Rate the 2014 Giro d'Italia!

[darwin553]

The less difficult nature of the stages overall in the tour is a negative for me but the positives being a commencement of the tour in Ireland and Cadel focusing on the Giro gives it an overall feel that it is a better tour than this year. So I give it a 7.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

guncha has it right, in my opinion. If it weren't for the fact that there were two UCI-waiver stages (over 240 km), I might be calling this the Vuelta a Italia. Time to put Libertine Seguros in charge of the Giro.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

guncha has it right, in my opinion. If it weren't for the fact that there were two UCI-waiver stages (over 240 km), I might be calling this the Vuelta a Italia. Time to put Libertine Seguros in charge of the Giro.

ASO would probably do a better job than RCS. The Vuelta will always have soft routes, due to its place on the calendar. No matter who's in charge. So the Giro would have a harder route regardless.

For real, this is already a harder Vuelta type route, except it's more back loaded. At least he Vuelta doesn't have 7 days straight with zero meaningful climbs. The purpose is clear, they want Cav at the start, and if possible, other top sprinters as well, but this is not the way to go about it.

 

[fraserhughes]

The purpose is clear, they want Cav at the start, and if possible, other top sprinters as well, but this is not the way to go about it.

Agree. I think they will get Cav and co. but I can't see them sticking about after the first week as there must be almost zero chance of a sprinter winning the points jersey with all those MTFs.

 

[Eshnar]

Cavendish was there every year, included last year where there were 3 clear sprint stages only.

 

[Netserk]

How would you rank it amongst the earlier routes?

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Cav wasn't in top shape in the Tour this year, plus he has the Giro points jersey in the bag. I think he'll start, but drop out before the third week.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

How would you rank it amongst the earlier routes?

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Dead last.

 

[Eshnar]

How would you rank it amongst the earlier routes?

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

it fights for the last place with 2009 and 2012. Probably 2006 too.

 

[Netserk]

Then how can anyone give it a 7 (or more lulz)?

 

[Eshnar]

Then how can anyone give it a 7 (or more lulz)?

apparently they would rank it higher than us
Or they would rate all the other Giros as 8 or above

 

[Taxus4a]

The route:
http://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia/2014/it/percorso-tappe/index.shtml

10: Awesome
1: Crap

Last year I gave it a 6 and I'll do that this year too. Don't think it's any worse nor any better than that.

Plus side:
- Very good 2nd weekend (the first in Italy).
- Good ITT.
- Killer MTT (if you gonna have one, at least do it properly).
- Montecopiolo, Oropa and Savona well designed.
- 7 stages >= 200 km

Minus side:
- 8 flat stages? Seriously?
- Only one medium mountain stage not ending uphill.
- No high mountain descent finishes.
- Are we sure there are no hills available in Ireland?
- Backloaded^2

I agree what you say.

I put a 6.

The problem is I expect from de Giro 2 or 3 long and hard dolomiti stages at the end of the race, and this edition hasnt got anyone.

At least Val Martello is short, but is really hard.

Not very different than de Vuelta.

 

[Pippo_San]

Then how can anyone give it a 7 (or more lulz)?

The absence of Acquarone?

 

[movingtarget]

The less difficult nature of the stages overall in the tour is a negative for me but the positives being a commencement of the tour in Ireland and Cadel focusing on the Giro gives it an overall feel that it is a better tour than this year. So I give it a 7.

I don't think it's too bad and they are probably trying to dodge what happened last year but the weather is always a lottery. Porte should be happy. Rodriguez not so much.

 

[sensations]

It's just not well balanced - or really balanced at all. There are a couple of good stages but overall it just feels taped together rather than a nice cohesive 3 week tour.

5.

 

[plooton]

Who wants this stage finally to happen as outlined

 

[OlavEH]

I'll give the route 6/10.

+ Like the stage to Montecopiolo
+ A balanced amount of ITT kms and good MTT to Monte Grappa
+ The stage finish climbs, espcially to Montecampione and Panarotta are very good.

- Too many flat stages the first weak.
- Too few medium mountain stages.
- Too few multi mountain stages.
- Not enough stages designed for long range attacks

At least they could have dropped either the stage to Viggiano or Montecassino and instead had a 220 km+ all day hilly stage. A hilly stage and a multi mountain stage instead of two of the mountain stages the last week (f.ex Montecampione/Val Martello and Panarotta) would also made the route better and more balanced.

 

[Pippo_San]

Serious now.
The real problem with every GT course is that one has to hope in a combination of clear gaps in the GC and good/bad weather.

Let's look at stage 20, for example. If taken the right way, could bring to an epic De Gendt-style ride from Sella Razzo. Feasible.

Stage 17? Crazy attack Fuente De' style, good for ambushes.

Stage 14? A long range attack? Why not?

Stage 11? Looks good for some twisty ****.

It's not a bad course per se, I think it's definitely worth a 7 maybe a little more, even considering it's unbalanced nature.

 

[trevim]

Who wants this stage finally to happen as outlined

This one is due to the fans. I understand why they cancelled it back then but it's time to go there again.

 

[Ferminal]

When I first saw it (didn't have close ups of the profiles) it looked terrible, upon closer inspection it seems ok. Doesn't really feel like a Giro route though (apart from the backloading). It would be up there with the best Tour routes in recent years.

 

[greenedge]

I think the route is balanced- with no Euskatel at least we will not get complaints about the TTT.

The mountain stages at the end look good.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Not a lot to get excited about and I wouldn't describe it as balanced either. What is there for classics riders or good descenders ? If the weather is good in Ireland it will be the most tedious 1st week of a GT ever. Stages 4, 5, 6 - a circuit stage and back-to-back 5% drag processions. Yuk.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I think the route is balanced- with no Euskatel at least we will not get complaints about the TTT.

The mountain stages at the end look good.

Why won't we? Just because one team that were particularly bad at it have died doesn't make it suddenly fair.