Giro d'Italia 2013, stage 18: Oderzo - Val Di Zoldo 161 km

[HelloDolly]

No Break as UAE will ride fro the stage and for Almeida to gain time
Ineos have only 4 riders with G so wont control
Roglic is injured

 

[JosefK]

Thomas to fly up the Coi like a younger Valverde on the Mur de Huy, putting the remainder of this Giro in the bag.

 

[gregrowlerson]

I might stay up to watch this stage just to complain throughout.

 

[movingtarget]

Looks like a nice stage. With his weakened team, Thomas won't want a too aggressive stage but both he and Almeida will want to increase the gap to Roglic if they can so the final climb should be active at least. Think a break might survive on this one but it will probably be a close gap.

 

[Rob5091]

I can see Roglic losing more time if UAE & Ineos want to ride. Be interesting to see who goes in the break - a good one and the win is theirs.

 

[Leinster]

I like that final 15km profile, gives a lot of opportunity for attacks. Someone who gets a small gap on that 19% section on Coi will suddenly look like they have a big gap on the descent.

I would hope that if any of the GC riders show a sign of weakness, the others won’t hesitate to put the boot in. It’s a good chance for some of the “other” top 10 riders (Caruso, Kamna, Dunbar, Carthy) to make some racing moves, rather than just a pure w/kg-contest uphill attack.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Geraint Thomas will win this Giro.

But instead of an asterisk alongside of him, there will be a dot.

 

[tobydawq]

Geraint Thomas will win this Giro.

But instead of an asterisk alongside of him, there will be a dot.

What does that mean?

 

[peterfin]

What does that mean?

That he stops racing?

 

[gregrowlerson]

What does that mean?

It means that I love you man.

Apart from the hating dogs thing.

 

[gregrowlerson]

That he stops racing?

"When did he start?"

LS, probably.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Savoldelli flying away on the Duran descent was magnificent. That '05 Giro was an all-timer

Savoldelli was a great example of riding smartly and utilizing your abilities to the maximum. Despite not being the strongest rider uphill (but strong enough) he won the Giro thanks to amazing descending skills (the best I've seen) and not going over his uphill limits:
1) Descent from Duran, when gaining advantage before the final climb enabled him to ride his own tempo and hold Basso's wheel when he was caught (unlike Simoni) and win the stage.
2) Finestre stage, when he was dropped almost instantly and rode his own tempo the whole monstrous climb (behind a super strong Simoni, Rujano, Di Luca group) but managed to reduce his loss on the descent and stayed ahead in the GC (two of the attackers actually paid for their efforts at the end, only Rujano stayed strong).

BTW, the drama of that Giro was great indeed. Strength and drama of Basso (who lost like 40 minutes on Stelvio due to stomach virus) and incredible GC fight at the end between 4 riders. Not only climbs but also descents were important there, thanks to Il Falco.

 

[staubsauger]

The whole Zoldano is know because tons of people who emigrated (and ended up all over the world) from there worked as ice cream makers, even back in the day when Austria-Hungary was still a thing.

Interesting. I always thought that Italians in Germany, the Netherlands and the US are mainly Sicilians!?

 

[staubsauger]

Savoldelli was a great example of riding smartly and utilizing your abilities to the maximum. Despite not being the strongest rider uphill (but strong enough) he won the Giro thanks to amazing descending skills (the best I've seen) and not going over his uphill limits:
1) Descent from Duran, when gaining advantage before the final climb enabled him to ride his own tempo and hold Basso's wheel when he was caught (unlike Simoni) and win the stage.
2) Finestre stage, when he was dropped almost instantly and rode his own tempo the whole monstrous climb (behind a super strong Simoni, Rujano, Di Luca group) but managed to reduce his loss on the descent and stayed ahead in the GC (two of the attackers actually paid for their efforts at the end, only Rujano stayed strong).

BTW, the drama of that Giro was great indeed. Strength and drama of Basso (who lost like 40 minutes on Stelvio due to stomach virus) and incredible GC fight at the end between 4 riders. Not only climbs but also descents were important there, thanks to Il Falco.

2005 IMHO was the best Giro d'Italia of the last 20 years. Even better than the slightly overrated 2010 edition. Even the first week was quite interesting with Bettini and Di Luca . From Zoldo Alto on the story indeed was super exciting. Cunego cracks. Basso completely melts down on Stelvio. Rujano cautiously rides himself back in contention in the overall. Savoldelli strikes back in the TT, just before the big showdown on Finestre.

That stage was like a thriller. Even when in the end nothing changed in the overall standings. You couldn't know that watching it. I remember sitting in front of the TV as a kid and thinking "Wow. This is as thrilling as a crime movie!"

 

[Krzysztof_O]

That stage was like a thriller. Even when in the end nothing changed in the overall standings. You couldn't know that watching it. I remember sitting in front of the TV as a kid and thinking "Wow. This is as thrilling as a crime movie!"

Also those no color images of top riders on Finestre strada and references to Coppi & Bartali times were cool.

 

[staubsauger]

Also those no color images of top riders on Finestre strada and references to Coppi & Bartali times were cool.

I was like 1.54m as a 15 year old. Seeing that little guy Rujano being the strongest in the mountains instead of all those big, powerful guys truly gave me some encouragement!

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

This is also the last good option to do anything on the descents. In addition to the little descent into Cibiana discussed by @Mayomaniac, the descent of Cibiana itself is reasonably technical and that of Coi, while short, is narrow and twisty. Roglic or Caruso may try something.

Obvious attempts by the organisers to make Thomas overcautious on the descents by plastering his beautiful wife's name on signs all over the place.

 

[RedheadDane]

Tactical meetings at Quickstep are quite simple:

"Pieter, stay with Ilan."

 

[Mayomaniac]

Interesting. I always thought that Italians in Germany, the Netherlands and the US are mainly Sicilians!?

Overall yes, but it's not like life in those rural mountain areas was much better. The areas of the Cadore and Comelico where tourism is still not big are still really poor, one only has to look at how worn down most of the houses are.

 

[Blanco]

It will depend on UAE if GC guys wins the stage or break takes it. If Almeida thinks he's the strongest, his team will probably control the stage. Ineos will not chase because they lacks the men, and Jumbo could only drill it on Coi if Roglic feels really well.

 

[pastronef]

No Break as UAE will ride fro the stage and for Almeida to gain time
Ineos have only 4 riders with G so wont control
Roglic is injured

never underestimate him. I fear him a lot. I don't want Jumbo to win. no hate, just I don't like them.

 

[Aimar16]

I don't think Rog will get dropped today. It's better to let the stage go to the break than risk Rog taking the bonus seconds.

 

[Offline]

No Break as UAE will ride fro the stage and for Almeida to gain time
Ineos have only 4 riders with G so wont control
Roglic is injured

Agree. It'll be up to UAE today.

 

[tobydawq]

Isn't this thread coming 10 years too late?

 

[topcat]

I expect everyone to get dropped today including Almida who will win the stage.