Messina - Catania without the Etna would be madness. If they have a medium mountain stage to Messina in stage 5 and Messina - Catania with the Etna in stage 6 the first week will be pretty serious!
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With ~40km from the top of Etna (the pass) to Catania, it is not like it's going to be GC-relevant either way.
Full downhill... They would still have to pedal large parts of it. A lot of regrouping can happen in 30km, especially in the first week when everybody wants to save themselves for later. I mean, if 5 riders or so make it clear over Etna, do we really think they will cooperate and be able to hold the chasers at bay?
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You really don't want to see that?
What puzzles me is what will happen in the rest of the 1st week. I doubt they can go from Sicily to Terminillo in only 3 days and generally I think the only 2 famous mtf's they could put on the first weekend (there are probably a few more which I don't know though) would be Vesuvio or Montevergine, but I think there weren't any rumors about that
You are right, there would probably be regrouping, but what would you rather have? The stage Eshnar posted above, or a stage with the Etna. The gc would at least be sorted after this stage, which is more than what we have in most gc's that early. And moreover you never know what happens. In the first two weeks of the giro 2015 there were attacks whenever the street was uphill and a favorite can always have a bad day. And generally, just look how a stage from Messina to Catania could look like:Netserk said:Full downhill... They would still have to pedal large parts of it. A lot of regrouping can happen in 30km, especially in the first week when everybody wants to save themselves for later. I mean, if 5 riders or so make it clear over Etna, do we really think they will cooperate and be able to hold the chasers at bay?
You really don't want to see that?
What puzzles me is what will happen in the rest of the 1st week. I doubt they can go from Sicily to Terminillo in only 3 days and generally I think the only 2 famous mtf's they could put on the first weekend (there are probably a few more which I don't know though) would be Vesuvio or Montevergine, but I think there weren't any rumors about that
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seems quite clear that sth must be going on with the Terminillo. Perhaps the damage after the earthquake was more severe than I thought.Gigs_98 said:
Which chasers? I don't think there will be a large group after them. Even so, the first 20 km are very technical, so also attacking on the descent is possible. After all we're not talking about a Montevergine, 5 people together at the top would even be quite underwhelmingNetserk said:
Of course I want to see Etna in the race, all I'm saying is that I doubt any of the podium contenders will push really hard so early in the race, and that I don't expect any gaps between the prime contenders. I know there was a headwind, but in 2011 they were about 10 riders within a few seconds behind Rujano and Contador. I just think some people perhaps have higher expectations for the stage than they should. Now, if there were some important teammates in the break of the day...
It certainly has the possibility to be great, mostly for the impact it will have for the following stages, though.
It certainly has the possibility to be great, mostly for the impact it will have for the following stages, though.
Etna at minimum produces a nice breakaway stage win like the 2005 TdF stage Rasmussen took in the Vosges. If the favorites decide to test each other already potentially even more. Perfectly fine compared to a sprint finish no one really needs exactly there.
Maybe it's just a coincidence, but today (around 2 p.m.) I saw two cars owned by RCS, with a Giro d'Italia paintjob on the body, that were parked right in front of my hometowns municipal building (I'm from Innichen/San Candido).
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and you didn't stop by and investigate? Dude what kind of cycling fan are youMayomaniac said:
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Not necessary anyway. It will be a giro completely in Italy and as we all know, South Tyrol isn't ItalyEshnar said:and you didn't stop by and investigate? Dude what kind of cycling fan are youMayomaniac said:
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I say this warrants a perma ban.
Eshnar said:and you didn't stop by and investigate? Dude what kind of cycling fan are youMayomaniac said:
I say this warrants a perma ban.
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I'll ask a few people who could know something tomorrow (sadly my uncle who's working in the tourism office is on a holiday), today I was a bit in a hurry, so I didn't have time to start a serious investigation.Eshnar said:and you didn't stop by and investigate? Dude what kind of cycling fan are youMayomaniac said:
Yeasterday i read some italian forums and i'm more confused than before, local newspapers in Sicily claim three stages for the island, in this case i imagine something like stage two of 2008 from Palermo to southern coast, then a stage for sprinters in the southestern part of island and a short stage from Catania to Messina so they can easily go to Calabria with the ferry at the end of the stage. Giving that Terme Luigiane it's almost certain and will be stage 7 i think we can't expect two stages in Puglia, stage 8 could be from Calabria to Campania (for sprinters? or Montevergine?) and then something like Benevento-Peschici at the end of first week. After the second rest day i expect an Abruzzo mountain stage as replacement of Terminillo and a Marche hilly stage at the beginning of second week but this is only my supposition because in the rumors there is a hole for this area, then could be the ITT of Gualdo Tadino on stage 12 and the early rumored Perugia-Bagno di Romagna and Forlì-Pistoia with an Appenninic stage (Montecatini-Reggio Emilia?) at the end of second week. Seems very strange only one week for Alps with rumored Oropa, Stelvio, Pordoi and Tre Cime
I'll try something based on this (the third week is almost impossible to fill):
4)Palermo > Agrigento (?), hilly
5)Licata (?) > Catania, flat
6)Catania > Messina, short and hilly than ferry at the end to Calabria
7)Reggio (?) > Terme Luigiane, hilly
8)Scalea (?) > Napoli (?) or Montevergine (?)
9)Benevento (?) > Peschici, hilly
Rest
10)Campobasso (?) > Blockhaus or Sulmona (?) > Campo Imperatore, mountain
11)Teramo (?) > Gubbio (?), hilly
12)Gualdo Tadino ITT
13)Perugia-Bagno di Romagna, hilly
14)Forlì-Pistoia, hilly
15)Montecatini (?) > Reggio Emilia, hilly (?)
Rest
16)Castellania > Somewhere north, flat
17)Biella > Oropa, MTT
18)Bergamo > Stelvio, mountain
19)Pordoi or Tre Cime
20)??? > Maniago (via Piancavallo, as early rumored)
21)Venezia, ITT
I'll try something based on this (the third week is almost impossible to fill):
4)Palermo > Agrigento (?), hilly
5)Licata (?) > Catania, flat
6)Catania > Messina, short and hilly than ferry at the end to Calabria
7)Reggio (?) > Terme Luigiane, hilly
8)Scalea (?) > Napoli (?) or Montevergine (?)
9)Benevento (?) > Peschici, hilly
Rest
10)Campobasso (?) > Blockhaus or Sulmona (?) > Campo Imperatore, mountain
11)Teramo (?) > Gubbio (?), hilly
12)Gualdo Tadino ITT
13)Perugia-Bagno di Romagna, hilly
14)Forlì-Pistoia, hilly
15)Montecatini (?) > Reggio Emilia, hilly (?)
Rest
16)Castellania > Somewhere north, flat
17)Biella > Oropa, MTT
18)Bergamo > Stelvio, mountain
19)Pordoi or Tre Cime
20)??? > Maniago (via Piancavallo, as early rumored)
21)Venezia, ITT
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Not gonna happen, you can be 99% sure that Reggio will be stage 12, and from there on we'll have Tortona, Oropa, Bergamo and rest day. third week there will be Stelvio, Piancavallo, Pordoi and another Dolomite stage, in two 2-stages blocks separated by a flat stage in Veneto. That is fixed.Nirvana said:Yeasterday i read some italian forums and i'm more confused than before, local newspapers in Sicily claim three stages for the island, in this case i imagine something like stage two of 2008 from Palermo to southern coast, then a stage for sprinters in the southestern part of island and a short stage from Catania to Messina so they can easily go to Calabria with the ferry at the end of the stage. Giving that Terme Luigiane it's almost certain and will be stage 7 i think we can't expect two stages in Puglia, stage 8 could be from Calabria to Campania (for sprinters? or Montevergine?) and then something like Benevento-Peschici at the end of first week. After the second rest day i expect an Abruzzo mountain stage as replacement of Terminillo and a Marche hilly stage at the beginning of second week but this is only my supposition because in the rumors there is a hole for this area, then could be the ITT of Gualdo Tadino on stage 12 and the early rumored Perugia-Bagno di Romagna and Forlì-Pistoia with an Appenninic stage (Montecatini-Reggio Emilia?) at the end of second week. Seems very strange only one week for Alps with rumored Oropa, Stelvio, Pordoi and Tre Cime
If Reggio will be stage 12 we need to cut more of southern/central Italy, almost two stage in Sicily are confirmed, also Nibali at an event in Messima last week said that are more than one.
Also if you cut Campania you need alike two stages to go to Peschici from Terme Luigiane so nothing change, one mountain stage after Peschici is sure, i think Abruzzo because Terminillo is too far, then a stage along Marche and is stage ten (with two stage in Sicily), so we cut the ITT and Tuscany and we keep only Perugia-Bagno di Romagna and from Forlì we go to Reggio Emilia? ITT in Tortona?
Also if you cut Campania you need alike two stages to go to Peschici from Terme Luigiane so nothing change, one mountain stage after Peschici is sure, i think Abruzzo because Terminillo is too far, then a stage along Marche and is stage ten (with two stage in Sicily), so we cut the ITT and Tuscany and we keep only Perugia-Bagno di Romagna and from Forlì we go to Reggio Emilia? ITT in Tortona?
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it is still unclear how many stages will be in Sicily. The sequence Terme Luigiane - Alberobello - Peschici seems pretty much confirmed (especially the latter two stages), so my guess is that if there are more than one stage in Sicily, it'll be because Terminillo is out. If stage 9 is in Abruzzo (likely) it'll be Gran Sasso probably. I would say we'll have 2 stages in Sicily, if there are three, stage 9 will be Peschici, and they'll skip central Italy, probably starting stage 10 as an ITT in Umbria or Marche. I think in any case Tortona will be road stage.Nirvana said:
In my opinion is almost sure Terminillo out, doesn't fit after Peschici without a long transfer. For the MTF it's between Campo Imperatore (likely) and Blockhaus. If the ITT is confirmed in Umbria also Marche are cut out of the Giro, seems very far from the idea of all 20 regions in the "centesimo" and also far from the "historic places and climbs" in the race.
The "grande partenza" from Sardinia is a bad choice and Sicily too, if they choosed to start from Puglia or Calabria would be better, 5/6 stages more to put in Campania, Lazio, Toscana, Liguria, another climb in southern or central Italy, something in Aosta Valley. The more we know about this percours the more i don't like it
The "grande partenza" from Sardinia is a bad choice and Sicily too, if they choosed to start from Puglia or Calabria would be better, 5/6 stages more to put in Campania, Lazio, Toscana, Liguria, another climb in southern or central Italy, something in Aosta Valley. The more we know about this percours the more i don't like it
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Unfortunately, having more than two ITTs is becoming less and less popular amongst organizers, though.
2016 Giro d'Italiayaco said:
Unfortunately, having more than two ITTs is becoming less and less popular amongst organizers, though
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