208km through the Alps but without a mountain pass and hopefully with out a polemic post-race debate too. Today might not be for the sprinters as we’ve seen teams reluctant to work and the Ca’ del Poggio wall sits 20km from the finish.
Today’s stage passes through the Veneto region so a look at the Italian cycle industry because no other region in the world has such a concentration of famous cycling brands, from Sidi to Pinarello. Even Oakley is owned by a company founded here.
The mountains were covered in cloud but the last stage of the Giro has been equally marked the “fog of war” following uncertainty over the Stelvio descent with claim and counter-claim about safety measures on the the descent.
This is the stage that many fans and locals have waited a long time to see but the riders will be less keen with grim weather conditions ahead. It’s still not certain whether the proposed route is viable with RCS studying weather conditions.
Huge climbs and the short distance means this could be an explosive stage. The Passo Gavia is infamous and the Passo Stelvio is the literal high point of the race and a very challenging climb with thanks to the triple combo of length, gradient and altitude. All this before the climb of Val Martello, 22.3km long at 6.4% but with a series of steep steps to climb on the way making it ideal for attacks.
Who will win the Giro? The forecast for tomorrow’s weather seems hard to get right so predicting anything for the rest of the week seems tough.
With the Giro taking a pause today, a look across the sport to count up the win rates of different teams. As usual the quantitative take gives us the numbers on the racing so far this season but behind the numbers are a variety of stories.
200km and then a decisive summit finish, a brutal change of rhythm from a high speed approach to a grinding uphill climb. Each time the Giro has finished on Montecampione the stage winner has gone on to win the Giro.
The Giro reaches the Alps and we’re in for a week climbing with a variety of uphill finishes. Today doesn’t reach high altitude, instead it compensates with steep gradients and scenery, passing through the Zenga Oasis park before the finish at the Oropa Sancturary.
I’ve enjoyed the Mountain High book and its sequel Mountain Higher. On the back of this the publishers have released an app for Apple devices. Armed with a friend’s iPad I took a look.
A short transition stage to take the race to the foot of the Alps only without the foothills. It’s flat and one of the last chances for the sprinters.
Predictable? Yes that’s why today’s preview also includes a tale about the Calabrian mafia plus the the nearby Colle del Nivolet, the highest mountain pass in Europe you’ve probably never heard of.
So far the “fight for pink” has been a group hug with riders marking each other. Exclude Domenico Pozzovivo’s 30 second raid to Sestola last Sunday and most of the time gaps on GC have been created when the riders weren’t racing together, whether in the team time trial or following the Montecassino crash. All change today as riders are forced to show their form.