Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia 2024: Stage-by-stage analysis

[Tim Cahill]

The profile rightly got panned but I'm intrigued by the proposition of someone having a bad moment on Umbrail then having to ride with the camera focussing on them for almost the entirety of the worst 156km of their life.

As for me? I hope it's Ben O'Connor. Nothing specific he's done I just don't like the guy for some reason.

 

[RoadDonk82]

Can someone shed some light on the difference between the two mountains. Are they the same one or they both take different roads?

It's the same road up from Bormio. The road forks at the end of the ascent - left to Umbrail Pass, right to Stelvio so only few last kms are missing from the climb. What is a bigger loss is the descent from Stelvio which is an epic road (especially when you climb it but even for descending there would be some great shots).
Instead of that they will descent from Umbrail pass which is a narrow road with tarmac missing on some sections at the beginning (at least it was missing in October when I was there). It's a tricky descent (steep, curvy, narrow) but with great tarmac (besides the mentioned parts at the beginning). Then it's a boring fast/wide/slightly descending road through Switzerland and then they meet the previous route.

Overall it's a small change from sport point of view imo but quite a loss when it comes to views and potential for epic camera shots.

Anyway, the beginning of the stage is going to be beautiful. Ascent from Livigno then very long descent to Bormio and up to Stelvio (Umbrail). It's a bit of a pity those are going to be "wasted" because of long flattish finnish. I highly recommend doing part of that stage if you are in the area!

 

[proffate]

The profile rightly got panned but I'm intrigued by the proposition of someone having a bad moment on Umbrail then having to ride with the camera focussing on them for almost the entirety of the worst 156km of their life.

As for me? I hope it's Ben O'Connor. Nothing specific he's done I just don't like the guy for some reason.

I also dislike it when a rider gets 4th at the TDF one time and then we have to hear his name for the next 10 years

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I also dislike it when a rider gets 4th at the TDF one time and then we have to hear his name for the next 10 years

I absolutely love that.

Spoiler

 

[Escarabajo]

I absolutely love that.

Spoiler

I'll be honest with you. With Buchmann it hasn't been as bad as with O'Connor. Maybe because we are in an English speaking forum. LOL.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I'll be honest with you. With Buchmann it hasn't been as bad as with O'Connor. Maybe because we are in an English speaking forum. LOL.

I love Buchmann because he‘s kinda similar to me and he‘s from the same country, but he just isn‘t relevant anymore. Carlton Kirby is on my side though.

 

[tobydawq]

I love Buchmann because he‘s kinda similar to me and he‘s from the same country, but he just isn‘t relevant anymore. Carlton Kirby is on my side though.

Do you also not move your lips when you speak?

 

[Nick2413]

Is Grappa or Livigno going considered queen stage?

 

[Valv.Piti]

Is Grappa or Livigno going considered queen stage?

Livigno

Grappa will prolly produce more timegaps and better racing though.

 

[ashhutch1997]

This Giro route is so frustrating, we all wanted a 220km stage with over 5000 metres climbing. They proceeded to give us that, but come up with a route where nothing will probably happen until the last 5km..

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

I'm still not convinced that even with the altered stelvio stage everything is going to be as planned. Right now it's snowing down to 2000m and while the weather forecast looks good for the Livigno stage it seems to turn rainy again from Monday on.

Speaking of the Livigno stage, any locals have any advice how to follow the stage live on the day with a camper van? I'm currently in Vinschgau and plan to drive on Saturday through Ofenpass and the tunnel to Livigno and then a bit further down the climb (probably just below Passo di Foscagno) and camp there over night. Is that doable @Mayomaniac and other posters from Italy/South Tyrol?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I'm still not convinced that even with the altered stelvio stage everything is going to be as planned. Right now it's snowing down to 2000m and while the weather forecast looks good for the Livigno stage it seems to turn rainy again from Monday on.

Speaking of the Livigno stage, any locals have any advice how to follow the stage live on the day with a camper van? I'm currently in Vinschgau and plan to drive on Saturday through Ofenpass and the tunnel to Livigno and then a bit further down the climb (probably just below Passo di Foscagno) and camp there over night. Is that doable @Mayomaniac and other posters from Italy/South Tyrol?

I think, barring cancellations for flood events or cold and tired riders, the only passage in danger is Umbrail, with quite heavy rain/sleet/snow forecast for Tuesday around noon at the moment. The passage should be possible with temperatures exceeding 0C (0 degree line is just south of 3000 meters), but it being possible doesn‘t necessarily mean it will be ridden.

 

[Cookster15]

Really looking forward to the Livigno stage, hopefully the weather doesn't spoil matters as the finish is 2.300+ metres. I know the consensus here is it will disappoint, but Pogi is talking it up. If anyone can force gaps it would be him. If so, I'll be interested how Pog handles the altitude with the TT effort fresh in his legs.

 

[CleanCiclismo]

Really looking forward to the Livigno stage, hopefully the weather doesn't spoil matters as the finish is 2.300+ metres. I know the consensus here is it will disappoint, but Pogi is talking it up. If anyone can force gaps it would be him. If so, I'll be interested how Pog handles the altitude with the TT effort fresh in his legs.

I don't expect him to do that well in the ITT. He was around 45s down on Ganna on the flat part. Granted he was up on all the other GC guys, but I feel that if he gets into the top 5 here it will be considered a very good result. Ganna should stomp the ITT. I expect someone like Bjerg to also go for it like he did in the first one (Horner will not like this), being that he's in the running for the last OG ticket. I also think Thomas will do a lot better. It may very well be that the GC after the ITT will be the final GC standing.

 

[Red Rick]

Pog vs Sheffield for 2nd in the ITT?

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

Never say never. I'm sure the Italians can fix that in no time!

It's more how they "fix" it.
My other big interest (apart from cycling) is historic motorsports, and thereby visited the Targa Florio loop at Sicily plenty times. Recent decades with lots of landslides. And must say I'm impressed with the the fast work of local asphalt workers - but the result is more like obstacle courses
But ok, that is poor Sicily, I don't know if the working methods are of higher quality in South Tyrol proper...

 

[Rob5091]

Looking at the weather forecast for Livigno next week and Tuesday is Snow and Wednesday is Drizzle with a high of 5 C , not good!

 

[Sciatic]

Looking at the weather forecast for Livigno next week and Tuesday is Snow and Wednesday is Drizzle with a high of 5 C , not good!

Sad, not only because the risk weather might cause organizers to alter the course again but also cause it means we’ll lose the picture on some of the climbs. But I guess we can just consider the latter a Giro tradition.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Sad, not only because the risk weather might cause organizers to alter the course again but also cause it means we’ll lose the picture on some of the climbs. But I guess we can just consider the latter a Giro tradition.

I think the Giro has progressed past the state of losing pictures due to bad weather. They could definitely deal with it last year. But the Giro is the last race you can trust to not surprise you negatively.

 

[zlev11]

yes we shouldn't lose pictures since they have the Sporza camera crew now. we might end up with a neutered stage though because Geraint Thomas is still in the race and he doesn't like riding in the rain.

 

[Monte Serra]

Sad, not only because the risk weather might cause organizers to alter the course again but also cause it means we’ll lose the picture on some of the climbs. But I guess we can just consider the latter a Giro tradition.

TV production is no longer arranged by the RAI after the debacle of the Dolomites in 2022. So in theory chances of an interrupted broadcast should be diminished.

 

[Sciatic]

yes we shouldn't lose pictures since they have the Sporza camera crew now. we might end up with a neutered stage though because Geraint Thomas is still in the race and he doesn't like riding in the rain.

Glad to hear about that!

 

[Rob5091]

Today is was 24 C I think for the TT so I hope the teams have lots of warm clothes with them as the forecast for tomorrow for Livigno is only 5C with a chance of a shower.

 

[tobydawq]

Looking at the weather forecast for Livigno next week and Tuesday is Snow and Wednesday is Drizzle with a high of 5 C , not good!

Today is was 24 C I think for the TT so I hope the teams have lots of warm clothes with them as the forecast for tomorrow for Livigno is only 5C with a chance of a shower.

No, I'm sure because today was hot, they threw away all their cold weather clothes they had packed for the mountains

 

[roundabout]

Today is was 24 C I think for the TT so I hope the teams have lots of warm clothes with them as the forecast for tomorrow for Livigno is only 5C with a chance of a shower.

At least a few years back I have seen pros training in Livigno so they should probably still have some idea of what the weather can be like there.