Giro 2018 Route Rumours

[Libertine Seguros]

May i propose this:

Will be the queen stage of my new Giro.

Most of these climbs are criminally underused by the Giro.

You pass along Prati di Köhl and you don't climb it?
Disappointing.

Hah, there's even a gravel roads towards the Schneiderwiesen Alm isn't it?

Zomegnan probably would like to use the “Alte Jenesier Straße“ for a mtt and / or re-pave the Rafensteiner Bergstraße. Just imagine some nice close-up shots when Fabio Aru attempts the 30% section! :lol:

What's happened, has Angelo gone soft? Paving the roads before sending the riders up it?

 

[May0maniac]

Those roads would be full ***, just like the old road to Oberbozen/Soprabolzano that goes through St. Magdalena. The first 3.3km at 17.8% with the first 2.1km at 18.6%, after that the climb eases up, the final 5.2km are at 6.75%, the climb finishes in an actual village and only 200m are unpaved. You could also go all the way up to the Rittner Horn/Corno Renon.
The one full *** cllimb that nobody knows is Forcella Chiandolada, I only know it because my dad told me stories about that ungodly steep road ("who in the hell builts such a road, that's just stupid"). The first 3.7km are at 14.8%, but more irregular than the Zoncolan with multiple 30% steep ramps.
You'd have to repave the false flat on top of the climb, but the descent is fine and it would be a great penultimate climb for a Zoldo Alto stage.

 

[staubsauger]

Maybe I've got serious sadistic issues, but I really wanna see Aru to be in mortal agonies on these roads! :lol:

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Maybe I've got serious sadistic issues, but I really wanna see Aru to be in mortal agonies on these roads! :lol:

Usually I don't mind the Aru faces, but durning the last Tour I thought that he was about to dislocate his jaw at every single pedal stroke when he got out of the saddle, that was hard to wacth.

 

[dick the quick]

According to the Polish media (source: https://rowery.org/2017/06/01/giro-ditalia-2018-odwiedzi-izrael/)

Israel is at the pole position in the race for organization of the Giro 2018 first stages. "Grande Partenza" is expected to take place in Jerusalem (TT). The second stage should head to the south of Israel, and the third one should finish in Tel Aviv.

They also announce Zoncolan, and the finish of the entire Giro in Rome.

 

[railxmig]

Croatia? Ok, Zagreb has a nice climb just north of the city. it's part of the Medvednica range and i think it's called Sljeme (Libertine should correct me). There are like 3 main sides of this climb with countless of branches on the foothills. I'm intrested in two of them. First one is through Bliznec. it's a very twisty road with at least 27 serpentines in span of 13,5km. This ascent is 13,5km at roughly 5,5%, which should be enough for a Giro cat. 2. The other one is more interesting however. Going from Sisters Of Charity Hospital in Zagreb it can be either 14km at roughly 6,1% (Giro cat. 2 and TdF cat. 1) or 14,3km at 6% (same categories).

Poland... Kraków seems to be more interesting, especially as i guess many Italins rate John Paul II relatively high and his birthplace, Wadowice, is nearby Kraków. Wadowice could host an uphill finish in nearby Calvary (monastery) of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. it could be linked up with a cobbled climb to a beautiful village of Lanckorona. I actually have a leftover stage from Cracov to Kalwaria, which goes through Ojców National Park (gorgeous rock formations), Oświęcim (Auschwitz) and Wadowice (Pope John Paul II).

Climbs:
Bugaj - 4,6km, 3,4%, 4 cat. 453m
Lanckorona - 2,3km, 6,9%, 3 cat. 469m
Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - 2,8km, 3,2%, 4 cat. 380m

Kraków - Kalwaria Zebrzydowska.

Jagiellońska street in Lanckorona.

Other possibility is the regular finish in Zakopane, but combining the Bukovina's Gliczarów Górny wall with now forgotten Murzasichle hill (used in either 2011 or 2012 Tour de Pologne) before the normal uphill sprint to the Wielka Krokiew ski jump in Zakopane. Here however the wind could be problematic because of "halny", a foehn wind which can be strong in spring. I also have that stage, but rather than from Cracov/Wieliczka i start from Wadowice. It's part of a bigger project, so please forget the climb categorization.

Climbs:
Przełęcz Wielkie Drogi - 5,8km, 3,8%, 3 cat. 579m
Gliczarów Górny - 5,4km, 5,7%, 2 cat. 987m
Klin - 3,8km, 5,8%, 2 cat. 1002m
Murzasichle - 5,8km, 4,4%, 3 cat. 1030m

Possible Zakopane stage.

 

[mikii4567]

Here however the wind could be problematic because of "halny", a foehn wind which can be strong in spring.

Halny is more of a concern in March, early April - basically, when the snow starts melting. I come from Nowy Sącz and I know quite a bit about it from experience in May it's usually alright.

There's a lot of potential in the Kraków area, which the Tour de Pologne criminally fails to make use of, for example
this beauty in Wieliczka - 0,9 km at 10,3%, partly cobbled (imgur and tinypic are playing up). This year's stage 1 is just so disappointing. I hope that if Vegni came over here, he'd show Czesław how to make decent stages (assuming he isn't inspired by this year's Giro).

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re:

They also announce Zoncolan, and the finish of the entire Giro in Rome.

Yeah, I read they could take the frecciarossa train to Roma after the Alps for a sprint parade stage.

I want Rocca di Papa and then this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJUZOJeJ6gg

 

[Eshnar]

Quick updates.

Multiple sources are claiming that the Zonc stage would be on the penultimate weekend. If that's the case, the third week would almost surely head to the western Alps. Here, as mentioned, the two strongest rumours are Prato Nevoso and Valle d'Aosta. They are pretty far from each other so I think they need a stage in between. If it was the second week, it could easily be flat, but in case it's the third week it has to be mountains again. Months ago there was a big rumour about a stage finish at Col Basset (above Sestriere), but then they said the proposal was actually for 2019. However, if they need a third-week mountain stage in that area, that would be the obvious choice...

 

[Netserk]

Col Basset to be more than just a fantasy?! :surprised:

Will they pave it (from Sestriere to the top, the other side, or both)?

 

[saunaking]

Re:

This is a gravel road, correct? Has it been used before in a race or is it passable with a road bike?

Is it possible to ride a road bike from Sestriere taking Strada dell Assietta to Bonafous on the other side?
Looks pretty narly on google maps

 

[Eshnar]

It is currently a gravel road yes. Never used in races.
Rumours said they would pave something, without specifying much. Definitely not both sides though. Don't know much else.

 

[Red Rick]

Is that in combination with Finestre?

I nees Sampeyre and or Fauniera back

 

[Eshnar]

Re:

Is that in combination with Finestre?

I nees Sampeyre and or Fauniera back

Well is they climb it from Sestriere, Finestre pretty much has to be in. Otherwise not

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

It is currently a gravel road yes. Never used in races.
Rumours said they would pave something, without specifying much. Definitely not both sides though. Don't know much else.

Pave beginning of the climb and beginning of descent to lull the riders into a false sense of security.

 

[Netserk]

I hope it's from Sestriere to the top then, as the other side then can be used as a pass like Finestre. Superfluous, arguably, but would be of better use in a stage with the finish in Briancon.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Something like this comes to mind...

 

[Eshnar]

That would be kinda overkill even by Giro standards ^^ (at least recent standards....)

 

[Netserk]

If it's from that side, I'd prefer this:

But really, I don't see the point as a MTF, as I think in both the scenario above and the traditional Finestre-Sestriere combo are better off without an additional 5km.

 

[staubsauger]

Re:

If it's from that side, I'd prefer this:

But really, I don't see the point as a MTF, as I think in both the scenario above and the traditional Finestre-Sestriere combo are better off without an additional 5km.

Jose Rujano disagrees!

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

Starting the Giro in Israel would be a disgrace, and I am not referring to the political situation. It is an Italian race, it should stay in Italy, or just across the border. Starting the race huge distances away should not be being considered.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Starting the Giro in Israel would be a disgrace, and I am not referring to the political situation. It is an Italian race, it should stay in Italy, or just across the border. Starting the race huge distances away should not be being considered.

I agree. I hate it when all GTs supposedly should start in NL. Tour de France is defo fine with me, but the two others just feel so wrong, primarily because its so far and you need another rest day. I liked the Tour start there in 2015, it was pretty awesome

 

[Brullnux]

Poland would be fine considering the Tour of Poland started in Italy for some weird reason a few years back.

 

[Red Rick]

Is it me or has this gone very quiet lately?

 

[Sestriere]

So, what's up in this department? Am I in?