- Sep 8, 2015
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A very different Giro d'Italia - How will the absence of Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar shape this year's race?
- Jul 10, 2014
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- Jun 30, 2022
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Fun fact: There‘s a 32m and a 20 m ski jumping hill at today‘s finish. I don‘t think that will help the racers to descend, though.
I‘ve actually been up the final ramp of today before and I think it is one of the most consistent, comfortable 12% climbs. Pretty nice little hill.
- May 29, 2019
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All in all this is in my opinion a perfect opportunity for Giro to differentiate themself a bit. Like with gravel cycling fans do love an occasional wet and cold conditions and fans do just love snow. So from time to time to intentionally include a high altitude MTF with guaranteed snow. Terms being we are doing it in case of cold or wet. Plan B, likely to finish at some point prior to the summit in case of sub zero temperatures. As that implies ice on the road and that would be just stupid. Fans would love it but still it would be stupid.
As for including descending in such conditions, that is asking for trouble and cancelling that is not just so woke thing to do, it's an appropriate thing to do and it doesn't have anything to do with balls and things like that, or history. It's just about preventing the madness. Madness of cycling fans gone amiss.
As for including descending in such conditions, that is asking for trouble and cancelling that is not just so woke thing to do, it's an appropriate thing to do and it doesn't have anything to do with balls and things like that, or history. It's just about preventing the madness. Madness of cycling fans gone amiss.
- Apr 30, 2011
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I'd very much like to see Monte Pana again, but coming from Sella.
- Feb 18, 2015
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I honestly think we should now all calm down a bit. Whether it was for the right reason or not, the correct decision was taken today. I really don't think a day like today will ever be used as a precedent by riders when organizers can easily point at yesterdays plan which would have meant a cancellation of Umbrailpass anyway. I agree some stupid decisions with possible long term effects have been taken in previous years, but today is not an example of that.
- Jan 8, 2020
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- Feb 20, 2012
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The open letter yesterday wasnt about snow or EWP.
The precedent for cancellations out of petulance was set years ago
I blame Blythe. Thats my clonclusion and I will put all my frustration into it with snidy remarks throughout whats left of the stage.
Damn you Blythe!! You should ride Umbrail as a sacrificial lamb and suffer.
Damn you Blythe!! You should ride Umbrail as a sacrificial lamb and suffer.
- Sep 2, 2011
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Petulant Whiners United vs Petulant Riders United.
Only one will remain.
- Feb 20, 2010
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I did mention the speed in passing, but the main factor with that was more that yes, riders can get frozen much quicker by not being in muscular motion, but the road conditions will deteriorate to the limit far before the temperature becomes the primary issue.
As I mention, I can't find a similar minimum temperature limit in the Alpine skiing rulebook on a quick glance, but I'd be surprised if they go as low as biathlon/XC does, because speed is higher so windchill is more significant - although an Alpine skier's run is likely to be significantly shorter than the exposure to such temperatures an XC skier will have with a 50k (or more on the SkiClassics circuit).
I don't think cyclists are likely to be going so much faster than Alpine skiers (especially in the speed disciplines) that the wind chill difference would make it considerably different, so with equivalent equipment I wouldn't believe that cycling couldn't be theoretically possible, in a vacuum, at temperatures akin to those we see in the Alpine Ski World Cup - but in the real world, at those temperatures, the roads will have crossed the threshold of being unsafe for competition.
- Sep 12, 2022
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Alpine skiers are used to those conditions, cyclists aren't. They aren't used to riding around 0 degrees when descending on roads with ice. It's just dangerous.
- Aug 12, 2012
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What they call estreme weather conditions?
I understand wind with gust of 70 km/h are extreme and need to stop. I remeber an stage odf Tour of California with 50 dedrees, and they made it. If they need to go with an Anorak or like an Skimo or with 30 wide wheels it is alowed..if someone dont want to go on can go home.
This looks day by day more a model pass and should be cycling.
If someone show me it is snowing with strong wind that thy cant see at the descent, well, I shup up. But I am not sure about.
Well ; I just watched the forecast: it is true that heavy raion was at the summit of Stelvio, the only m omentt this week with heavy rain. But just heavy rain, good temperatue, no wind....I understand anyway that a descent like that with heavy rain (12 litres per hour) could be a problem more than normal.
I understand wind with gust of 70 km/h are extreme and need to stop. I remeber an stage odf Tour of California with 50 dedrees, and they made it. If they need to go with an Anorak or like an Skimo or with 30 wide wheels it is alowed..if someone dont want to go on can go home.
This looks day by day more a model pass and should be cycling.
If someone show me it is snowing with strong wind that thy cant see at the descent, well, I shup up. But I am not sure about.
Well ; I just watched the forecast: it is true that heavy raion was at the summit of Stelvio, the only m omentt this week with heavy rain. But just heavy rain, good temperatue, no wind....I understand anyway that a descent like that with heavy rain (12 litres per hour) could be a problem more than normal.
- Feb 20, 2010
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The point was that the temperatures weren't the problem for the riders, but for the conditions because the roads would become dangerous.
Low temperature protocols exist in XC skiing and biathlon for the sake of the competitors' health, with things like frostbite becoming factors. There is simply not a need for an equivalent in cycling, and including the cold rather than the road conditions within Hansen's letter is a misnomer and an irrelevance because sports exist where they routinely deal with lower temperatures than anything the riders will face, whereas the real issue with cycling competition at low temperatures is with the road safety.
Like, I point that out in literally the last paragraph of the post you're quoting. That in theory cycling at sub-zero temperatures would be fine as equipment from wintersports show elite physical competition at those temperatures is possible, but in reality it would not be possible not because of physiological reasons but for environmental reasons, because the roads would be unsafe to compete on.
- Jun 30, 2022
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The interviewer now has to put gas station into every interview, because the riders are gathered at a gas station. LOL
- May 29, 2019
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- Aug 29, 2009
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the important part from the RCS press release is missing here:
"A few minutes before the start, the weather conditions deteriorated further and so the Commission decided to fall back on Option 3 - In the event of extreme weather conditions, the stage will be neutralized up to a place where the safety conditions are met.
On today's meeting, an agreement was reached on moving the race from Livigno with a town parade. Despite an handshake between the parties, the athletes did not show up at the start in Livigno."
-> no more shortened stages to be expected
- Feb 9, 2013
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Alpine skiers are usually also a lot bulkier, so they have their own natural padding (muscle+ fat) to rely on. A skinny, geriatric climber like Nairo has, well, very little to protect him from the cold. Makes me want to knit him a sweater seeing as there is no riding to watch right now...
- Feb 16, 2010
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