Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia 2025 Stage 17: San Michele all’Adige – Bormio, 155 km

[Rechtschreibfehler]

The Gavia and Stelvio are both clear and open, and we get the sh*t side of the Mortirolo 🤦‍♂️

Best to ignore the could have beens. It's still a hard mountain. You could give it another name in your head. If the stage doesn't deliver we could also call it Boretirolo. But only if there's no good racing.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Best to ignore the could have beens. It's still a hard mountain. You could give it another name in your head. If the stage doesn't deliver we could also call it Boretirolo. But only if there's no good racing.

True, it's just frustrating that the riders want to race and the mediocre route has been letting them down. I understand Vegni wanting a low altitude route, but plan to use the big climbs and have a stage like this as back up. Aangelo Zomegnan had 3 different stage proposals for the Tonale stage on 2010 for example.

 

[Brullnux]

The Gavia and Stelvio are both clear and open, and we get the sh*t side of the Mortirolo 🤦‍♂️

The ultra-high altitude climbs bring so much risk and cost, it's fine for them to be avoided every now and then. The stage would be great with the Recta Contador variation, which I think is the real loss.

 

[Brullnux]

True, it's just frustrating that the riders want to race and the mediocre route has been letting them down. I understand Vegni wanting a low altitude route, but plan to use the big climbs and have a stage like this as back up. Aangelo Zomegnan had 3 different stage proposals for the Tonale stage on 2010 for example.

Cost implications, RCS doesn't have huge margins to play with so they can't have multiple back up routes year on year.

 

[Red Rick]

True, it's just frustrating that the riders want to race and the mediocre route has been letting them down. I understand Vegni wanting a low altitude route, but plan to use the big climbs and have a stage like this as back up. Aangelo Zomegnan had 3 different stage proposals for the Tonale stage on 2010 for example.

I might be mistaken, but I was under the impression that Mortiwronglol from Monno is the same altitude as Mortirolo Recta Contador.

Grappa was completely sabotaged too while all the available much better options were mainly different roads up the same climbs or different detours.

In fact, despite all the 'low altitude' climbs, the focal point of the mountains in this Giro is still Colle delle Finestre, which is 2100m+ and theoretically at the most risk of being canceled.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

True, it's just frustrating that the riders want to race and the mediocre route has been letting them down. I understand Vegni wanting a low altitude route, but plan to use the big climbs and have a stage like this as back up. Aangelo Zomegnan had 3 different stage proposals for the Tonale stage on 2010 for example.

Yes, but it‘s also understandable that Vegni wants to avoid borderline conditions where he‘ll have to argue with the riders again.

 

[Red Rick]

The ultra-high altitude climbs bring so much risk and cost, it's fine for them to be avoided every now and then. The stage would be great with the Recta Contador variation, which I think is the real loss.

I honestly just don't understand why they simply don't have a clear A-plan and B-plan before hand, where Recta Contador makes for a good plan-B. Arguably it changes the nature of the stage a lot with the final 30km to Bormio, and I would 100% take the Motte climb out, but still.

 

[pastronef]

yesterday I've tried the multi-screen option on Discovery but it's too distracting. I'll watch the normal single screen

 

[ashhutch1997]

I might be mistaken, but I was under the impression that Mortiwronglol from Monno is the same altitude as Mortirolo Recta Contador.

The Recta Contador Joins the Mono side is the last few km and is the same summit, it's essentially a very steep shortcut.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

yesterday I've tried the multi-screen option on Discovery but it's too distracting. I'll watch the normal single screen

It also has zero information on it, like time gaps. I've used it a few times when stuff get's wilder to see whats going on though. Me watching stuff on my Laptop also doesn't make it better, as the frames aren't exactly huge.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Yes, but it‘s also understandable that Vegni wants to avoid borderline conditions where he‘ll have to argue with the riders again.

I understand, but you could design a great low altitude stage in the Valtellina and they choose the worst possible option.
I have no issues with low altitude routes if you give us a 2015 style route.

 

[Brullnux]

I honestly just don't understand why they simply don't have a clear A-plan and B-plan before hand, where Recta Contador makes for a good plan-B. Arguably it changes the nature of the stage a lot with the final 30km to Bormio, and I would 100% take the Motte climb out, but still.

I think it's probably a cost thing – having a Plan B relies on quite a few promises/costs to the local authorities etc.

I do think that whenever they go to 2300+ they need a clear Plan B, as they're taking that risk, but I don't think doing it every year creates goodwill with these local authorities and could affect routes in the longer term (and costs more). I don't see an issue in avoiding the high-risk climbs every few editions, 2015 was probably the best route in the last decade and that was all low(ish) altitude. Again, I think the problem here is not doing the Contador goat track

 

[Devil's Elbow]

In fact, despite all the 'low altitude' climbs, the focal point of the mountains in this Giro is still Colle delle Finestre, which is 2100m+ and theoretically at the most risk of being canceled.

The 600 metres separating Stelvio and Finestre are a big deal, though. The western half of the Italian Alps are also marginally warmer than the eastern half which helps too.

 

[ashhutch1997]

Side note, watching UAE implode was slightly beautiful.

 

[topcat]

UAE leader: del Toro
Bora leader: Pellizari
Bahrain leader: Caruso
Intermarche leader: Meintjes

 

[wirral]

UAE leader: del Toro
Bora leader: Pellizari
Bahrain leader: Caruso
Intermarche leader: Meintjes

Soudal Quick Step leader : James Knox
Lidl-Trek leader : Patrick Konrad

 

[Ilmaestro99]

UAE leader: del Toro
Bora leader: Pellizari
Bahrain leader: Caruso
Intermarche leader: Meintjes

Astana road captain: Masnada

 

[topcat]

Astana road captain: Masnada

Spiritual leader: Vegni

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Did they tell Nibali which side they are going up? The way he's hyping up Mortirolo on ES you'd think it was a hard side of it.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Odds on Ayuso doing a Landis Morzine effort? It is stage 17 after all.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Odds on Ayuso doing a Landis Morzine effort? It is stage 17 after all.

Would be hilarious if he was strong enough for that, to finish in the top 20 or something, rather than helping del Toro.

I hope he's physically okay enough to ride and put in some work.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

The stage profile in the vineyard! So cool!

 

[AnotherArmChair]

If my aunt had a phallus she'd be my uncle instead. If if if...

But that was a fact as to the form of Gee.
But maybe you hadnt noticed but the forum is full of supposition and conjecture. Its part of the fun
So I will do if, if ,if all day long with any rude interjections putting me off

 

[DarkBlue]

Jayco boys were very quiet yesterday - expecting Plapp and Harper to go hard today.

 

[Tim Cahill]

De Bondt still annoyed that Lidl didn't let him in the break on Saturday