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

[Brullnux]

That's hardly a good argument.

Realistically Hansen has form for it. The end outcome is the best compromise possible, but we know that even if the temperature were five degrees more Hansen would have been pushing for the stage to start at Prato.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I think the end decision is a fair one, the weather is a lot worse that forecast. Riding for 20km in the snow and then descending is a bit risky, too.

Yeah, you can't demand that the descent through snow and on potentially icy roads.

 

[matteof93]

guys this is the webcam on Foscagno...it is clearly not safe for the riders, but also for the cars (they do not have winter tires, probably they have 4-season tires or even summer tires)

meanwhile, at the top of Stelvio

 

[Brullnux]

Yeah, you can't demand that the descent through snow and on potentially icy roads.

I also think hypothermia/loss of control of bikes becomes an issue when the entire first ~three hours of the stage are below freezing. If it had just been Umbrail from 2200m to Prato that had this weather it's a much more minor health concern.

 

[Froome]

Apparently from the pass.

The conditions are good, they can race there.

 

[memyselfandI]

What a farce

Can they make Blythe ride the Umbrail pass at least? Either him alone or the riders. I would be quite pleased with that arrangement.

I don't like Blythe always as a commentator, but he's been in the Giro thrice and finished once and done Galibiers and Bardonecchias aso in race circumstances..

 

[Mayomaniac]

I think like you said a few days ago, they allocate risks and responsibilities so badly.

Part of me thinks it's because they fear that nobody will host Giro stages if they have strict contrats that take everything into consideration.
At least that's my experience when it comes to the reason for having lenient contracts in the publishing business ("of we put those clauses in the contract nobody will want to work with us")

 

[Rackham]

Riding through street furniture at 60km/h in a bunch sprint is borderline insanity but I never see stages cancelled because of that. I mean for me the worst part is the gaslighting from those 'influencers/journalists' who support rider strikes/protests & route changes due to weather conditions, i.e. "if you want them to race you don't care about safety!".

But cycling is impossible to completely 'fix' in terms of safety because it's inherently a dangerous sport. Every corner, every descent, every straight road with trees on either side, every manhole cover etc. is potential injury-in-the-making.

The first step towards better safety is rider behavior on the road in the race, not before it via a protest.

Just my opinion.

 

[Scarponi]

LMAO they're really riding through Munt la Schera?

Guess I'm a massive idiot, would've never thought that would happen, was just about to post why not lol

Explain the significance ?

 

[Jungle Cycle]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1792856293805261037

View: https://x.com/inrng/status/1792856293805261037

 

[Froome]

It should be decided yesterday that they start from the valley. Now it's a shitshow. Descending in these conditions is out of question. Dangerous for everyone involved, not only riders but also motorbikes etc.

Maybe is more safe doing a descent on this conditions than doing descents like a mad man, like they usually do. On that situations they are not concerned.

Cycling is dangerous, always were, it's part of the race.

 

[AmRacer]

Another calm day for Pogi, will be good for TdF.

 

[Netserk]

The decision now, given the likely weather conditions, is fine.

If this was the implementation of the plan from yesterday (which indeed did included this as an option) without interference by the anti-cycling union, but solely the decision of the UCI Commissaire and RCS, I would support it 100 %.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

guys this is the webcam on Foscagno...it is clearly not safe for the riders, but also for the cars (they do not have winter tires, probably they have 4-season tires or even summer tires)

Maybe there should be some sort of designated parking area where they can change the tires.

 

[AmRacer]

The decision now, given the likely weather conditions, is fine.

If this was the implementation of the plan from yesterday (which indeed did included this as an option) without interference by the anti-cycling union, but solely the decision of the UCI Commissaire and RCS, I would support it 100 %.

You don't seem to care much for the riders.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I wake up (3am in my parts), turn on my TV, see snow and bundled up, confused riders getting on buses - is this the Giro?

Can't wait to see how this turns out...

 

[hrotha]

guys this is the webcam on Foscagno...it is clearly not safe for the riders, but also for the cars (they do not have winter tires, probably they have 4-season tires or even summer tires)

This is neither here nor there but what's with teams coming thoroughly unprepared and then expecting (nay, demanding) to be bailed out. Don't they have snow chains? It's kinda like when riders refuse to wear their stupendously expensive high-tech winter gear but rather choose to race wearing nothing but a thong and then they're like "ugh it's a bit chilly this is inhumane"

 

[Netserk]

That's hardly a good argument.

Agreed, but the riders already wanted to cancel the climbs yesterday when the forecasts showed raceable conditions.

 

[search]

The decision now, given the likely weather conditions, is fine.

If this was the implementation of the plan from yesterday (which indeed did included this as an option) without interference by the anti-cycling union, but solely the decision of the UCI Commissaire and RCS, I would support it 100 %.

I agree, those conditions don't look good enough to do the full stage to me either.

Problem is the whole timing and management of those things again. The team busses are long gone, for example. Only Bora and Bahrain have theirs still at start, but this means it won't make it to the finish (where Bora has booked hotel rooms instead).

 

[SafeBet]

Wouldn't this make it near impossible for anyone to do the Giro/Tour double, though?

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.

Swapping the Vuelta and Giro would be better. The weather in Spain is typically better in May and it's less of a high mountain race. The risks of extreme heat during the Vuelta are also minimized.

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.

 

[Red Rick]

We have multiple precedents for that kind of behavior, so it's not far fetched to assume that.

Pordoi, Fedaia, Gran San Bernardo, Asti...

 

[Brullnux]

Giro in September would be trash.

 

[Netserk]

You don't seem to care much for the riders.

I care as much as riders do for the fans.

 

[Froome]

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

 

[Elos Anjos]

What we need is more climate change.