Giro 2018 Route Rumours

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

https://twitter.com/ShimanoROAD/status/935901231033221120

Shimano confirms Froome.

SHimano deleted it after a few minutes

probably realized they posted it too early and spoiled the "surprise"

 

[Alexandre B.]

Festival of uphill finales, this Giro.

I like stages 5, 15 and 19.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Froome confirmed to start, that'll make it even easier for me to boycott next year's Giro

 

[rune1107]

Re:

Froome confirmed to start, that'll make it even easier for me to boycott next year's Giro

Will make both Giro and TDF interesting next year! :surprised:

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I really only like the third weekend. With this little sprint stages, we're probably in for Vuelta-level sprints (aka Viviani will dominate), and the mountains are at a level so low I never thought to see in the Giro. This route is only good for three types of riders: baroudeurs, Ardennes specialists who will probably be resting while we see C level guys duke it out for most stages in the first half, and Froome.

Edit: Kruijswijk should like the backload. Don't see him stopping Froome though, he would need to reach his 2016 level to even stand a chance.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Froome confirmed to start, that'll make it even easier for me to boycott next year's Giro

Will make both Giro and TDF interesting next year! :surprised:

Not to me.

PS he'll win both, remember this post at the end of July next year

 

[yaco]

Hope Froome doesn't try for the treble in 2018 or Flo will watch no cycling.

 

[rune1107]

Re: Re:

Froome confirmed to start, that'll make it even easier for me to boycott next year's Giro

Will make both Giro and TDF interesting next year! :surprised:

Not to me.

PS he'll win both, remember this post at the end of July next year

I'll bet you he will win neither

 

[pastronef]

Re:

Froome confirmed to start, that'll make it even easier for me to boycott next year's Giro

there´s Tour of California to watch Flo

 

[fauniera]

Not sure about neither, but he won't win both.

 

[Salvarani]

About 45km (9+35) ITT. First one could have been 15 at least imo...

A lot of hard mountain stages that is at least 175-225km as far as I saw. Not many under that at least. I like that.

I hope Tom goes to defend this Giro.

 

[May0maniac]

Re:

Not sure about neither, but he won't win both.

Yeah, that's also my feeling.
A bit of an uphill finish fest, but we already had that in the Di Luca years.
The 3rd week TT is too short and the first week would be better without Montevergine or even Etna, but other than that it's not all that bad, last year we had a more balanced route, but only 1 proper mountain stage.

 

[Gigs_98]

I actually really like it. Many of the uphill finishes won't cause great racing between the gc contenders but it causes a lot of variation. There really aren't many extremely boring flat stages and the flat stages are evenly spread. I don't know a lot about the potential wind in Israel so no idea if the 2nd and 3rd stage could be great but after that the pure sprint stages are 7, 10, 13, 17 and 21. You never have many boring days in a row and even these stages mostly have little bumps close to the finish which could make things more interesting. About the mountain stages, I agree that there should be stages with more climbs but it's not that horrible. The only one climb stages where something could happen are the Etna stage and the Prato Nevoso stage and actually these kind of stages have led to pretty good racing in the past, so I don't complain about two of them in a gt (especially because this time they are not on weekends). I'm not sure what to think about stage 9, but it's not a typical one climb stage effort since nothing will happen before the last 4 k. These last 4 kilometers could be really good though considering this stage comes before a rest day. The mountain stages on the 2nd weekend are superb (No matter how the rest of the route looks Zoncolan should always be raced on the penultimate weekend, preferably on stage 14 and with the Zoncolan in the riders legs, the last 40 km of stage 15 could cause havoc) And the last 3 mountain stages are also decent. I won't complain about a one climb stage as the first of 3 consecutive mountain stages, on the Jafferau stage probably everything will come down to the last climb but there could be a scenario like on the penultimate mountain stage of 2016 and finally the Cervinia stage also has a lot of potential as the last mountain stage (although I'm sick of Cervinia)

The route has some flaws but all in all I like it.

 

[yaco]

Think this Giro is more suited to the TT'er's who can climb - Maybe only four of five pure climbing stages.

 

[Laplaz]

I like the stages 4 and 5 in Sicily, medium mountain stages with not many flat. Sappada stage also better than expected.

 

[Valv.Piti]

I actually really like it. Many of the uphill finishes won't cause great racing between the gc contenders but it causes a lot of variation. There really aren't many extremely boring flat stages and the flat stages are evenly spread. I don't know a lot about the potential wind in Israel so no idea if the 2nd and 3rd stage could be great but after that the pure sprint stages are 7, 10, 13, 17 and 21. You never have many boring days in a row and even these stages mostly have little bumps close to the finish which could make things more interesting. About the mountain stages, I agree that there should be stages with more climbs but it's not that horrible. The only one climb stages where something could happen are the Etna stage and the Prato Nevoso stage and actually these kind of stages have led to pretty good racing in the past, so I don't complain about two of them in a gt (especially because this time they are not on weekends). I'm not sure what to think about stage 9, but it's not a typical one climb stage effort since nothing will happen before the last 4 k. These last 4 kilometers could be really good though considering this stage comes before a rest day. The mountain stages on the 2nd weekend are superb (No matter how the rest of the route looks Zoncolan should always be raced on the penultimate weekend, preferably on stage 14 and with the Zoncolan in the riders legs, the last 40 km of stage 15 could cause havoc) And the last 3 mountain stages are also decent. I won't complain about a one climb stage as the first of 3 consecutive mountain stages, on the Jafferau stage probably everything will come down to the last climb but there could be a scenario like on the penultimate mountain stage of 2016 and finally the Cervinia stage also has a lot of potential as the last mountain stage (although I'm sick of Cervinia)

The route has some flaws but all in all I like it.

Yeah I pretty much agree with your assessment. I could have used a really proper medium mountain stage tho (you can argue stage 15 is just that, but..) as the ones in this Giro aren't too tough. Maybe 5 was on the lower side when I rated it, then again it really have some flaws but the good high mountain stages might overcome those..

 

[sir fly]

Not breathtaking as some previous editions were, but solid route.
Presuming Froome will go for the double, strategy could be the most interesting aspect of the race. Other contenders should try to assess when he'll target the peak form in order to make the most from their attacks.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

3.546,2 km of racing at all...

Now let's look at the transfers...

Jerusalem › Haifa 150 km
Tel Aviv › Be'er Sheva 110 km
Eilat › Ben Gurion 340 km

Ben Gurion › Catania 1900 km (linear distance)

Caltagirone › Agrigento 110 km
Santa Ninfa › Caltanissetta 160 km
Etna › Pizzo Calabro 200 km
Montevergine › Pescosannita 60 km
Campo Imperatore › Penne 80 km

Gualdo Tadino › Assisi 30 km
Imola › Ferrara 80 km
Nervesa della Battaglia › S.Vito al Tagliamento 70 km
Zoncolan › Tolmezzo 25 km
Sappada › Trento 190 km

Rovereto › Riva del Garda 25 km
Iseo › Abbiategrasso 110 km
Prato Nevoso › Venaria Reale 130 km
Bardonecchia › Susa 35 km
Cervinia › Roma 760 km

4.565 km of transfers. Wow...

 

[Jungle Cycle]

I think Dumoulin has't committed to go to the Giro yet(?) so it'll be his choice where to face Froome...
Looks like some good opportunities for the non gc throughout the 3 weeks as well.. i like it..
Will it have bonus??

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

I think Dumoulin has't committed to go to the Giro yet(?) so it'll be his choice where to face Froome...
Looks like some good opportunities for the non gc throughout the 3 weeks as well.. i like it..
Will it have bonus??

So I am guessing so far most teama leaders are avoiding the Giro and Froome and heading to the Tour where a weaker Froome may be beatable for the first time in a long time ?

So
Dumoulin ?
Landa ?
Chaves ?
Mollema ?
Pinot ?
Nibali ?
Aru ?
MAL ?

 

[Escarabajo]

I actually really like it. Many of the uphill finishes won't cause great racing between the gc contenders but it causes a lot of variation. There really aren't many extremely boring flat stages and the flat stages are evenly spread. I don't know a lot about the potential wind in Israel so no idea if the 2nd and 3rd stage could be great but after that the pure sprint stages are 7, 10, 13, 17 and 21. You never have many boring days in a row and even these stages mostly have little bumps close to the finish which could make things more interesting. About the mountain stages, I agree that there should be stages with more climbs but it's not that horrible. The only one climb stages where something could happen are the Etna stage and the Prato Nevoso stage and actually these kind of stages have led to pretty good racing in the past, so I don't complain about two of them in a gt (especially because this time they are not on weekends). I'm not sure what to think about stage 9, but it's not a typical one climb stage effort since nothing will happen before the last 4 k. These last 4 kilometers could be really good though considering this stage comes before a rest day. The mountain stages on the 2nd weekend are superb (No matter how the rest of the route looks Zoncolan should always be raced on the penultimate weekend, preferably on stage 14 and with the Zoncolan in the riders legs, the last 40 km of stage 15 could cause havoc) And the last 3 mountain stages are also decent. I won't complain about a one climb stage as the first of 3 consecutive mountain stages, on the Jafferau stage probably everything will come down to the last climb but there could be a scenario like on the penultimate mountain stage of 2016 and finally the Cervinia stage also has a lot of potential as the last mountain stage (although I'm sick of Cervinia)

The route has some flaws but all in all I like it.

You are right, but it sounds like the assessment for La Vuelta, not the Giro. The Giro should keep its personality. Not that the Vuelta has many boring stages. So that's a plus like you said.

 

[Robert5091]

Could be a few more GC guys going to the Giro ...

 

[Robert5091]

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5128246,00.html

US says Jerusalem embassy to open in May, Palestinians furious

Israel will this year celebrate the anniversary on April 19-20. Israel proclaimed independence on May 14, 1948.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new American embassy is being planned for mid-May.

The May opening marks a significant acceleration. Vice President Mike Pence had said previously the embassy would open by the end of 2019, while Tillerson had said it could take years.

Giro to start May 4 ...in Jerusalem.

 

[Nirvana]

The road to Montevergine that pass through Mercogliano is closed due to a landslide and apparently local authorities are doing nothing to fix the problem, if i have understood correctly what the article said RCS has already an alternative rote to climb Montevergine from another side after passing throug Avellino and Benevento.

https://irpiniaoggi.it/attualita-in-irpinia/chiusa-la-statale-per-montevergine-a-rischio-la-tappa-del-giro-ditalia/

 

[Nirvana]

On the Giro website they have already uploaded the definitive profiles of the first four stages.

That's the finale of the ITT.

In stage 2 there is the first sprint only after 22,5 kms, could be controlled for points and bonus seconds.

In the final six kilometers of stage 3 there are nine roundabouts, one U turn (with 1,5 to go) and one 90° turn with 300 meters to go, very tricky final.

(the image is too big to be attached directly)
http://static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/G18_T03_Eilat_ARR_zoom.jpg

In stage 4 they slightly changed the route after the first sprint, after the second KOM and in the final with more rolling terrain around the city after the climb to Caltagirone and a ramp in the last kilometer.