of the Mortirolo, but even if it were, I'd really hate that. The finish in Aprica works perfectly as it is.
edit: and about the Kronplatz - dangerous? uphill? Only for Menchov

I want Monte Colmo.

 

[Eshnar]

I want Monte Colmo.

I want Monte Padrio

 

[nick101]

currently they're resurfacing the road up the Crostis, but it's unlikely they'll finish in time for next year. Ofc the Zoncolan would be climbed from Ovaro and descended to Sutrio, that is the only way. There's no room at the top of the Mortirolo, but even if it were, I'd really hate that. The finish in Aprica works perfectly as it is.
edit: and about the Kronplatz - dangerous? uphill? Only for Menchov

yeah finish at aprica makes sense with a similar course to pantani's win. hahaha menchov! they could still use crostis, just another side (think theyre only surfacing a certain side). I reckon four or five mtf, two non mtf mountain stages, two hilly stages, one mtt, one sterrato stage, two tts and 6 or 7 sprinters stages. the stages in Ireland could be hilly. theres some decent climbs like mt leinster although I doubt they'd use that. I know one of the mountain stages will be like the blockhaus stage in 09 (i.e only a short stage with a big summit finish).

 

[Eshnar]

they could still use crostis, just another side (think theyre only surfacing a certain side).

they're paving the road on the top, which was sterrato. They could use it as MTF if there's enough room at the top, but I don't think there is.

 

[nick101]

yeah there is enough room definitely. I can remember watching a video of contador taking pics from the summit during a recon and it was like a carpark up there or something. if not there's the grader shed 100m below. I mean if they can do a tourmalet finish then almost any summit is possible. a year is more than enough time to resurface several kms of gravel. itd definitely be ready if the giro needed it

 

[Eshnar]

yeah there is enough room definitely. I can remember watching a video of contador taking pics from the summit during a recon and it was like a carpark up there or something. if not there's the grader shed 100m below. I mean if they can do a tourmalet finish then almost any summit is possible. a year is more than enough time to resurface several kms of gravel. itd definitely be ready if the giro needed it

yes but at least the Tourmalet has a transitable way down. If there are works in progress, a Crostis MTF would basically be a dead end. Logistically it wouldn't be a good thing, paired with the not so huge space at the top.

 

[nick101]

but if they sealed it in time it wouldn't be a dead end right ? all the summits this year were one lane and dead end and logistically were fine. if they include the jafferau would they also use pampeago?? I get the fealing they'll use more climbs like gran sasso or blockhaus which seem to fit well.

 

[Eshnar]

but if they sealed it in time it wouldn't be a dead end right ? all the summits this year were one lane and dead end and logistically were fine. if they include the jafferau would they also use pampeago?? I get the fealing they'll use more climbs like gran sasso or blockhaus which seem to fit well.

Jafferau has a lot of space at the top, like Tre Cime as well. On the top of Crostis, otoh, there's nothing so it would be more problematic.

If they seal the road before the race then just descend it instead of doing a MTF

 

[barmaher]

Are there any rumours about the Irish stages? It would be good if they were a bit more interesting than the Danish stages last year.

 

[nick101]

yeah could be a stage up both zoncolan and and crostis with a descent, but I doubt that they'd do that, not using them in a mtf stage would be blasphemy. possibly use another climb as the summit, ideas??. as for the irish stages - there'll be definitely be a tt, a flat stage and possibly a hilly stage (if not another flat stage). if they're using high mountains fedaia or giau will be likely used but not as summits (especially not the fedaia)

 

[Eshnar]

A few updates:
- A ITT is rumoured to be held between Treviso and Jesolo, it would be around 40 kms (the shortest path, that is, so it would most likely be 45 kms actually), pan flat. If it's true that rules out one between the Piedmont ITT, which would be from Barbaresco to Barolo (or vice-versa), slightly hilly, and the Val Martello MTT. I reckon the latter is the most likely to be dropped. That would imply starting the 3rd week somewhere near Brescia, having stage 16 to finish in Montecchio as rumoured, and then stage 17 would be a flat ITT before the final 2 mountain stages. I believe it would make more sense.
- The "Carpegna stage" would involve a MTF to the Eremo del Carpegna, to be climbed after the main climb which is often regarded as "Carpegna", Il Cippo di Carpegna. Here's the rumoured route
- Jafferau is again a possibility, they asked for another stage (probly it has been already mentioned).
- There's also a rumour about a possible MTF to Passo Vezzena, in Trentino:

OFC at this time of the year it's too early to be sure of anything, I'm just listing the likely possibilities.

 

[Eshnar]

After the apocalypse, new rumours:

- Stage 9 might be a MTF to Pian del Falco (short and fairly steep, depending on the side they choose), then rest day in Modena, where stage 10 will start. It will be a flat stage visiting towns that recently got flooded.

- There's the usual rumoured MTF up the Colle del Nivolet. The start would be in Santa Maria Maggiore, at 230 km from the top taking the shortest route Unlikely, to say the least.

- Stage finish in Savona (likely stage 11). The next day should be in Piemonte so I guess it means the Barolo - Barbaresco ITT which was already rumoured, which is said to be around 45 kms long.

- The project for the double Zoncolan is said to be Ovaro -> Zonc -> Sutrio -> Priola -> Zonc. That would mean using the 4 kms shared between the Sutrio and Priola sides as both descent and climb. VERY unlikely.

 

[Eshnar]

So.... let's take a huge gamble and sketch a likely route:

DISCLAIMER: Still too early to be sure of any of these stages.

1 Belfast ITT
2 Belfast - Belfast
3 Armagh - Dublin
4 Bari TTT
5 ??? - ???
6 ??? - Guardiagrele
7 ??? - ???
8 ??? - Eremo del Carpegna MTF
9 Cesenatico - Pian del Falco MTF
rest
10 Modena - Mantova??
11 ??? - Savona
12 Barolo - Barbaresco ITT
13 ??? - Oropa? MTF
14 ??? - ???
15 S.M.Maggiore - Nivolet MTF (I don't believe it but I'll put it anyway)
rest
16 ??? - ???
17 ??? - Aprica? MTF
18 ??? - Montecchio Maggiore?
19 ??? - Plan De Corones MTF
20 ??? - Zoncolan MTF
21 ??? - Trieste

 

[barmaher]

It looks like a nice route. So stage 6 looks like being in the hills around Chieti. Nice. And keeping close to the Adriatic coast until stage 9, when the the race starts going westwards through Emiglia Romagna and Tuscany to Liguria in Stage 11. Then north to the mountains, with the last weekend seeing the race travel from west to east to finish in Trieste.

There seems to be quite a few tough MTF in that race. I guess the route will depend on how much variation they put into it. Some nice hilly stages like Stage 3 this year would be just lovely. They seem to be back loading the final week again, unfortunately.

Thanks again, I love this speculation. And I can't read Italian, so I rely on you!