Tour of the Alps 2022 (April 18-22)

[Devil's Elbow]

Time for the main Giro prep race. The route is a bit disappointing but we should still get some solid racing.

Startlist

Roadbook

Stage 1

Passo Brocon

Passo Gobbera

Final kilometres

Stage 2
Very similar to the 2018 stage to Meran/Merano, won by a young Ben O'Connor.

Passo Rolle

Mendelpass/Passo della Mendola

Gampenpass/Passo delle Palade (final 13.2k only)

Stage 3

Feldthurns/Velturno

Elvas (click the link, I ran into the image limit again)

Terenten/Terento

Furkelpass/Passo Furcia

Stage 4

Kartitscher Sattel (beware of the descent, it's surprisingly nasty once they enter Carinthia)

Gailberg Sattel

The two little climbs after the intermediate sprint in Lienz are 1.5 km at 10.6% and 2.1 km at 5.3% respectively.

Kals am Grossglockner (until the marker for the village 7.5k before the end of the profile)

Stage 5

Bannberg (first ascent) + Bichl + Anras (right-to-left)

Bannberg (second ascent)

Stronach

The hill to the line is 0.6 km at 8.5%.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The only good stage design in and of itself would be a relatively short stage on the WWT.

However, with the field it has, this might actually be for the best, because any big MTF would just mean everybody waits for that stage. I'm hopeful that we aren't going to see everybody wait for Stronach and so teams will have to be a bit more creative.

Go Arrieta, González and Lipowitz!

 

[gregrowlerson]

Go Froomey!

 

[Gigs_98]

Basically just here to hear what @Mayomaniac has to say about the final two stages

 

[Mayomaniac]

Basically just here to hear what @Mayomaniac has to say about the final two stages

The final stage is awesome, nit a friend of the flat at the start, but the Höhenstraße is pure bike porn with multiple kms at over 11%.
The penultimate stage is kinda meh, the most interesting thing is the descent of the Kartitscher Sattel. Always up and down with short, steep ramps and lots of twists and turns. If the stage would finish right on the Gailbergsattel or after the Gailbersattel descent it would be perfect for an ambush.

They ruined a fine stage (stage 2) by having a 10km flat circuit around Lana at the end. Read Lana backwards and you know what I think about that stage...

 

[Mayomaniac]

Sadly I wont be able to watch any stage on the road because of work, I was looking forward to the start of stage 4.

 

[Escarabajo]

I like the parcours. It really open up things but at the same time gives opportunity for the stronger rider to win.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Also, watch out for Felix Gall, mainly on the last 2 stages.
He's in great shape atm and from a village around Lienz (you can meet him on your training rides when he's at home). The final 2 stages take place in his backyard, so he'll be super motivated.

 

[Mayomaniac]

The only good stage design in and of itself would be a relatively short stage on the WWT.

However, with the field it has, this might actually be for the best, because any big MTF would just mean everybody waits for that stage. I'm hopeful that we aren't going to see everybody wait for Stronach and so teams will have to be a bit more creative.

Go Arrieta, González and Lipowitz!

No love for Rangel?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

This is a pretty big gap to give to a breakaway containing Geoffrey Bouchard...

 

[SafeBet]

Still 6 minutes with 60 km to go.

 

[RedheadDane]

Down to just below 5 minutes now.

 

[Salvarani]

They have gifted the race to Bouchard on the first stage

 

[Taxus4a]

I can't watch the race...I have read Israel is pushing? Is it true? With wich riders? it is Froome working? Do they work for Goldstain or Nizzolo? I think the stage is too hard for Nizzolo...but everything depends on favourites attitude. thanks if you can tell me.

 

[Mayomaniac]

And Rangel is in the breakaway!
Not the first Brazillian here, I remember Flavio Cardoso Santos leading the breakaway past my hometown when the Firsanov show happened...

 

[RedheadDane]

I can't watch the race...I have read Israel is pushing? Is it true? With wich riders? it is Froome working? Do they work for Goldstain or Nizzolo? I think the stage is too hard for Nizzolo...but everything depends on favourites attitude. thanks if you can tell me.

Reports are, it is indeed the famous domestique Froome working.

 

[Taxus4a]

Reports are, it is indeed the famous domestique Froome working.

The team need results, but it is no good to measure Froome level to see him working

 

[RedheadDane]

Bahrain working now.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Look at the Dawg at the front lurking with malicious intent right behind Bahrain!!

 

[gregrowlerson]

Look at the Dawg at the front lurking with malicious intent right behind Bahrain!!

I'm getting 2011 Tour of Poland vibes.

 

[RedheadDane]

Ineos attempting damage control.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

It was clearly a mistake to drop the others. Now they might not make it

 

[RedheadDane]

It was clearly a mistake to drop the others. Now they might not make it

The others had different plans.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The others had different plans.

If Bais and Etxeberria were simply dead weight, I could understand why they wanted to get rid of them, but now it just looks stupid.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

If Bais and Etxeberria were simply dead weight, I could understand why they wanted to get rid of them, but now it just looks stupid.

They are probably gone for good now. 3 minutes at this stage is very promising.