Rate the 2017 Giro d'Italia

[Netserk]

Re: Re:

Better than '12, '13 & '14. Worse than the rest of the Giri I've ever followed.

Was 2009 really that much better?

No, but I still preferred it. Probably equal to this year.

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re:

I saw a Rouleur journalist say this was the best GT of this century, which is just jaw-dropping. Another journalist said it was the best GT since 2011 Tour.
Friebe has is equal-best Giro since 2003, next to 2005, 2014, 2015.

And I thought my memory was bad...

I think second best since 2011 Tour is fair

 

[bob.a.feet]

8

The GC race came down to the final day which is what you want in a grand tour. However a lot of the mountain stages weren't that great. If this were the TDF it would be considered legendary, but I feel like the Giro has higher expectations.

 

[DNP-Old]

Re:

I saw a Rouleur journalist say this was the best GT of this century, which is just jaw-dropping. Another journalist said it was the best GT since 2011 Tour.
Friebe has is equal-best Giro since 2003, next to 2005, 2014, 2015.

And I thought my memory was bad...

I feel sorry for them that they missed Giro 2010.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

a 10 because Dumoulin won. I don't care about the rest

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

I saw a Rouleur journalist say this was the best GT of this century, which is just jaw-dropping. Another journalist said it was the best GT since 2011 Tour.
Friebe has is equal-best Giro since 2003, next to 2005, 2014, 2015.

And I thought my memory was bad...

I think second best since 2011 Tour is fair

Vuelta 2012, Giro 2015, Vuelta 2015, Giro 2016, Vuelta 2016 are in my opinion all better, although it's very close in a few cases.
That said it's strange how bad gt's were between 2012 and 2014. The Vuelta was never a huge disappointment although I also wouldn't call the 3 editions great (I only rate 2012 Vuelta higher than this giro because of the Fuente De stage) but it at least never disappointed and always had a good battle for the win. But the Giro and the Tour were really bad in these three years.

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re: Re:

I saw a Rouleur journalist say this was the best GT of this century, which is just jaw-dropping. Another journalist said it was the best GT since 2011 Tour.
Friebe has is equal-best Giro since 2003, next to 2005, 2014, 2015.

And I thought my memory was bad...

I think second best since 2011 Tour is fair

Vuelta 2012, Giro 2015, Vuelta 2015, Giro 2016, Vuelta 2016 are in my opinion all better, although it's very close in a few cases.
That said it's strange how bad gt's were between 2012 and 2014. The Vuelta was never a huge disappointment although I also wouldn't call the 3 editions great (I only rate 2012 Vuelta higher than this giro because of the Fuente De stage) but it at least never disappointed and always had a good battle for the win. But the Giro and the Tour were really bad in these three years.

Giro 2015 was, in my opinion, the best grand tour since 2011. Classic mountain stages with long range attacks and the epic Mortirolo stage.

Also, this is the first grand tour in which more than one rider from the 'big 4' failed to win the overall.

 

[ice&fire]

Can't see why 2012 is generally considered bad and 2017 gets a good rating. The only difference has been the number of riders with an option to win.

 

[Red Rick]

Because in 2012 there were a lot of really really really hard mountain stages, but they weren't raced until the last 3km because there was just a tiny amount of ITT.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

Because in 2012 there were a lot of really really really hard mountain stages, but they weren't raced until the last 3km because there was just a tiny amount of ITT.

Purito only thought the stages were 3 kilometres long

Why oh why didn't he win, Hesjedal's name will tarnish that edition forever.

 

[deValtos]

Wait what, the 2012 Giro was the worst GT I have ever seen. Sure the results sheet looked close but there was a not a single bit of racing in the entire race apart from the Stelivo stage as the last mountain stage. Complete crap.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Re:

Because in 2012 there were a lot of really really really hard mountain stages, but they weren't raced until the last 3km because there was just a tiny amount of ITT.

Purito only thought the stages were 3 kilometres long

Why oh why didn't he win, Hesjedal's name will tarnish that edition forever.

I absolutely don't mind that a complete tactical *** up that was repeated over and over and over again didn't go unpunished.

Wasn't Hesjedal dropped from the main group on Lago Lageno already?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Lol at the idea that this was the best GT in any lengthy period of time, even more so since the Tour 2011. I suppose that's fitting in that people thought the 2011 Tour was good because the ending was exciting and forgot that 2/3 of the race sucked out loud. A good bit of finish line intrigue will work wonders in making people forget that half the race was really miserably poor. This race should really be a nail in the coffin of the sector of the forum that argues that critiquing the parcours has no merit because the riders make the race; the riders wanted to make the race but for much of it the crappy parcours wouldn't let them. This wasn't a great GT by any stretch of the imagination. It was decent, but not special, and I am concerned if this is the new level to be considered super-exciting as it will probably be seen as vindication of insanely backloading the route. But mostly, I just want to reiterate that the 2011 Tour is the most overrated race of the modern era.

 

[bob.a.feet]

Re:

Lol at the idea that this was the best GT in any lengthy period of time, even more so since the Tour 2011. I suppose that's fitting in that people thought the 2011 Tour was good because the ending was exciting and forgot that 2/3 of the race sucked out loud. A good bit of finish line intrigue will work wonders in making people forget that half the race was really miserably poor. This race should really be a nail in the coffin of the sector of the forum that argues that critiquing the parcours has no merit because the riders make the race; the riders wanted to make the race but for much of it the crappy parcours wouldn't let them. This wasn't a great GT by any stretch of the imagination. It was decent, but not special, and I am concerned if this is the new level to be considered super-exciting as it will probably be seen as vindication of insanely backloading the route. But mostly, I just want to reiterate that the 2011 Tour is the most overrated race of the modern era.

The entire last week of the 2011 Tour was amazing. And the reason everyone loves the 2011 Tour? Every TDF since then has been absolute sh*t.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

Lol at the idea that this was the best GT in any lengthy period of time, even more so since the Tour 2011. I suppose that's fitting in that people thought the 2011 Tour was good because the ending was exciting and forgot that 2/3 of the race sucked out loud. A good bit of finish line intrigue will work wonders in making people forget that half the race was really miserably poor. This race should really be a nail in the coffin of the sector of the forum that argues that critiquing the parcours has no merit because the riders make the race; the riders wanted to make the race but for much of it the crappy parcours wouldn't let them. This wasn't a great GT by any stretch of the imagination. It was decent, but not special, and I am concerned if this is the new level to be considered super-exciting as it will probably be seen as vindication of insanely backloading the route. But mostly, I just want to reiterate that the 2011 Tour is the most overrated race of the modern era.

I think the most overrated race is really 2016 giro. No one remember how bad was the first half of the race

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re: Re:

Because in 2012 there were a lot of really really really hard mountain stages, but they weren't raced until the last 3km because there was just a tiny amount of ITT.

Purito only thought the stages were 3 kilometres long

Why oh why didn't he win, Hesjedal's name will tarnish that edition forever.

I absolutely don't mind that a complete tactical **** up that was repeated over and over and over again didn't go unpunished.

Wasn't Hesjedal dropped from the main group on Lago Lageno already?

I don't really either, but Purito is just such a loveable character and Hesjedal... well, he doesn't belong on the top of a podium in a GT to me. Like Cobo and Horner, it feels underwhelming.

I can't remember anything about the race apart from the insanely hard mountain stages I had looked forward to, but yes he was probably dropped Hesjedal-style.

 

[ice&fire]

The 2017 course was backloaded, but the quality of the mountains was poor. It only needed two small changes to improve it significantly. Giau or preferably Fedaia in the stage to Ortisei; and Grappa from Semonzo.

 

[Walkman]

Re:

Lol at the idea that this was the best GT in any lengthy period of time, even more so since the Tour 2011. I suppose that's fitting in that people thought the 2011 Tour was good because the ending was exciting and forgot that 2/3 of the race sucked out loud. A good bit of finish line intrigue will work wonders in making people forget that half the race was really miserably poor. This race should really be a nail in the coffin of the sector of the forum that argues that critiquing the parcours has no merit because the riders make the race; the riders wanted to make the race but for much of it the crappy parcours wouldn't let them. This wasn't a great GT by any stretch of the imagination. It was decent, but not special, and I am concerned if this is the new level to be considered super-exciting as it will probably be seen as vindication of insanely backloading the route. But mostly, I just want to reiterate that the 2011 Tour is the most overrated race of the modern era.

Stage 1 was pretty great. Gilbert showcasing his insane strength. The TTT was actually existing and didn't ruin the race as it produced small gaps which is the best that can be said of a TTT. Gilbert attacking all the time, HTC and Rojas chasing him and while it didn't make of great escapades, it did deliver som intense racing, albeit far from the finish. Vockler and his battle for Yellow. Rolland breaking through and climbing like never before and, sadly, after). I think it was a pretty good year. Second week was perhaps not great but overall a pretty decent edition.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

Lol at the idea that this was the best GT in any lengthy period of time, even more so since the Tour 2011. I suppose that's fitting in that people thought the 2011 Tour was good because the ending was exciting and forgot that 2/3 of the race sucked out loud. A good bit of finish line intrigue will work wonders in making people forget that half the race was really miserably poor. This race should really be a nail in the coffin of the sector of the forum that argues that critiquing the parcours has no merit because the riders make the race; the riders wanted to make the race but for much of it the crappy parcours wouldn't let them. This wasn't a great GT by any stretch of the imagination. It was decent, but not special, and I am concerned if this is the new level to be considered super-exciting as it will probably be seen as vindication of insanely backloading the route. But mostly, I just want to reiterate that the 2011 Tour is the most overrated race of the modern era.

I think the most overrated race is really 2016 giro. No one remember how bad was the first half of the race

Giro 2016 and Tour 2011 are very comparable. That said, I think the Giro last year had more good stages than the Tour 2011 and it had a big twist which is something I absolutely love about gt's. If Contador had won the Tour with his attack on stage 19 I would probably put these two races on the same level.

 

[hrotha]

I thought this Giro was quite underwhelming. Badly designed and very badly raced. Some interesting moments, but what GT doesn't have them (other than the 2016 Tour)? Dunno, I gave it a 5 and I already regret it.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re: Re:

Lol at the idea that this was the best GT in any lengthy period of time, even more so since the Tour 2011. I suppose that's fitting in that people thought the 2011 Tour was good because the ending was exciting and forgot that 2/3 of the race sucked out loud. A good bit of finish line intrigue will work wonders in making people forget that half the race was really miserably poor. This race should really be a nail in the coffin of the sector of the forum that argues that critiquing the parcours has no merit because the riders make the race; the riders wanted to make the race but for much of it the crappy parcours wouldn't let them. This wasn't a great GT by any stretch of the imagination. It was decent, but not special, and I am concerned if this is the new level to be considered super-exciting as it will probably be seen as vindication of insanely backloading the route. But mostly, I just want to reiterate that the 2011 Tour is the most overrated race of the modern era.

The entire last week of the 2011 Tour was amazing. And the reason everyone loves the 2011 Tour? Every TDF since then has been absolute sh*t.

I liked the 2011 Tour as well.

2012 and 2014 Tours were really awful. The worst for me.

I think the problem with the Parcours of this year's Giro was the backloading of the mountain stages. Anything else is OK with me. I am very easy to please. Descends, sprints, hilly stages, time trials etc. But if you backload the parcours you are going to kill half of the spectacle.

 

[Escarabajo]

Re:

The 2017 course was backloaded, but the quality of the mountains was poor. It only needed two small changes to improve it significantly. Giau or preferably Fedaia in the stage to Ortisei; and Grappa from Semonzo.

For as much as I love the Fedaia and Giau, I don't think it would have changed anything. It would have been the same riders dragging their tired legs to the finish.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Re:

I thought this Giro was quite underwhelming. Badly designed and very badly raced. Some interesting moments, but what GT doesn't have them (other than the 2016 Tour)? Dunno, I gave it a 5 and I already regret it.

Given how they have raced over the lat 5-10 years, I'd say the riders generally did more than we could have expected. Breaks weren't sailing away like it meant nothing which also is a huge plus, but I don't really think the route offered that much more opportunities

 

[hrotha]

That's a fair point, the breakaway game was definitely a nice change of pace compared to many other GTs.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Re: Re:

Lol at the idea that this was the best GT in any lengthy period of time, even more so since the Tour 2011. I suppose that's fitting in that people thought the 2011 Tour was good because the ending was exciting and forgot that 2/3 of the race sucked out loud. A good bit of finish line intrigue will work wonders in making people forget that half the race was really miserably poor. This race should really be a nail in the coffin of the sector of the forum that argues that critiquing the parcours has no merit because the riders make the race; the riders wanted to make the race but for much of it the crappy parcours wouldn't let them. This wasn't a great GT by any stretch of the imagination. It was decent, but not special, and I am concerned if this is the new level to be considered super-exciting as it will probably be seen as vindication of insanely backloading the route. But mostly, I just want to reiterate that the 2011 Tour is the most overrated race of the modern era.

The entire last week of the 2011 Tour was amazing. And the reason everyone loves the 2011 Tour? Every TDF since then has been absolute sh*t.

But the first two weeks were utter 2012 Giro level dreck, at the end of stage 11 everybody still standing was on their TTT times give or take a few seconds from crashes and the few that Evans gained on MDB. And then the riders raced the Pyrenees like they were lobotomized and we got a flat stage on the penultimate weekend.

Sure, it picked up in week 3, but basically what happened was that Cadel Evans won a really good edition of the Dauphiné and because we got a couple of great stages late on, everybody crapped themselves with excitement, forgot about the previous two weeks, and ASO therefore believed this was the way to go and everything was rosy and justified terrible backloaded routes with crappy 100km mountain stages to themselves.