The Tour de Romandie is, along with the Tour de Suisse, one of the two big cycling races in Switzerland. It's held since 1947 and is the most important preparation race for the Giro d'Italia. Irishman Stephen Roche is the record winner with three wins.
The course is very demanding. With 27 time trial kilometers, partly hilly, two mountain and two hill stages, it's the perfect test for the stage racers.
Spoiler
Result in 2011
1 Sandy Casar
FDJ
2 Juan Jose Cobo
Geox – TMC
3 Juan Manuel Garate
Rabobank
4 Romain Sicard
Euskaltel – Euskadi
5 Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas – Cannondale
Favorites
Robert Gesink (Rabobank) , Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)
Andreas Klöden (T-Mobile)
Jurgen Van den Broeck (Omega Pharma) , Michael Rogers (Sky)
A mediocrely strong starting field. Nibali and Gesink are the clear favorites, being both strong time trialists and climbers. Andy Klöden will try to collect some WT points his team desperately needs. The likes of Duarte or Hesjedal have to limit the losses in the time trial to have a realist chance.
Team Liquigas
Vincenzo Nibali has a strong support here and aims to improve his fifth spot from last year. Still, he isn't in perfect shape yet.
Report
Taylor Phinney set an early best which lasted long. Only one guy could eventually beat him: Tony Martin. He takes the win and the first yellow jersey. Liquigas' best is Vincenzo Nibali, 11 seconds back on place 11. Gesink, his main rival, is four seconds slower.
1
Tony Martin
Team T-Mobile
5'16
2
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 4
3
Jos Van Emden
Skil – Shimano
+ 7
Eros Capecchi took part in the break which split during the last 20 kms. Only David De la Fuente (Geox) and Angèl Vicioso (Androni) were left in front. On the last descent, Nibali attacked. He created a small gap and could keep a couple of meters (but no seconds) into the finish. But right in front of him, De la Fuente outsprinted Vicioso for the win.
1
David De la Fuente
Geox – TMC
4h28'50
2
Angel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
3
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas – Cannondale
s.t.
A break dominated the stage with a maximum advance of nine minutes. The pack didn't show much interest in bringing them back as no one was a GC danger. So 10 men sprinted for the win and in the end, Daniele Ratto edged out Iván Gutierrez to take Geox' second stage win in a row. Young Canadian David Veilleux completed the podium. The pack finished 2'35 behind.
1
Daniele Ratto
Geox – TMC
4h11'42
2
Iván Gutierrez
Movistar Team
s.t.
3
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
s.t.
For a long time, Taylor Phinney held the best time today. Eventually, only three men were able to beat him. First, Australian Champion Richie Porte bested his time. Then, Vincenzo Nibali, who had a magnific day, was only parts of a second slower than Porte. But in the end, top favorite and GC leader Tony Martin set the best time. Nibali advances to second in the GC, 11 seconds behind Martin, 29 seconds in front of Robert Gesink.
1
Tony Martin
Team T-Mobile
33'39
2
Richie Porte
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 4
3
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas – Cannondale
s.t.
A rather strong break managed to break free and got a reasonable advance. But the decisive move was made by Fabio Duarte and Kevin Seeldraeyers, who jumped to the front on the first climb of the day. Although Liquigas and T-Mobile tried their best, they stayed in front. On the last kilometers, Duarte attacked and secured Geox' third win! He finished 1'37 in front of the favorite's group and overtakes the leaders jersey. He's now 9 seconds in front of Michael Rogers and 21' in front of Nibali.
1
Fabio Duarte
Geox – TMC
4h05'37
2
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 39
3
Michael Rogers
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'06
…
13
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas – Cannondale
+ 1'37
Last stage: Janez Brakovic soloed for quite some time but was reeled in on the last ascent. Duarte and Seeldraeyers then got away but Nibali used his terrific downhilling skills to bring them back. On the flat part, no one had a chance against the rather big first group so a sprint would decide the stage. Simon Spilak won it in front of Jelle Vanendert. No changes in the GC.
1
Simon Spilak
Lampre – ISD
3h26'41
2
Jelle Vanendert
Omega Pharma – Lotto
s.t.
3
Wout Poels
Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
Classifications
Overall
1
Fabio Duarte
Geox - TMC
16h55'47
2
Michael Rogers
Sky ProCycling
+ 9
3
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 21
4
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 30
5
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 37
6
Simon Spilak
Lampre - ISD
+ 49
7
Robert Gesink
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 50
8
Sandy Casar
FDJ
+ 51
9
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 52
10
Wout Poels
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'10
Spoiler
11
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
+ 1'19
12
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
+ 1'31
13
Paolo Tiralongo
Pro Team Astana
+ 1'33
14
Tony Martin
Team T-Mobile
+ 1'38
15
Kim Kirchen
Team T-Mobile
+ 1'42
16
Robert Kiserlovski
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
17
Christophe Le Mével
Team Europcar
+ 1'54
18
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2'13
19
Danilo Di Luca
Lampre - ISD
+ 2'22
20
Christophe Kern
Team Europcar
+ 2'41
21
Jelle Vanendert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 2'54
22
Rafael Valls
Geox - TMC
+ 3'15
23
Richie Porte
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 3'25
24
Ryder Hesjedal
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 4'07
25
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4'20
26
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
+ 4'41
27
Vladimir Gusev
Katusha Team
+ 4'55
28
Tom Danielson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 5'00
29
Andrew Talansky
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 5'02
30
Thomas Dekker
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 5'10
31
Jérôme Coppel
Movistar Team
+ 5'20
32
Michael Albasini
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 5'56
33
Andreas Klöden
Team T-Mobile
+ 6'01
34
Pieter Weening
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 6'04
35
Simon Gerrans
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 6'13
36
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 6'31
37
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
+ 6'44
38
Stefan Schumacher
Team T-Mobile
+ 7'03
39
Thomas De Gendt
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 7'17
40
David De la Fuente
Geox - TMC
+ 7'42
41
Óscar Sevilla
Unicef - Oracle
+ 7'52
42
Omar Fraile
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 7'54
43
Jan Bakelants
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 8'01
44
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 8'05
45
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 8'14
46
Juan Mauricio Soler
Movistar Team
+ 8'19
47
Yaroslav Popovych
Unicef - Oracle
+ 8'36
48
Bart De Clercq
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 8'58
49
Massimo Giunti
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
50
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 9'21
51
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
+ 9'28
52
Bruno Pires
Leopard Trek
+ 10'11
53
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 10'13
54
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 10'19
55
Daniel Martin
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 10'36
56
Brice Feillu
Leopard Trek
+ 10'45
57
Janez Brajkovič
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 11'54
58
Benjamín Noval
Movistar Team
+ 14'02
59
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
+ 14'20
60
Anders Lund
Leopard Trek
+ 14'45
61
Stijn Devolder
Skil - Shimano
+ 14'55
62
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 15'49
63
Mario Aerts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 16'01
64
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
+ 16'12
65
Henry Frusto
Androni Giocattoli
+ 17'06
66
Iván Gutiérrez
Movistar Team
+ 17'31
67
Benoît Vaugrenard
FDJ
+ 18'00
68
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
+ 18'44
69
Oliver Zaugg
Skil - Shimano
+ 18'53
70
Alexandr Kolobnev
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 19'08
71
Manuel Cardoso
BMC Racing Team
+ 19'23
72
Dominique Rollin
FDJ
+ 19'47
73
Pavel Brutt
Katusha Team
+ 19'49
74
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 19'51
75
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 19'53
76
Giuseppe Palumbo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 20'01
77
Kristof Vandewalle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 20'14
78
Davide Rebellin
Katusha Team
+ 21'16
79
José Serpa
Androni Giocattoli
+ 21'49
80
Óscar Freire
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 22'17
81
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
+ 23'00
82
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 23'29
83
Thomas Rohregger
Leopard Trek
+ 23'35
84
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
+ 23'45
85
Simon Geschke
Skil - Shimano
+ 24'06
86
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
+ 24'30
87
Fabio Felline
Geox - TMC
+ 24'43
88
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 25'16
89
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
+ 25'57
90
José Vicente García Acosta
Movistar Team
+ 26'47
91
Dries Devenyns
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 27'44
92
David Loosli
BMC Racing Team
+ 28'17
93
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
+ 28'35
94
Chris Barton
BMC Racing Team
+ 28'46
95
Daniele Ratto
Geox - TMC
+ 29'01
96
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 29'15
97
Jürgen Van de Walle
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 29'33
98
Gene Michael Bates
Sky ProCycling
+ 29'39
99
Marco Marcato
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 30'23
100
Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar
+ 30'26
101
Raffaele Ferrara
Androni Giocattoli
+ 31'55
102
Francisco José Ventoso
Pro Team Astana
+ 32'14
103
Matthias Brändle
Leopard Trek
+ 32'56
104
Pablo Urtasun
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 35'03
105
José Belda
Movistar Team
+ 36'05
106
Vincenzo Garofalo
Androni Giocattoli
+ 36'40
107
Heinrich Haussler
Sky ProCycling
+ 36'43
108
David Millar
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 38'57
109
Allan Davis
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 39'08
110
Jos Van Emden
Skil - Shimano
+ 40'22
111
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
+ 40'28
112
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 40'52
113
Grega Bole
Lampre - ISD
+ 41'24
114
Cédric Pineau
FDJ
+ 41'43
115
Jonathan Monsalve
Androni Giocattoli
+ 42'45
116
Matthew Busche
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 43'43
117
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
+ 44'33
118
John Degenkolb
Team T-Mobile
+ 45'07
119
Gerald Ciolek
Team T-Mobile
+ 46'58
120
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
+ 48'05
121
Assan Bazayev
Pro Team Astana
+ 48'43
122
Steve Chainel
FDJ
+ 49'05
123
Yohann Gène
Team Europcar
+ 50'49
124
Bjorn Selander
Unicef - Oracle
+ 52'54
125
Lieuwe Westra
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 54'29
126
Rick Flens
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 54'30
127
Yohan Offredo
FDJ
+ 55'18
128
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
+ 55'44
129
Matteo Pelucchi
Geox - TMC
+ 56'44
130
Vicente Reynès
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 56'47
131
Gert Steegmans
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 57'56
132
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h01'42
133
Daniele Righi
Lampre - ISD
+ 1h02'09
134
Daniele Bennati
Lampre - ISD
+ 1h03'36
135
Scott Davis
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 1h06'45
136
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD
+ 1h08'18
137
Davide Appollonio
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h10'31
138
Luke Roberts
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 1h11'15
139
Davide Viganò
Leopard Trek
+ 1h11'44
140
Mark Cavendish
Team T-Mobile
+ 1h14'06
141
Marko Kump
Geox - TMC
+ 1h14'28
142
Kenny Van Hummel
Skil - Shimano
+ 1h15'08
143
Mark Renshaw
Team T-Mobile
+ 1h15'26
144
Roy Curvers
Skil - Shimano
+ 1h15'36
145
Cameron Meyer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 1h17'12
146
Geoffroy Lequatre
Unicef - Oracle
+ 1h17'48
147
Arnaud Gérard
FDJ
+ 1h18'05
148
Grégory Rast
Unicef - Oracle
+ 1h20'20
149
Greg Henderson
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h20'49
150
Giacomo Nizzolo
Leopard Trek
+ 1h21'14
151
Tom Stamsnijder
Leopard Trek
+ 1h22'06
152
Jens Debusschere
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 1h22'24
153
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 1h22'35
154
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
+ 1h22'45
155
Tyler Farrar
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 1h24'14
156
Alan Marangoni
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1h24'24
157
Svein Tuft
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 1h33'02
158
Theo Bos
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h33'59
159
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - ISD
+ 1h34'02
160
Roger Kluge
Skil - Shimano
+ 1h34'05
161
Roger Hammond
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1h38'58
162
Maxim Gourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h39'04
163
Alexander Kristoff
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h42'37
164
Giovanni Bernaudeau
Team Europcar
+ 1h42'59
165
Francesco Chicchi
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1h43'20
166
Jeremy Hunt
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h43'40
167
Marcel Kittel
Skil - Shimano
+ 1h48'17
168
Eloy Teruel
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h49'45
169
Maciej Bodnar
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1h49'47
170
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1h51'14
171
Robbie McEwen
Unicef - Oracle
+ 1h51'19
172
Alexandre Pichot
Team Europcar
+ 1h51'22
173
Tomas Alberio
Geox - TMC
+ 1h51'34
174
Bryan Ducret
Team Europcar
+ 2h03'41
175
Spencer Patterson
Unicef - Oracle
+ 2h05'44
Points
1
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
38
2
Simon Spilak
Lampre - ISD
38
3
Tony Martin
Team T-Mobile
36
4
David De la Fuente
Geox - TMC
33
5
Michael Rogers
Sky ProCycling
32
Mountain
1
Fabio Felline
Geox - TMC
32
2
Fabio Duarte
Geox - TMC
26
3
Janez Brajkovič
Liquigas - Cannondale
26
4
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
22
5
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Quick·Step Cycling Team
20
Young Riders
1
Wout Poels
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
16h56'57
2
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'03
3
Rafael Valls
Geox - TMC
+ 2'05
4
Andrew Talansky
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 3'52
5
Omar Fraile
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 6'44
Teams
1
Rabobank Cycling Team
50h51'00
2
Geox - TMC
+ 4'21
3
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 4'28
The Winner
Geox had a terrific race. Three stage wins and the overall for Fabio Duarte. The Colombian finally lives up to his full potential and scores his first major win! That looks promising for future races.
Liquigas Resumé
We succeeded in our major goal giving Nibali a top GC position. He performed extraordinarily well in both time trials but he showed in the mountains that his form isn't perfect yet. But he's on a great way towards the Giro.
Podium is good for not the best form, and I love to see Duarte win!
BTW, I like the way you reported this race. You should do this for all races Dom isn't in!
Also, I came across this video, which you may have seen. I had imagined in my head, from reading your story, a picture of Dominik and how he would act. This video is really quite weird to watch for me, hope you enjoy it too!
@ Teddy The Creator: Yep, I'm pleased with the third spot as well. And I agree, I like to see Duarte winning as well, mostly because I'd rather see Geox promote than something like Landbouwkredit And thanks a lot for the video, it's quite funny to see Dominik actually speek^^
@ tsmoha, FuglsangxTH3 & sutty68: Thank you. Considering that Nibali was only fifth last year in a weaker field but nonetheless won the Giro dominantly makes me optimistic.
So, here's the first brief overview about the continental races we participated in this month (since I decided not to report them in detail anymore). Please tell me what you think about it!
Mosquera won the queens stage in a dominant way. Veloso won the time trial and kicked Nibali from the podium.
16.5. Tour du Finistère
1
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas – Cannondale
6h23'00
2
Peter Sagan
Liquigas – Cannondale
+ 2'01
3
Kurt Asle Arvesen
Nokia – Sungard
s.t.
4
Sébastien Joly
Saur – Sojasun
s.t.
5
David Le Lay
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2'40
Damiano Cunego wins with a terrific solo ride. Peter Sagan outsprints the other followers.
19. - 22.5. Giro del Trentino
Sponsor Goal: Win
1
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
14h37'09
2
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago – CSF Inox
+ 53
3
Haimar Zubeldia
Unicef – Oracle
+ 1'16
4
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas – Cannondale
+ 1'37
5
Wout Poels
Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'46
Vincenzo Nibali still lacked of shape and misses the sponsor goal due to a bad third stage. At least he won the fourth stage afterwards but that wasn't enough.
24.4. - 2.5. Presidential Tour of Turkey
1
Michel Kreder
Skil – Shimano
30h59'39
2
Vladimir Efimkin
Itera – Katusha
+ 1'31
3
Francesco Failli
Farnese Vini – Neri Sottoli
+ 2'11
4
Karsten Kroon
Skil – Shimano
+ 2'15
5
Elia Favilli
Farnese Vini – Neri Sottoli
+ 2'34
...
13
Daniel Oss
Liquigas – Cannondale
+ 5'57
Giro preparation for our sprinters. We didn't do too well, only Viviani achieved one third and one fourth spot. Timothy Duggan suffered from a skull fracture and is out until mit june.
Some nice results in Conti-races! Nibali with a stsge-win and two decent overall results is good for Giro-preparation.. Cunego finally came back to win a race just like he did early in the season
Very nice, maybe if something great happens like that double in Finistère, you could do a special report or something, but other than that, great job as always. Can't wait for the Giro!
Thank you. I'm glad that you like the format of the recap, I guess I'll keep it that way. Maybe, @ Teddy The Creator, I could add a bit in case of an extraordinary result.
Here's the ranking review, next would be the Giro preview.
Above all stands the Ardennes triple of Philippe Gilbert. Apart from him, only Samuel Sanchez (Pais Vasco, Miguel Indurain) and Mikel Nieve (GP Llodio, Asturias) scored more than one win.
World Tour Ranking
Cunego could keep his lead closely in front of Philippe Gilbert, who scored most points this months during the Ardennes. The rest of the Top 10 is dominated by classics riders as well, Stijn Devolder might be the most surprising appearance, as he added to his nice March results two Top 5s in the cobblestone monuments.
Liquigas and Omega Pharma are still on top of the ranking due to fantastic results in the Ardennes. The winner of the month is Leopard, who made a big leap after their terrific performances at De Ronde and Paris - Roubaix
Sky made the jump from the last spot out of the least 5. GreenEdge improved a bit as well while it looks very bad for T-Mobile, who scored only 12 points this month. Also, it's surprising to see Garmin there as the classics are usually their strong point. It could be a tough season for them.
CQ Ranking
Damiano Cunego still has a great lead over his followers. Gilbert made the jump out of nowhere to place two. While Rojas fell out of the Top 10, Euskaltel firstly has two riders there.
While Liquigas still leads comfortably, behind them it's really tight. Movistar had a bad month and falls from second to sixth. The classics teams of Omega Pharma, Quick·Step and Skil are in great positions at the moment which should change after the Grand Tours.
The constellation didn't change much here. Saur even extended their lead over their followers. But the big points will be spread during the next months, so we'll see what happens. Nothing is even close to being decided yet.T
Victory Ranking
The Top 5 of the individual ranking remain the same, except that Boonen overtakes Veelers. In the team ranking, both Liquigas and Saur could achieve four wins and keep their top positions. Nieve and Sanchez provided Euskaltel with an excellent month and vault the team to third place.
Monthly Awards
Very, very surprising: It's not Philippe Gilbert but Samuel Sanchez who wins the award. Although Sanchez did great this month, that is a bit undeserved in my opinion. Adriano Malori won the opening time trial of the Giro del Trentino.
Preview March
7. - 29.5.
Giro d'Italia
*****
Top 3
25. - 29.5.
Bayern-Rundfahrt
Our main event of the year is on in May. Vincenzo Nibali aims to defend his Giro title. Although the sponsor „only“ aims for a Top 3, we want more! Later this month, Roman Kreuziger starts his Tour preparation in Bavaria. A very clear schedule.
Can't wait for the Giro! Nibali had some nice results in his preparation. I don't think Sánchez will go for the Giro, too.. he looks in shape as well.. but I will wait for the preview
In its 95th edition, the Giro once again has a spectacular route. It kicks off with four very tough stages on the island of Sicily: Stage one is a road stage from Palermo to Castellammare del Golfo featuring a couple of decent hills. Although the finish is flat, it's not necessarily a sprinter who'll wear the first pink jersey.
Afterwards, the GC contenders already have to show something in a 28 kms long time trial containing 15 ascending kms. Following a tough, 223 kms long flat stage, the fourth one is the first almost mountainious stage that leads the pack over the Portella Mandrazzi and the Portella San Rizzo to Messina where the riders will leave Sicily.
Spoiler
On the Italian mainland, the peloton passes two calm transfer stages until the pack hits the first really, really, really hard mountain: In the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, the climb up to the Rifugio Calvanico will seperate the wheat from the chaff.
Afterwards, the riders continue to travel northwards. Another hilly stage to Isernia is followed by the next mountain top finish in the Abruzzo region: The Monte Piselli in San Giacomo.
Spoiler
The next five stages are relatively calm. It starts with a team time trial to Pescara, but with 28 kms the gaps shouldn't be too big. With the next stage, a hilly one which might be quite selective, the riders firstly arrive at the Adriatic coast, but quickly turn inland to Nocera Umbra on Stage 12. Four very hard mountains await the riders.
The following two stages are rather flat although a couple of hills might give a puncheur the chance for a stage win.
Spoiler
Stage 15 opens the decisive phase of the Giro! Three consecutive mountain top finishes on the Monte Cimone, the Colle del Nivolet and the Cervinia provide lots of opportunities to make decisive moves and gain time on the respective opponents.
Spoiler
After two hilly-to-mountainious stages with flat finishes, the queen stage up to the Passo del Stelvio is the very last opportunity for minor time trialists to gain some time. Eventually, the Giro comes to an end with 26 kms of time trialing from Monza to Milano.
Spoiler
In conclusion:
28 kms of mountain time trialing
26 kms of flat time trialing
28 kms of team time trialing
9 mountain stages with 6 mountain top finishes
5 hilly stages
4 flat stages
Enjoy!
Result in 2011
1
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
84h52'58
2
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - ISD
+ 2'30
3
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
+ 6'15
4
Marco Pinotti
HTC - Highroad
+ 6'17
5
Stefano Garzelli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 7'52
Favorites
General Classification
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas - Cannondale)
The defending champion is again the top favorite for this year. He's a very good climber, has good hilly and decent time trialing skills and a strong team to support him. He should be the man to beat.
Fabio Duarte (Geox - TMC)
Duarte is one of the best when it comes to large mountains. He lacks a lot of both hilly and time trialing qualities but considering the route, this is probably his best chance ever to achieve a really great place in a GT. Winning the Tour de Romandie, he seems to be in great shape.
Ivan Basso (Katusha Team)
With Liquigas, Basso had an amazing last season. He returns to the Giro with his new team Katusha, which provides him with the support of Garzelli and Pellizotti. He is an equally good climber as Nibali but a bit weaker on hills and time trials. A podium should be his minimum goal.
Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
Cadel Evans lost quite a bit of his former climbing abilities but should be the best on both hills and time trials. The route isn't really made for him, plus he has a pretty weak team, but he sure is a contender for at least a Top 5.
Michele Scarponi (Lampre - ISD)
Michele Scarponi is a great allrounder. There are better climbers, better puncheurs and better time trialists but he is very good on all those terrains. A Top 5 is definetely in reach.
José Rujano (Androni Giocattoli)
The Venezuelan is probably the best climber in the field along with Fabio Duarte. His weak points are the same as well: bad puncheur, a bit better time trialist. But he lacks a bit of recovery which might handicap him in the third week. A Top 5, maybe even the podium is possible for him nevertheless.
Ezequiel Mosquera (Movistar Team)
Levi Leipheimer (Unicef - Oracle)
Michael Rogers (Sky ProCycling)
Janez Brajkovic (Liquigas - Cannondale)
Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel - Euskadi)
Przemyslav Niemiec (Lampre - ISD)
Marzio Bruseghin (Movistar Team)
Robert Kiserlovski (Pro Team Astana)
Kanstantin Siutsou (Team T-Mobile)
Sprinters
Manuel Cardoso (BMC Racing Team)
Manuel Cardoso is probably the best sprinter in the field. He is also a decent puncheur which is important on the few flat stages.
Elia Viviani (Liquigas - Cannondale)
The Italian developed amazingly in the last one and a half years. Also, he has the advantage of home soil. His secondary skills are still rather weak which is why he'll be hard to estimate.
Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel - Euskadi)
Fernandez is the best puncheur among the top sprinters. In addition, he has a top recovery. We can expect some nice performances.
Heinrich Haussler (Sky ProCycling)
Daniele Bennati (Lampre - ISD)
Francesco Chicchi (Quick·Step Cycling Team)
Young Riders Classification
Alexandre Geniez (Skil - Shimano)
The concurrence of young riders is rather weak this year which makes Alexandre Geniez one of the best climbers. His maybe biggest advantage his that he's the team's leader and can ride completely for himself.
Tejay Van Garderen (Team T-Mobile)
The young American is by far the best time trialist among the contenders but there aren't too many TT kms. We'll see what hecan do in the mountains.
Rafael Valls (Geox TMC)
Rafael Valls is Duarte's domestique which might cost him some time. At least, he's an equally good climber as Geniez. He'll lose time on the time trials, that's for sure.
We attend our main event of the year with a very strong squad:
Vincenzo Nibali is of course our undisputed leader. He's a top climber and a very decent time trialist. We expect him to defend his title from last year.
Janez Brajkovic and Sylvester Szmyd are his luxury domestiques in the mountains. With his amazing time trialing skills, Janez also aims for a Top 10 in the GC but is always ready to completely neglect his ambitions in favor of Nibali.
Eros Capecchi is the third good mountain helper. In later stages, he might get his chances in breakaways.
Elia Viviani and Jacopo Guarnieri are our sprinters. But to be honest, we don't expect much of Guarnieri, considering his recent performances. In contrary to him, Elia Viviani did another leap right on schedule and should be able to perform very well.
Daniel Oss is our Capitaine de Route. He will have to do a lot of work in both chases and sprint preparations and might go into breaks later.
Maciej Bodnar and Cameron Wurf are pure domestiques who are basically only here for the team time trial on stage 10.
And thanks a lot for the video, it's quite funny to see Dominik actually speek^^
