Giro d'Italia 2018 stage 5: Agrigento – Santa Ninfa 153 km

[Red Rick]

Aaaight. Gotta keep the threads going. And because Eshnar makes it so easy for us.

STAGE 5: Agrigento – Santa Ninfa 153 km

May 9th

Technical Overview:
Another nervous stage, on the same kind of roads as the previous one. Starting from Agrigento, the peloton will first travel through a long stretch of 60 km along the coast before heading back to the countryside for a lot of (easy) climbing and descending. The first climb of the day is S.Margherita di Belice (GPM4, 2.8 km at 4.3%), after which a longer descent will lead straight to a second climb, Partanna (GPM4, 9.2 km at 3.7%), still very easy. After its very fast descent and 7 km flat, the pack will hit the last categorized climb of the stage, Poggioreale Vecchia (GPM4, 4.7 km at 5.4%). The official numbers only refer to its second ramp, after Poggioreale, but also the ramp before is comparable and comes almost attached to it. Considering both ramps, it is kind of a serious climb. It is followed, after just a short descent, by another irregular ramp measuring 4.4 km at 3.8%. It tops at around 12 to go, most of which are descending towards the finishing town. The last 2.1 km are very interesting, featuring a 1.3 km at 6.1% climb that starts with around 800m at 8-9%, before flattening out. The last 800m are mostly false flat, descending and ascending up to the finishing line.

Final km

The Climbs:
S.Margherita di Belice (GPM4, 2.8 km at 4.3%)
Hold on just a bit more. I swear there are profiles coming...

Partanna (GPM4, 9.2 km at 3.7%)
Longish but very easy.

Poggioreale Vecchia (GPM4, 4.7 km at 5.4%)
This climb could be considered as a GPM3 if they included the ramp leading to it.

What to Expect:
The finale is really nice, and ideally attackers should be able to get away and go for the win. Gaps will be minimal in any case. Obviously it could just be a reduced sprint, but I don't see real sprinters winning here. There is very little potential to see more before the last 2 km, as the previous climbs aren't that hard and the stage is fairly short.

Valle dei Templi, Agrigento

 

[EroicaStradeBianche]

Wellens vs Battaglin part 2

 

[Laplaz]

Final is a bit easier than today. Wellens ftw again!

 

[Red Rick]

This is a weird finish. I don't think you can get a gap and hold on to the line. It's also distinctively easier than today. This stage is very open I think, and that's why I think the breakaway might take it.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Battaglin.

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

This is a weird finish. I don't think you can get a gap and hold on to the line. It's also distinctively easier than today. This stage is very open I think, and that's why I think the breakaway might take it.

This finish pretty much suits a finisseur i would say.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I thought stage 5 was Etna stage
Oh well this stage will probably be more interesting
I smell a breakaway victory, let's go with Masnada.

 

[yaco]

I suspect there will still be two or three teams who fancy a stage win, so not a day for the breakaway - Think stage 6 is more likely for the breakaway - It's a wide open stage.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Giro d'Italia 2018 stage 5: Agrigento – Santa Ninfa 153

That final categorized climb is interesting. Maybe someone will try to use Froome's weakness and set a super high pace there. 2015 Astana would have done that. I don't know however if anyone has the guts and of course with the Etna looming in the distance some teams might prefer to save their power for the following day.
If the break gets caught I think Wellens will take his 2nd. I agree with Red Rick though and think this will be a day for the break.

Edit: There is a good chance for rain tomorrow. I haven't looked at the descents but the weather might spice things up.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Giro d'Italia 2018 stage 5: Agrigento – Santa Ninfa 153

That final categorized climb is interesting. Maybe someone will try to use Froome's weakness and set a super high pace there. 2015 Astana would have done that. I don't know however if anyone has the guts and of course with the Etna looming in the distance some teams might prefer to save their power for the following day.
If the break gets caught I think Wellens will take his 2nd. I agree with Red Rick though and think this will be a day for the break.

Edit: There is a good chance for rain tomorrow. I haven't looked at the descents but the weather might spice things up.

Rain would make it a guaranteed Wellens vs Nibali battle.

 

[May0maniac]

I don't expect relevant gaps, but it will be raced hard, now that Froome has shown some weakness the other contenders have smelled blood and should try to make this stage a hard one, so that he doesn't have a lot of time to recover before the Etna MTF.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

I don't expect relevant gaps, but it will be raced hard, now that Froome has shown some weakness the other contenders have smelled blood and should try to make this stage a hard one, so that he doesn't have a lot of time to recover before the Etna MTF.

Yes I think it will be raced hard. Michelton might try something but the break could still succeed depending on BMC and some teams that missed out today. BMC would be tempted to give Dennis an easier day before the Etna stage but I don't think he's going to have much say in the matter. Will Sunweb be also tempted to make it hard or wait for Etna ?

 

[Velolover2]

Suits Battaglin very well. And he deserves a win.

In a flat sprint, he should be better than Wellens.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re: Re:

I don't expect relevant gaps, but it will be raced hard, now that Froome has shown some weakness the other contenders have smelled blood and should try to make this stage a hard one, so that he doesn't have a lot of time to recover before the Etna MTF.

Yes I think it will be raced hard. Michelton might try something but the break could still succeed depending on BMC and some teams that missed out today. BMC would be tempted to give Dennis an easier day before the Etna stage but I don't think he's going to have much say in the matter. Will Sunweb be also tempted to make it hard or wait for Etna ?

With Froome obviously struggling they should try and get more seconds and keep the pressure on. He may still come good, he may not, so every bit of time counts.

 

[WheelofGear]

Schachmann solo.

An attack on the steep 12% ramp and TT his way to the finish line.

 

[Brullnux]

I feel this is perfect for someone like Stybar

 

[Valv.Piti]

Nice and unpredictable stage.

Im gonna go with a Maxi S stage win from a late attack, that kid is strong as heck. He reminds me very much of a young Tony Martin.

 

[Red Rick]

Most important info is how technical the final 10km are

 

[rune1107]

Re: Giro d'Italia 2018 stage 5: Agrigento – Santa Ninfa 153

Another nice stage. Don't see this one being decided on the line, so I'm going Kreuziger with an attack within 10k. Would not hurt MS to have him as high as possible in the GC.

 

[Joomla10]

Carapaz will be a big supprise in Giro, this year, im appsolutely sure about that.

 

[Netserk]

Re:

Most important info is how technical the final 10km are

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Most important info is how technical the final 10km are

That turn at ~400 to go

 

[bob.a.feet]

Chaves will win this stage

 

[Tim Booth]

Re: Giro d'Italia 2018 stage 5: Agrigento – Santa Ninfa 153

Rain would make it a guaranteed Wellens vs Nibali battle.

has Nibali ever finished in the top 20 of a World Tour race?

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Giro d'Italia 2018 stage 5: Agrigento – Santa Ninfa 153

Rain would make it a guaranteed Wellens vs Nibali battle.

has Nibali ever finished in the top 20 of a World Tour race?

No

But I need to have my share of baseless hype as well.