Giro 2017, Stage 6: Reggio Calabria-Terme Luigiane 217km

[Brullnux]

Re:

Finally! This race has been crying out for an uphill sprint to liven things up a bit.

Dude the reason most people here are looking forward to it is because it might not be an uphill sprint because of the climbs before it

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Stuyven !

 

[Irondan]

I gotta say that it's nice to see Gaviria living up to the talent that he possesses.

I read comment after comment in the CN comments section during the first couple stages about how "overrated" Gaviria was and blah, blah, blah.. People just talking out their asses when they have no clue what they're saying.

Gaviria's first victory was nice, but today was a big pie in the eye to all the naysayers and very satisfying...

Chapau Fernando!

 

[DFA123]

Yates, Woods and Teuns to battle for the win here I think.

 

[Irondan]

Re:

Yates, Woods and Teuns to battle for the win here I think.

I'd be very happy to see Rusty Woods take a win.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Yates, Woods and Teuns to battle for the win here I think.

I'd be very happy to see Rusty Woods take a win.

Me too. Obviously the Cannondale curse works against him, but I think he could be strong enough to overcome it!

 

[Laplaz]

Haas is a big favorite for me. Also, i predict some gaps between the GC men, especially Crushweak and Zakarin should try to avoid crashes or splits in this very technical final. More gaps here than in the Etna stage are pretty sure

 

[Frankschleck]

A guy like Montaguti should go for the break and try to take the lead of the GC.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

Haas is a big favorite for me. Also, i predict some gaps between the GC men, especially Crushweak and Zakarin should try to avoid crashes or splits in this very technical final. More gaps here than in the Etna stage are pretty sure

He's probably the best pure puncheur in the race. LuLu could potentially do something as well and what about Dylan Teuns?

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Re: Re:

Haas is a big favorite for me. Also, i predict some gaps between the GC men, especially Crushweak and Zakarin should try to avoid crashes or splits in this very technical final. More gaps here than in the Etna stage are pretty sure

He's probably the best pure puncheur in the race. LuLu could potentially do something as well and what about Dylan Teuns?

How do you guys rate the changes of Stuyven?

 

[markene2]

Pippo to win somehow

 

[carolina]

José Gonçalves FTW!

 

[Tank Engine]

I'm glad to see that this is a popular stage. The final 30km look like there is hardly any flat, but there are no big climbs, so it will be difficult to control and there will be lots of ebb and flow. As stated, the top puncheurs are elsewhere and I think all the names I thought of have been mentioned (plus some others).

Of the riders who are particularly suited to this stage, 3 names jumped out to me Haas (who has definitely stepped up a gear or two this season), Battaglin (who has had a very solid start to the race) and Teuns. Of the sprinters, Modolo is probably the most suited (although his form hasn't seemed great so far).

Apart from those above, the stage is suited to the more powerful GC riders, who might want to gain some time: Tom D, Jungels and G.

The climbs at the beginning could be a springboard for a fairly strong break, but I reckon the really strong guys will place their bets on a late break/an uphill sprint, so the break will be brought back.

I'll go with Battaglin. .

@GeneriBoonenFan: As a very strong classics rider, Stuyvens is definitely a good call. This is probably one of the most open stages and very difficult to call.

 

[carton]

Re: Re:

Haas is a big favorite for me. Also, i predict some gaps between the GC men, especially Crushweak and Zakarin should try to avoid crashes or splits in this very technical final. More gaps here than in the Etna stage are pretty sure

He's probably the best pure puncheur in the race. LuLu could potentially do something as well and what about Dylan Teuns?

How do you guys rate the changes of Stuyven?

The changes he handles quite well in the flat, the uphill sprinting is where I think he'll struggle. I rate his chances just a morsel higher than your average 78kg chocolatier. Which is to say, doubtful. He's to big of a name to slip away, and too large of a frame to get away at the thick end of it.

Battaglin (got pipped to him, I see). Nizzolo to come in second. Hansen to win one from the break before Milan.

 

[mikii4567]

As has been said, the odds on favourite would be Ulissi... can be unpredictable, I'm saying reduced bunch & Modolo, though the breakaway also stands a large chance.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

As has been said, the odds on favourite would be Ulissi... can be unpredictable, I'm saying reduced bunch & Modolo, though the breakaway also stands a large chance.

I think it looks too hard for the sprinters to win. The final 700m at 8% might be manageable for them if they came into it at 60km/h and flew up the first half, but the gentle climbing for 1.5km before that I think means it suits the more explosive puncheur-climbers (not that there are many good ones in the race). 700m at 8% from a slow start is quite a long way.

Stage nearly 220km long as well which could be a factor.

 

[alexix7]

Nizzolo has problems just it comes to go across railway overpass..... his climbing form is really bad and he has no chance tommorow

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

Haas is a big favorite for me. Also, i predict some gaps between the GC men, especially Crushweak and Zakarin should try to avoid crashes or splits in this very technical final. More gaps here than in the Etna stage are pretty sure

He's probably the best pure puncheur in the race. LuLu could potentially do something as well and what about Dylan Teuns?

How do you guys rate the changes of Stuyven?

The changes he handles quite well in the flat, the uphill sprinting is where I think he'll struggle. I rate his chances just a morsel higher than your average 78kg chocolatier. Which is to say, doubtful.

I'm torn between Battaglin and Hansen. Nizzolo to come in second.

I'm going to go out a limb here, and assume you mean Adam...

 

[DFA123]

Back in 2003 on (I think) the same finish, Garzelli won ahead of Casagrande. Pellizotti, Simoni and Honchar among others in the top 10, along with Petacchi back when he was all conquering. The overall stage was different then though; quite a bit easier than tomorrow's I think.


edit. 2003 finish here: https://youtu.be/YN0-If8puNw?t=686

 

[del1962]

Could see Visconti do something if Nibali allows it.

 

[Anderis]

Alex Howes FTW.

 

[Leffe_Bruin]

I'll go with Hermans

 

[Ricco']

Re:

Back in 2003 on (I think) the same finish, Garzelli won ahead of Casagrande. Pellizotti, Simoni and Honchar among others in the top 10, along with Petacchi back when he was all conquering. The overall stage was different then though; quite a bit easier than tomorrow's I think.


edit. 2003 finish here: https://youtu.be/YN0-If8puNw?t=686

I think 2003's was harder, at least the finale.

 

[Krokro]

Haas, Battaglin or Sbaragli might get that one ! Such a hard stage to predict, though.

 

[DFA123]

Re: Re:

Back in 2003 on (I think) the same finish, Garzelli won ahead of Casagrande. Pellizotti, Simoni and Honchar among others in the top 10, along with Petacchi back when he was all conquering. The overall stage was different then though; quite a bit easier than tomorrow's I think.


edit. 2003 finish here: https://youtu.be/YN0-If8puNw?t=686

I think 2003's was harder, at least the finale.

I don't agree with that. The long drag climb in 2003 was pretty weak (average of about 2% based on the profile; and the whole stage was only 145km.

This stage is 75km longer, has a couple of climbs early in the day and then the last 40km of proper rolling classics style stuff. It's kind of like a slightly shorter Milan-Sanremo with an 8% uphill finish.