Giro d’Italia 2024, Stage 16: Livigno – Santa Cristina Valgardena/Sankt Christina in Gröden (Monte Pana), 202.0k 206.0k

[QueenStagiaire]

The riders who are concerned with hyphotermia, the cold, or the tricky descent, they can always abandon the race before the start.

Yes, but there is actual snow on the road at the top of Foscagno plus possibly at the top of Umbrail and that is not good enough conditions for racing.

 

[Brullnux]

The riders who are concerned with hyphotermia, the cold, or the tricky descent, they can always abandon the race before the start.

Riders shouldn't race when the temperature is below zero for very extended periods of time, let's be real. There's no entertainment value and there is a genuine risk to rider safety

 

[Jungle Cycle]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1792859242572947605

View: https://x.com/inrng/status/1792859242572947605

 

[peterfin]

Possibly, but we have very few attempts at the double anyway (one every 4-5 years), so doesn't change much in the grand scheme of things.


I doubt ASO would be on board with it.
Besides, the Giro d'Italia has a very distinctive identity (and brand image) as a spring race in Italy. I'm not sure RCS would like the Giro to be permanently postponed to September.

The identity and brand image may change if the weather impacts the race every year.

 

[memyselfandI]

The riders who are concerned with hyphotermia, the cold, or the tricky descent, they can always abandon the race before the start.

-1

 

[Froome]

Riders shouldn't race when the temperature is below zero for very extended periods of time, let's be real. There's no entertainment value and there is a genuine risk to rider safety

There's no risk safety when the sprinters are doing the things they do in the last kilometres of every flat stage? There's no risks when they do descents like a mad man, like they did on Pays Basque without any reason?

Risks are part of the cycling.

 

[Brullnux]

The identity and brand image may change if the weather impacts the race every year.

Tbf this has been happening for a decade now, it's a fully ingrained part of Giro culture

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Hopefully they now start designing good mountains stages in different parts of the country instead of the annual Stelvio/grand Bernard PR stunt that will inevitably not be ridden

 

[Arked]

Some people here seem to be upset that riders won't risk their health and maybe lives for our amusement. At least more than they usually do, because of course cycling is dangerous sport. It doesn't mean we have to be stupid about it... Some situations should be avoided.

 

[Froome]

-1

They can abandon the race if they can’t sustain the bad weather.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Explain the significance ?

Like I said on a previous page, the tunnel is owned by a private Swiss company, it's super tiny, it's one way, and you would have to spontaneously block it for hours. It would be a way bigger danger to cycle through with a peleton than any snow or rain on any pass. If someone crashes you don't have exit options or ways to reach them quickly. I also don't think the Engadin Kraftwerke give a *** about the Giro to even consider changing their business as usual for such a charade.

But either way, apparently cycling anywhere before Prads is out of question anyway, so they don't do the start in Livigno nor cycle through that tunnel (which I guess was never an option)

Before I thought they'll send the non race relevant cars (media, some support stuff) through that tunnel and try to get over Umbrail by busses as quickly as possible (might take ages). Now I think they might be tempted to send the riders through the tunnel by cars with just the support cars behind because Umbrailpass with everyone still takes ages.
I guess that's also where the confusion and hold up is coming from right now, teams don't know wether to go through the tunnel just by cars or get everyone on the busses over Umbrail.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

So what is actually going on? My TV channel says "this event has ended" after the riders got on the bus or team car.

 

[Netserk]

So what is actually going on? My TV channel says "this event has ended" after the riders got on the bus or team car.

They will start the shortened stage in ~1½ hours.

 

[SafeBet]

The identity and brand image may change if the weather impacts the race every year.

That still leaves you dealing with ASO. Vuelta massively benefits from being after the Tour because GC riders crashing or getting ill at the Tour will likely ride the Vuelta. Move the Vuelta to May and I doubt it attracts the same field.

 

[roundabout]

Really skeptical about the 2PM restart as there does not seem to be plan in place how to get everyone/everything out of Livigno.

 

[Brullnux]

That still leaves you dealing with ASO. Vuelta massively benefits from being after the Tour because GC riders crashing or getting ill at the Tour will likely ride the Vuelta. Move the Vuelta to May and I doubt it attracts the same field.

Being in September also impacts the Vuelta negatively, though, as it feels like an afterthought and is basically never the main target of someone's season. The fact you have to make sacrifices to ride the Giro gives it more prestige, even if in reality it means you get a weaker (but fresher) field.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

So what is actually going on? My TV channel says "this event has ended" after the riders got on the bus or team car.

Apparently start in Spondigna is a done deal. I was just able to listen to a conversation between Schachmann and Geschke: I think holdup right now is that RCS wants the riders to do a fake start in Livigno to please the crowd and the city, ride until the Munta Schera tunnel and then get in the cars (cars not busses, because busses dont fit through that). Riders don't want that because they'd get soaking wet, then get into cars where unlike busses they dont have their warm clothing etc.
So holdup right now seems to be how everyone plus busses etc. get to Spondigna.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

They can abandon the race if they can’t sustain the bad weather.

Do you live in the real world? Or some fantasy. It's 2024, you can't treat top sportsmen like serfs anymore.........

 

[roundabout]

Apparently start in Spondigna is a done deal. I was just able to listen to a conversation between Schachmann and Geschke: I think holdup right now is that RCS wants the riders to do a fake start in Livigno to please the crowd and the city, ride until the Munta Schera tunnel and then get in the cars (cars not busses, because busses dont fit through that). Riders don't want that because they'd get soaking wet, then get into cars where unlike busses they dont have their warm clothing etc.
So holdup right now seems to be how everyone plus busses etc. get to Spondigna.

IMO there is no point in doing a fake start as they are already on the edge of town near the lake and to get to the tunnel they would be going in the opposite direction to the original planned parade route (that is away from Livigno and any people).

 

[SafeBet]

Apparently start in Spondigna is a done deal. I was just able to listen to a conversation between Schachmann and Geschke: I think holdup right now is that RCS wants the riders to do a fake start in Livigno to please the crowd and the city, ride until the Munta Schera tunnel and then get in the cars (cars not busses, because busses dont fit through that). Riders don't want that because they'd get soaking wet, then get into cars where unlike busses they dont have their warm clothing etc.
So holdup right now seems to be how everyone plus busses etc. get to Spondigna.

The holdup ended a while ago. Cars have left Livigno.

 

[CyclistAbi]

They're willing to hurt fan feelings, and they're willing to hurt each other by riding like maniacs, but they're not willing to get a little bit damp or cold.

On the other hand, if we look at Giro 2023, the conditions through and through the race were just horrible. And they still went and did it. So in my opinion it's not so bad, compared to the "old times".

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Apparently start in Spondigna is a done deal. I was just able to listen to a conversation between Schachmann and Geschke: I think holdup right now is that RCS wants the riders to do a fake start in Livigno to please the crowd and the city, ride until the Munta Schera tunnel and then get in the cars (cars not busses, because busses dont fit through that). Riders don't want that because they'd get soaking wet, then get into cars where unlike busses they dont have their warm clothing etc.
So holdup right now seems to be how everyone plus busses etc. get to Spondigna.

Thank you for the update!

Max, the channel I'm watching in the States, has this blue screen of death that first said "the event has ended", now it's saying "the program will start soon". With Max "soon" could mean anything, but at least things are looking a bit more hopeful now.

 

[hayneplane]

The fake start idea was completely ridiculous and would have been a worst of all worlds pointlessly performative action that did nothing for the racing and just ensured wet and miserable riders.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

On the other hand, if we look at Giro 2023, the conditions through and through the race were just horrible. And they still went and did it. So in my opinion it's not so bad, compared to the "old times".

But they didn‘t… They cut a climb in a weird exchange deal for accepting a different descent.

 

[Netserk]

IMO there is no point in doing a fake start as they are already on the edge of town near the lake and to get to the tunnel they would be going in the opposite direction to the original planned parade route (that is away from Livigno and any people).

If it matters for the host fee whether or not they do a fake start, there is a (good) point.