Giro d'Italia 2019 rumours

[Eshnar]

Re: Giro 2019 Route Rumours

Cuneo Pinerolo is unfortunately completely useless at that point in the race. I hope the Courmayeur stage will deliver but I fear the riders won't already go for long range attacks at that point in the race and San Carlo is hard but no Mortirolo. Interestingly this concern basically counts for the whole 2nd week. Probably only one flat stage but at the same time the potential that after the time trial the gc will stay unchanged until the third week.
All in all it looks like a good route though.

San Carlo is no Mortirolo but it's pretty close. Furthermore, it peaks at no more than 25 km from the finish, 15 of which will be descent. Hardly a long range attack.

 

[railxmig]

Re: Giro 2019 Route Rumours

Cuneo Pinerolo is unfortunately completely useless at that point in the race. I hope the Courmayeur stage will deliver but I fear the riders won't already go for long range attacks at that point in the race and San Carlo is hard but no Mortirolo. Interestingly this concern basically counts for the whole 2nd week. Probably only one flat stage but at the same time the potential that after the time trial the gc will stay unchanged until the third week.
All in all it looks like a good route though.

Cuneo - Pinerolo would be useless at any point of the race. Maybe if you'll replace Sestriere with Finestre or Basset (if the rumours about it being surfaced in the future are still in play) and drop Maddalena (big risk of landslides) for Agnel then someone may try to do a Froome/Landis. Of course with Pramartino before the finish. I also don't get this Lavaredo hype. For some reason i've never loved it. The Lienz stage will most probably be similar to this year's Trentino/Alps/Tirol/whatever stage unless Stalle/Sattel will be opened (Valparola/Sella - Furcia?). Really pumped by the Courmayeur stage as i've been designing this exact finish with a vault of either Tarentaise or Aosta climbs (of course with San Carlo at the end). San Carlo is like 10,5km at 10% - that's very serious... waaaay more serious than Tzecore .

 

[Valv.Piti]

The most anticipated day for me every year is probably the Giro route announcement. I don't know as much of many of you who are contributing to this thread, but its somehow still super interesting to me. I like what I see so far, but its always hard to judge before seeing actual profiles.

 

[Nirvana]

The murito MTT on the first day is something I would never expected even at the Vuelta but if this is true I hardly believe Vegni will also throw in another MTT to San Marino, especially with only a short flat ITT in the last day (at least no shameful parade), I know that he would never put again a long ITT but at least a 35/40 kms long (if not totally flat at least flattish) ITT should be expected.

 

[Red Rick]

I just want Prato di Nago as Trentino MTF

 

[OlavEH]

Re: Giro 2019 Route Rumours

Unfortunately, Tre Cime is not in Trentino. I don't think it's gonna happen, but if it does, it should be on stage 17, instead of Feltre. On stage 19 I expect either Passo Vezzena (which was rumoured a lot, but has some logistics issues afaik) or something around Passo Coe.

Oh, that's too bad. Tre Cime is top 3 favorite for me as a stage finish. But Coe or Vezzena could also be good, especially the latter if they climb it from the north. Then it's easier to combine with other tough climbs like Manghen and/or Vetriolo Terme.

And I can't really complain if they have a MTF in that area. I've been calling for the use of the tough climbs around Trento/Rovereto for several years, although preferreably in conjunction with a downhill finish to one of those two cities.

 

[Laplaz]

Re:

I just want Prato di Nago as Trentino MTF

That would be absolutely great.

 

[Eshnar]

Re: Giro 2019 Route Rumours

Big News. According to multiple local sources today, the last three stages before Verona will be
finish in Anterselva (or surroundings)
Finish in S.Martino di Castrozza
finish in Feltre.

This means Ponte di Legno will come on stage 16 or 17. As for the S.Martino stage, no route is mentioned. There are tons of very good routes (involving getting there from the top of Rolle) and tons of very bad ones (like getting there from the bottom of Rolle like in 2009...). Also, it's a bit weird because the Feltre stage was also rumoured to feature Rolle, like the Granfondo.

Anyway, my new draft is now this:

1. Bologna - S.Luca (5 km ITT)
2. Vinci(?) - Ravenna (According to Tuttobiciweb, even though Vinci is in Tuscany so it's hard to believe...)
3. Ravenna - Modena
4. Vinci (?) - Orbetello or Follonica (...it would make much more sense if it was the start of this stage instead)
5. Orbetello - Frascati (or surroundings=
6. Terracina or Sabaudia - Cassino(?) (or another easy MTF in the area)
7. ??? - ??? (finishing in Puglia)
8. Ortona - L'Aquila
9. ??? - ??? (no idea here, probably a MTF on the mountains between Marche and Umbria)
rest
10 Riccione - S.Marino (~35 km ITT)
11 Mantova (?) - Rapallo
12 ??? - Novi Ligure
13 Cuneo - Pinerolo
14 ??? - Courmayeur
15 ??? - Como (I would say only Civiglio and S.Fermo)
rest
16 ??? - ??? (Franciacorta? Mantova?)
17 ??? - Ponte di Legno (probably from Lombardia, which means no Tonale, but maybe with Presolana)
18 Val di Sole - Anterselva (breakaway stage)
19 Brunico(?) - S.Martino di Castrozza (Hopefully via S.Pellegrino - Valles - Rolle)
20 Feltre(?) - Feltre
21 Verona - Verona (~20 km ITT)

 

[barmaher]

The San Carlo - Courmayeur combo is giving me a hard on. Absolutely perfectly placed after the Coppi stage the day before. And we would almost be guaranteed some fun on the Lombardia-lite stage the following day.

I mean this triptych of stages is just lovely. I know we almost certainly won't get meaningful GC action on the Friday to Pinerolo, but I bet it's a fun day and it will all add to the fatigue for the tough weekend to come.

 

[OlavEH]

Re: Giro 2019 Route Rumours

18 Val di Sole - Anterselva (breakaway stage)
19 Brunico(?) - S.Martino di Castrozza (Hopefully via S.Pellegrino - Valles - Rolle)
20 Feltre(?) - Feltre

This does not get me excited. Both stage 19 and 20 seems like okay stages (if the Feltre stage are similar to the Granfondo), but this actually means no high MTFs in the last half of the race. Downhill finish both in Pinerolo, San Martino di Castrozza and Feltre. And easy uphill finish in Courmayeur and Ponte di Legno. The Giro don't need the same number of MTF/hilly finish as the Vuelta, but there should be at least one or two in the last ten days.

 

[May0maniac]

An Antholz/Anterselva stage could be more than just a breakaway stage, an uphill finish near the Biathlon center (approved by LS ) to promote the Biathlon WC that will take place in 2020 seems rather obvious.
It would be Staller Sattel minus the final 6km:

You also have to remember that putting Passo delle Erbe + Furcia before it would make sense, you wouldn't have to close the whole Pustertaler Straße, the only main road in the Puster Valley to traffic for a long amount of time.
If that stage starts in Ponte di Legno you have Tonale at the start, +200km and probably over 5,000m of altitude gain, that would be a hard stage.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Giro 2019 Route Rumours

I really like that 2nd half. I understand the complaint about a lack of mtf's as there is always a risk of riders being extremely passive and nothing happening on those stages but I think downhill finishes will work well too as long as there is no killer mtf looming in the distance where all the difference can be made anyway. With Tre Cime and the Zoncolan in the final week I would have my doubts about how good the stage to Courmayeur will be but with no really obvious spot to easily gain time in the third week I think that stage can be great. 2015 and 2016 also had a lack of hard mtf's but both races turned out being great with 2015 having the smallest time gaps in the stages with 1st cat. mtf's and 2016 only having one 1st cat. mtf in the whole race and in that stage the race was already blown up when the bottom of the final climb was reached.
That said I don't buy it yet. I just don't think the organizers will make a route without a mtf in the alps as great as I would find it.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

An Antholz/Anterselva stage could be more than just a breakaway stage, an uphill finish near the Biathlon center (approved by LS ) to promote the Biathlon WC that will take place in 2020 seems rather obvious.
It would be Staller Sattel minus the final 6km:

You also have to remember that putting Passo delle Erbe + Furcia before it would make sense, you wouldn't have to close the whole Pustertaler Straße, the only main road in the Puster Valley to traffic for a long amount of time.
If that stage starts in Ponte di Legno you have Tonale at the start, +200km and probably over 5,000m of altitude gain, that would be a hard stage.

That would look pretty cool:

The gap between the penultimate and the final climb is unfortunately a bit too long though to expect attacks there.

I'm not sure though if they really want to finish at the Biathlon center. For some reason the giro organizers really like to put breakaway stages in this area between tough mountain stages and Antholz would be a perfect finish for that kind of stage.

 

[May0maniac]

Yes, but promoting the Biathlon WC is probably one of the only reasons why Antholz would get a stage finish, if they really push (and pay) for and uphill finish they'll get it.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Giro 2019 Route Rumours

I really like that 2nd half. I understand the complaint about a lack of mtf's as there is always a risk of riders being extremely passive and nothing happening on those stages but I think downhill finishes will work well too as long as there is no killer mtf looming in the distance where all the difference can be made anyway. With Tre Cime and the Zoncolan in the final week I would have my doubts about how good the stage to Courmayeur will be but with no really obvious spot to easily gain time in the third week I think that stage can be great. 2015 and 2016 also had a lack of hard mtf's but both races turned out being great with 2015 having the smallest time gaps in the stages with 1st cat. mtf's and 2016 only having one 1st cat. mtf in the whole race and in that stage the race was already blown up when the bottom of the final climb was reached.
That said I don't buy it yet. I just don't think the organizers will make a route without a mtf in the alps as great as I would find it.

Backloading big MTFs is the dumbest thing you can do as a race designer. I loved the frontloading of the harder MTF in 2016 and 2017. Then you can have the more tricky mountain stages later on.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Well, that Würzjoch-Furkelsattel-Antholz trifecta rather provides a spoiler for a Nordic Series race design post, anyway, since that was my preferred way of getting there, lol.

 

[yaco]

Well if this route is half correct then Dumoulin will be the first one at the start line.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Well if this route is half correct then Dumoulin will be the first one at the start line.

Doubt it, unless the Tour has no ITT or something.

 

[Eshnar]

Re: Giro 2019 Route Rumours

An Antholz/Anterselva stage could be more than just a breakaway stage

yes, but then you have 4 consecutive mountain stages. For reference, may I remind you Canazei 2017?

Yesterday a local newspaper claimed that the final stage in Verona could be a road stage on the Worlds 2004 circuit. If that's the case, stage 16 could very well be the Franciacorta ITT that was rumoured a while ago. At some point an ITT in the Sondrio area was also rumoured, which would fit too.


1. Bologna - S.Luca (5 km ITT)
2. Vinci(?) - Ravenna
3. Ravenna - Modena
4. Vinci (?) or Carpi(?) - Follonica (?)
5. Orbetello - Frascati (or surroundings)
6. Terracina or Sabaudia - Cassino(?) (or another easy MTF in the area)
7. ??? - S.Giovanni Rotondo(?)
8. Ortona - L'Aquila
9. ??? - ??? (no idea here, probably a MTF on the mountains between Marche and Umbria)
rest
10 Riccione - S.Marino (~30 km ITT)
11 Mantova (?) - Rapallo
12 ??? - Novi Ligure
13 Cuneo - Pinerolo
14 ??? - Courmayeur
15 ??? - Como (I would say only Civiglio and S.Fermo)
rest
16 Franciacorta (or Sondrio - Teglio) ITT (~30 km)
17 ??? - Ponte di Legno (probably from Lombardia, which means no Tonale, but maybe with Presolana)
18 Val di Sole - Anterselva (breakaway stage)
19 Brunico(?) - S.Martino di Castrozza (Hopefully via S.Pellegrino - Valles - Rolle)
20 Feltre(?) - Feltre
21 Verona - Verona

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Giro 2019 Route Rumours

An Antholz/Anterselva stage could be more than just a breakaway stage

yes, but then you have 4 consecutive mountain stages. For reference, may I remind you Canazei 2017?

Yesterday a local newspaper claimed that the final stage in Verona could be a road stage on the Worlds 2004 circuit. If that's the case, stage 16 could very well be the Franciacorta ITT that was rumoured a while ago. At some point an ITT in the Sondrio area was also rumoured, which would fit too.


1. Bologna - S.Luca (5 km ITT)
2. Vinci(?) - Ravenna
3. Ravenna - Modena
4. Vinci (?) or Carpi(?) - Follonica (?)
5. Orbetello - Frascati (or surroundings)
6. Terracina or Sabaudia - Cassino(?) (or another easy MTF in the area)
7. ??? - S.Giovanni Rotondo(?)
8. Ortona - L'Aquila
9. ??? - ??? (no idea here, probably a MTF on the mountains between Marche and Umbria)
rest
10 Riccione - S.Marino (~30 km ITT)
11 Mantova (?) - Rapallo
12 ??? - Novi Ligure
13 Cuneo - Pinerolo
14 ??? - Courmayeur
15 ??? - Como (I would say only Civiglio and S.Fermo)
rest
16 Franciacorta (or Sondrio - Teglio) ITT (~30 km)
17 ??? - Ponte di Legno (probably from Lombardia, which means no Tonale, but maybe with Presolana)
18 Val di Sole - Anterselva (breakaway stage)
19 Brunico(?) - S.Martino di Castrozza (Hopefully via S.Pellegrino - Valles - Rolle)
20 Feltre(?) - Feltre
21 Verona - Verona

That would be weird. When was the last time a gt ended with a stage that was neither a parade nor a time trial. Imagine a race like 2017 had ended with this kind of stage, that would have been complete mayhem. I gotta say I kinda like the idea.

 

[Red Rick]

Is that 3 ITTs that finish up a hill?

Any case, I would like the prologue with 2 mid-long ITTs, although I'd prefer one of them to be more in the 35/45km range.

Although if San Marino is on a shallow hill I'd assume that make differences a larger.

 

[May0maniac]

According to local media the Antholz stage is pretty much a done deal and will actually finish near the Biathlon arena.
That would be the 3rd time in a row that I'm right when it comes to a stage that starts or finishes around here, the start of the Piancavallo stage in my hometown, the route of the Sappada stage and this one finishing near the Biathlon arena.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

According to local media the Antholz stage is pretty much a done deal and will actually finish near the Biathlon arena.
That would be the 3rd time in a row that I'm right when it comes to a stage that starts or finishes around here, the start of the Piancavallo stage in my hometown, the route of the Sappada stage and this one finishing near the Biathlon arena.

Legend.

Can you give us the Giro stages from 2020 through 2030 too?

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Re:

According to local media the Antholz stage is pretty much a done deal and will actually finish near the Biathlon arena.
That would be the 3rd time in a row that I'm right when it comes to a stage that starts or finishes around here, the start of the Piancavallo stage in my hometown, the route of the Sappada stage and this one finishing near the Biathlon arena.

Legend.

Can you give us the Giro stages from 2020 through 2030 too?

Not without using a lot of blood magic.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

According to local media the Antholz stage is pretty much a done deal and will actually finish near the Biathlon arena.
That would be the 3rd time in a row that I'm right when it comes to a stage that starts or finishes around here, the start of the Piancavallo stage in my hometown, the route of the Sappada stage and this one finishing near the Biathlon arena.

Legend.

Can you give us the Giro stages from 2020 through 2030 too?

Not without using a lot of blood magic.

I don't think we have forum rules against blood magic