Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali 2014 (2.1)

[Dazed and Confused]

This little Italian gem will start tomorrow (27 Marts) and ends Sunday.

From the race last year:

Last year was brutally dominated by Lampre and perhaps Ulissi can do it again.

5 stages spread out over 4 days.
27.03. Stage 1a: Gatteo - Gatteo (99,5 km)
27.03. Stage 1b (TTT): Gatteo a Mare - Gatteo (13,3 km)
28.03. Stage 2: Sant'Angelo di Gatteo - Sogliano al Rubicone (160,2 km)
29.03. Stage 3: Crevalcore - Crevalcore (158,4 km / 12 Runden à 13,2 km)
30.03. Stage 4: (TT): Pavullo - Montecuccolo (10,0 km)

Teams and key riders:
1. Lampre - Merida (Ulissi, Mori)
2. Cannondale (Viviani, Caruso)
3. Team Sky (Swift, Cataldo)
4. UnitedHealthcare (de Maar, Euser)
5. Bardiani - CSF (Bongiorno, Zardini)
6. Team Colombia (Rubiano, Pantano)
7. Androni Giocattoli (Pellizotti, Zilioli)
8. Neri Sottoli (Ponzi, Finetto)
9. RusVelo (Pozdnyakov, Lagutin)
10. MTN - Qhubeka (Kudus, Meintjes)
11. Team Novo Nordisk (Peron, Verschoor)
12. Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise (van Staeyen, Jacobs)
13. Christina Watches-Kuma (Schumacher, Gavazzi)
14. Itera - Katusha (Foliforov, Akimov)
15. Vini-Fantini-Nippo (Malaguti, De Negri)
16. Team Dukla Praha (Kankovsky, Hochmann)
17. Marchiol Emisfero (Cecchin, Nibali)
18. Amore & Vita - Selle SMP (Pinizzotto, Martins)
19. Team Idea (Delle Stelle, Collodel)
20. Area Zero Pro Team (Chinello, Ciavatta)
21. Meridiana Kamen Team (Mucelli, Santoro)
22. Vega - Hotsand (Gaffurini, Ciavatta)
23. Adria Mobil (Rogina, Mugerli)
24. MG Kvis - Trevigiani (Nechita, Busato)
25. Utensilnord (Kusztor, Der)

Full startlist will emerge here: http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Settimana_Internazionale_Coppi_e_Bartali_2014-Startlist

Official race site: http://www.gsemilia.it/

The riders will be delighted with the idea of starting the first stage around 9am:

Not sure about broadcasting, but I'm sure we had highlights last year.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Stage 1B (TTT):

Stage 2:

Stage 3 (12 laps of 13,2km):

Stage 4 (TT):

 

[Arredondo]

Thx Dazed, i already had the plan to post this

I hope Swift can pull of a win here.

Ulissi or Rubiano for the overall

 

[Lexman]

Curious what the Topsport Vlaanderen boys will be able to deliver...

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Bardiani better try and ring up a win here.

 

[barmaher]

Are the laps in Stage 3 hilly? Seems to be the only profile missing.

 

[search]

it'll be a four men (or 3 for some of them) TTT again btw

Schumacher should be favorite for the overall I think

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Are the laps in Stage 3 hilly? Seems to be the only profile missing.

The answer is goose bumps:

Ah yes, restriction everywhere in life.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Nice race as such, but the timing is really off, so field is very second rate, competes against

- cobbles saison (which is ok-ish as those riders are no direct targets)
- Catalan (WT, all major stars are there)
- Criterium International (frenchies out and all those needing a nod from ASO)

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Nice race as such, but the timing is really off, so field is very second rate, competes against

- cobbles saison (which is ok-ish as those riders are no direct targets)
- Catalan (WT, all major stars are there)
- Criterium International (frenchies out and all those needing a nod from ASO)

I consider the CI and this one very similar, i.e at a lower level. These lower level races are needed to keep the machine running imo.

For me, the issue are the races at the top. These really shouldn't overlap if the plan is to drive TV audience, at least not until we have a more serious base to build on.

 

[oliveira]

Preety strong Sky lineup here. Is this the first leadership test for Pete Kennaugh?

 

[trevim]

This is Buongiorno!

 

[Roude Leiw]

I consider the CI and this one very similar, i.e at a lower level. These lower level races are needed to keep the machine running imo.
.

I totally agree, that's why they should not overlap if there is on top a WT race. Both spaced, you merge the startlist and have a decent field and still giving 2nd tier teams a chance to shine

 

[hfer07]

I like this edition since the start list is very even, so we're preparing ourselves to a great racing session.

Will be any broadcasting available?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Will be any broadcasting available?

Not live.
Recorded highlights on RaiSport2 in the evening.
Times in CET:
Thursday 22:30 Stage 1
Friday 21:00 Stage 2
Saturday 22:10 Stage 3
Sunday 23:40 Stage 4 (following 22:40 Trofeo Binda Cittiglio)

 

[roundabout]

A bit disappointing to have only 2.5 road stages and only 1 of relevance to the GC

 

[Dazed and Confused]

A bit disappointing to have only 2.5 road stages and only 1 of relevance to the GC

yep, last year they ending with a road stage (the TT was 2nd last). This was the last stage:

http://www.steephill.tv/players/pro...olltv.com/2013/coppi-e-bartali/profile-05.jpg

 

[roundabout]

Yes, but I think that stage ended up a bit underwhelming.

When I think of this race, I think of Cunego and Monte Trebbio. Hope losing a day is temporary.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Yes, but I think that stage ended up a bit underwhelming.

When I think of this race, I think of Cunego and Monte Trebbio. Hope losing a day is temporary.

The stage was shortened due to bad weather, but I get your point.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

A few years ago this race seemed to be 1,5 flat stages, a TTT, two quite hilly stages with a circuit finish and a medium-mountain stage with no MTF. The Pavullo stage in 2010 when Niemiec and Santaromita disappeared into the distance following the Serpa neutralisations, and the Gaggio Montano stage in 2011 when Sella announced his comeback to the world, were really what I think this race is all about. I'd rather the TTT become an ITT of similar length and replace the ITT with another hilly stage as long as there is no uphill finish. If we're really lucky, it will finish with the Sassuolo circuit, which was always good for some interesting racing because it was long enough to tempt attacks but only steep in a couple of places near the top, so the gaps would be fairly small but the sprinty types would really have to go into the red to stay there.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

A few years ago this race seemed to be 1,5 flat stages, a TTT, two quite hilly stages with a circuit finish and a medium-mountain stage with no MTF. The Pavullo stage in 2010 when Niemiec and Santaromita disappeared into the distance following the Serpa neutralisations, and the Gaggio Montano stage in 2011 when Sella announced his comeback to the world, were really what I think this race is all about. I'd rather the TTT become an ITT of similar length and replace the ITT with another hilly stage as long as there is no uphill finish. If we're really lucky, it will finish with the Sassuolo circuit, which was always good for some interesting racing because it was long enough to tempt attacks but only steep in a couple of places near the top, so the gaps would be fairly small but the sprinty types would really have to go into the red to stay there.

I think the race has faced lots of cost cutting. We see the result on today. Maybe it can get back on track.

Anyway, perhaps Yellow Fluo will scheme a winning move:

 

[Grupetto1]

Preety strong Sky lineup here. Is this the first leadership test for Pete Kennaugh?

Hard to tell. The fact that there is a tt might mean it favours cataldo or kiri more but he did say in an interview a while ago that he'd like to give it a go

 

[manafana]

not mad on ttt in this type of race with the difference in team levels I have to say.

Scheduling is difficult to be fair so overlap is understandable at lower levels.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I consider the CI and this one very similar, i.e at a lower level. These lower level races are needed to keep the machine running imo.

For me, the issue are the races at the top. These really shouldn't overlap if the plan is to drive TV audience, at least not until we have a more serious base to build on.

these races have always been overlapping and it has never been a problem.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

This is Buongiorno!

with an itt in it?