Giro d'Italia 2018 stage 17: Riva del Garda – Iseo 155 km

[axl]

I don't get why this should be an obvious breakaway stage.

Yes there is a serious climb at the start but :
1) it isn't that hard : bar a km at 7,5% at the start, it's only 3 km near 7,5% near the summit. Much easier than the climb at the start of stage 10, where bennett managed to remain with the favourites that rode hard, and where the others sprinter were with chaves only 2 or 3 minutes behind, I expect the "grupetto" to only lose 2/3 minutes maximum with a easy but steady pace.
2) the rest of the stage is quite easy. 2 small climbs far from the finish line, only 1500m of elevation (bar the 500m of the first climb).

So I expect the sprinter teams could let the breakaway take 2/3 minutes on the first climb, without tiring themselves and keep some strength to control the escapees the rest of the stage. Which teams ? Obviously QS and Bora, but I think lottoNL and EF could have an interest to participate.
The problem would be if a big breakaway is formed, too big to control. But then some guys in the top20 should try to get in, and other teams could help the sprinter team to protect a top10.

 

[LPP68!]

Re: Giro d'Italia 2018 stage 17: Riva del Garda – Iseo 155 k

[quote="
Nobody is going to work in a break with Bennett in it. Except maybe Yates.

Why not? If a rider who does not have a sprint to win from anybody somewhat fast, it does not matter if his breakaway companions have some speed, or a lot of speed. He will have to get rid of them anyway. If he sees an opportunity to do so, he has an incentive to make the break stay away.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

I don't get why this should be an obvious breakaway stage.

Yes there is a serious climb at the start but :
1) it isn't that hard : bar a km at 7,5% at the start, it's only 3 km near 7,5% near the summit. Much easier than the climb at the start of stage 10, where bennett managed to remain with the favourites that rode hard, and where the others sprinter were with chaves only 2 or 3 minutes behind, I expect the "grupetto" to only lose 2/3 minutes maximum with a easy but steady pace.
2) the rest of the stage is quite easy. 2 small climbs far from the finish line, only 1500m of elevation (bar the 500m of the first climb).

So I expect the sprinter teams could let the breakaway take 2/3 minutes on the first climb, without tiring themselves and keep some strength to control the escapees the rest of the stage. Which teams ? Obviously QS and Bora, but I think lottoNL and EF could have an interest to participate.
The problem would be if a big breakaway is formed, too big to control. But then some guys in the top20 should try to get in, and other teams could help the sprinter team to protect a top10.

It's just that these kind of stages especially in the third week so often go to the break. Big breaks form, most sprinter teams are tired, many sprinters aren't even in the race anymore so the peloton just gives up at some point and the break gains minutes. You can find numerous examples for that. I agree though that a break win is anything but certain. QS has a whole team dedicated to Viviani after all and if they get a little help from other teams and the break isn't huge the sprinters might get their chance for glory.

 

[Salvarani]

They will show stage from beginning?

 

[Netserk]

Yes, the stage will start 13:25.

 

[fauniera]

Re: Re:

QS has a whole team dedicated to Viviani after all and if they get a little help from other teams and the break isn't huge the sprinters might get their chance for glory.

The best way for Viviani to secure the maglia ciclamino is to not chase the break today. (Except Bennett is in the break of course.)

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

QS has a whole team dedicated to Viviani after all and if they get a little help from other teams and the break isn't huge the sprinters might get their chance for glory.

The best way for Viviani to secure the maglia ciclamino is to not chase the break today. (Except Bennett is in the break of course.)

Which is why Bennett totally should go for the break.

 

[The Barb]

Re: Re:

QS has a whole team dedicated to Viviani after all and if they get a little help from other teams and the break isn't huge the sprinters might get their chance for glory.

The best way for Viviani to secure the maglia ciclamino is to not chase the break today. (Except Bennett is in the break of course.)

Which is why Bennett totally should go for the break.

Except that, if he does, QS will totally chase it down after the first climb, leading to another break forming which, as was pointed out earlier, Bora won’t have the strength to chase down.

As Fauniera says, QS should be happy to let the break go.

The more I think about it, this must be a breakaway day.

 

[MartinGT]

LLS FTW!

 

[axl]

Re: Re:

QS has a whole team dedicated to Viviani after all and if they get a little help from other teams and the break isn't huge the sprinters might get their chance for glory.

The best way for Viviani to secure the maglia ciclamino is to not chase the break today. (Except Bennett is in the break of course.)

Which is why Bennett totally should go for the break.

Except that, if he does, QS will totally chase it down after the first climb, leading to another break forming which, as was pointed out earlier, Bora won’t have the strength to chase down.

As Fauniera says, QS should be happy to let the break go.

The more I think about it, this must be a breakaway day.

The best chance of a QS stage win today remains a sprint. I can't see them avoiding a very probable win to secure the point classification they have few chances to lose. And the best way to secure it could be to win today.

And I'm not really sure Bennett wants it. Anyway we'll see if he targets the first TV (56km, 46 after the summit top) that brings (if i'm not mistaken) 20 points.

 

[search]

Re: Re:

QS has a whole team dedicated to Viviani after all and if they get a little help from other teams and the break isn't huge the sprinters might get their chance for glory.

The best way for Viviani to secure the maglia ciclamino is to not chase the break today. (Except Bennett is in the break of course.)

Which is why Bennett totally should go for the break.

Except that, if he does, QS will totally chase it down after the first climb, leading to another break forming which, as was pointed out earlier, Bora won’t have the strength to chase down.

As Fauniera says, QS should be happy to let the break go.

The more I think about it, this must be a breakaway day.

The best chance of a QS stage win today remains a sprint. I can't see them avoiding a very probable win to secure the point classification they have few chances to lose. And the best way to secure it could be to win today.

And I'm not really sure Bennett wants it. Anyway we'll see if he targets the first TV (56km, 46 after the summit top) that brings (if i'm not mistaken) 20 points.

Bennett hasn't scored a single point yet at the intermediate sprints, so it's obviously not a major target for him. Stybar said that he wants to try to join the breakaway, so (although plans may change) going for a sprint doesn't seem to be their first option today indeed.

 

[DanielSong39]

I'm sure it's possible to split the peloton in two in the first climb. It should also be possible for an escape group to form.

Probably a quiet day GC-wise but lots of things can happen stage-wise...

 

[Laplaz]

Dear god, please a break finally.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Half of this first climb is in a tunnel isn't it ?

 

[Pricey_sky]

QS rider with a mechanical out the back. That’s one way to delay the start and help Viviani.

 

[Yingge]

Re:

Half of this first climb is in a tunnel isn't it ?

Two in fact for a total of 4.7km, starts just after km 0.

 

[Stella0596]

Abandon Meintjes

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Half of this first climb is in a tunnel isn't it ?

Two in fact for a total of 4.7km, starts just after km 0.

There's a perfect gravel alternative for the first half, you'd only be stuck with 800m of tunnel I think.

 

[MartinGT]

Re:

QS rider with a mechanical out the back. That’s one way to delay the start and help Viviani.

Is that why they're not currently racing?

Talk about planned.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Re: Giro d'Italia 2018 stage 17: Riva del Garda – Iseo 155 k

They should turn around and restart the race, this looks so planned by QS to get viviani up this hill.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

QS rider with a mechanical out the back. That’s one way to delay the start and help Viviani.

Is that why they're not currently racing?

Talk about planned.

How is that even possible?

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

QS rider with a mechanical out the back. That’s one way to delay the start and help Viviani.

Is that why they're not currently racing?

Talk about planned.

How is that even possible?

 

[Salvarani]

They must have done the whole climb soon smh

 

[Yingge]

Are those tunnels lit, or dark?

Edit - Dimly lit it seems from Street View.

 

[Pricey_sky]

They didn’t start until 1.40 local time, 15 minutes late as they were waiting for guys who had mechanicals.

It’s too coincidental not to be BS by Quickstep.