Giro d'Italia 2015: Stage 11: Forlì – Imola 153 kms
Start time: 13:00, May 20th
Analysis:
Very tough and atypical stage. We start in Forlì and immediatly we head south into the Appennines for the last time of this year. After 15 km flat, the peloton hits a combo of 5 very tough hills, and three of them are not categorized, just for the lolz. It all starts with the GPM3 Passo del Trebbio (6.3 kms at 6.3%), then the Monte Casale (4.2 kms at 6.7%, with 2 kms at 10%... nothing to see here), then 6 kms flat, then the climb to La Valletta (2.7 kms at 9.8%... no category, yeah, seriously), then the Monte Albano (4.6 kms at 6.1%), and finally the other categorized climb, the GPM3 Valico del Prugno (5.6 kms at 6.2%). After this knackering combo, the riders will have 14 kms of deserved relax, going towards the mythical Autodromo "Enzo e Dino Ferrari", the famous circuit of Imola. Here they enter the final circuit of the stage, which is not equal to the "real" circuit, mind you. The circuit goes like this: starting from the finishing line (which is the same as the real circuit), the riders will face mythical bends like the Tamburello, Tosa, Acque Minerali and Variante Alta. Just after the latter chicane, they leave the circuit to climb the GPM4 Tre Monti (4.4 kms at 4.1%) which features a first couple of kms between 6-8%, then a km of flat, and then a final ramp of 700m at over 7%. This climb will be GPM only once, the third time they'll climb it. After the climb, a descent will bring everybody into the Autodromo again, just at the exit of Rivazza, after which it's just a long straight all the way to the finish. The peloton will enter the final circuit for the first time mid-way, at the very beginning of the climb, and will race it a first time and then other 3 full times.
Expectations:
This stage is in honour of the mighty doc Ferrari, expect total annihilation. Porte to go full ***, Astana to go full ***. Most of Tinkoff will rue the day they first sat their ass on a bike. The rest of the peloton will be pondering the meaning of their suffering and will hate their puny existence


Start time: 13:00, May 20th
Analysis:
Very tough and atypical stage. We start in Forlì and immediatly we head south into the Appennines for the last time of this year. After 15 km flat, the peloton hits a combo of 5 very tough hills, and three of them are not categorized, just for the lolz. It all starts with the GPM3 Passo del Trebbio (6.3 kms at 6.3%), then the Monte Casale (4.2 kms at 6.7%, with 2 kms at 10%... nothing to see here), then 6 kms flat, then the climb to La Valletta (2.7 kms at 9.8%... no category, yeah, seriously), then the Monte Albano (4.6 kms at 6.1%), and finally the other categorized climb, the GPM3 Valico del Prugno (5.6 kms at 6.2%). After this knackering combo, the riders will have 14 kms of deserved relax, going towards the mythical Autodromo "Enzo e Dino Ferrari", the famous circuit of Imola. Here they enter the final circuit of the stage, which is not equal to the "real" circuit, mind you. The circuit goes like this: starting from the finishing line (which is the same as the real circuit), the riders will face mythical bends like the Tamburello, Tosa, Acque Minerali and Variante Alta. Just after the latter chicane, they leave the circuit to climb the GPM4 Tre Monti (4.4 kms at 4.1%) which features a first couple of kms between 6-8%, then a km of flat, and then a final ramp of 700m at over 7%. This climb will be GPM only once, the third time they'll climb it. After the climb, a descent will bring everybody into the Autodromo again, just at the exit of Rivazza, after which it's just a long straight all the way to the finish. The peloton will enter the final circuit for the first time mid-way, at the very beginning of the climb, and will race it a first time and then other 3 full times.



Expectations:
This stage is in honour of the mighty doc Ferrari, expect total annihilation. Porte to go full ***, Astana to go full ***. Most of Tinkoff will rue the day they first sat their ass on a bike. The rest of the peloton will be pondering the meaning of their suffering and will hate their puny existence