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Giro d'Italia 2016 - Week 3 (24th - 29th May)
Stromeon
www.italyrivieralps.com/fileadmin/archivio/savonanews/Giro-dItalia-2016-Logo.jpg


So as we pick up the pieces from a rather bizarre time-trial it's time to look forward to the second week.. wait no that was my intro to the week 2 thread. It's ok though, just replace the word 'second' with 'third' and it's exactly the same. Except now instead of having all the top GC guys within just a few seconds of each other, we have someone clearly out in front, and it's not someone anybody would have predicted! Steven Kruijswijk has put in an astonishing performance so far and holds a commanding lead of 2'12'' over second-placed Esteban Chaves, but with the final week that we've got in store, anything could happen and I think any of the top six would like to still back themselves for the overall win one way or another.


Stage 16: Bressanone - Andalo (132km)

First stage after the rest-day is a very interesting-looking one. At 132km it's the shortest road stage of this year's Giro, but the last 20km should provide us with some nice GC action. The Passo della Mendola will likely not have any impact on the race other than shedding some domestiques out the peloton, but the climb of Fai della Paganella (10.3km @ 7.4%) is pretty serious for a second-category, and topping out 10km from the finish offers a great platform for an attack to stay away before the final little rise to Andalo (though with the actual climbing about 2km @ 6% its barely worthy of cat.3 status). Sandwiched in between a rest day and a flat stage we should see some GC moves here as the first Kruijswijk-dethroning attempts begin.

static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T16_Andalo_alt-1.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/T16_Andalo_plan-4.jpg
Spoiler
static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T16_S02_Paganella.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T16_Andalo_ukm.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_G16_T16_Andalo_3D.jpg


pbs.twimg.com/media/Chg3l5BW0AAF1Hc.jpg

A flat stage. Either the sprinters teams want it, in which case it will be a sprint and Nizzolo won't win, or they don't, in which case Nizzolo won't win either.

static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T17_CassanoDA_alt.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/T17_CassanoDA_plan-1.jpg


pbs.twimg.com/media/Chm_4pHUkAEJ8SH.jpg

A hilly stage with a beautiful finale. The climb to Pramartino (4.7km @ 10.5%) is the opposite side to that climbed in the 2011 Tour, and is actually the steeper side (the one the Schlecks were moaning about having to descend). It's a really tough climb and my eyes are immediately turning towards Nibbles for an attack and then a fast descent on this one. Not to be forgotten is the Muro del Gatto-esque Via Principa d'Acaja just 2km from the finish, it may only be 500m in length but it averages 13.2% and gets up to 20%, meaning we won't have a sizeable group sprinting to the line together.

static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T18_Pinerolo_alt-2.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/T18_Pinerolo_plan-5.jpg
Spoiler
static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T18_S01_Pramartino-2.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T18_Pinerolo_ukm-3.jpg


Stage 19: Pinerolo - Risoul (162km)

The mighty, mythical beast that is the Colle dell'Agnello returns to the Giro for the first time since 2007 (although we have seen it in the 2011 Tour, from the same side, and the 2008 Tour, from the other side) although its position more than 50km from the finish means we're unlikely to see attacks unless someone's feeling very brave in very bad weather. In full, it's an ominous 21.3km @ 6.8%, but it is in two fairly distinct parts: the first, from Casteldelfino to Chianale, is 10.8km @ 4.4%, taking us up to an altitude of 1763m, before the next section is a smidge harder than the Giau, yes the Giau, in its entirety; 10.5km @ 9.3%. If we have bad weather conditions and snow this could be an epic climb seeing loads and loads of riders dropping off the back like flies. A long descent which after negotiating a few tricky turns near the top is for the most part not particularly technical, however, negates much action before we have our only straight-up mountain-top finish of the race, at the ski resort of Risoul (12.9km @ 6.9%), where Rafal Majka will have happy memories of his victory from the 2014 Tour de France.

static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T19_Risoul_alt-1.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T19_Risoul_plan-1.jpg
Spoiler
static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T19_S01_Agnello-1.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T19_S02_Risoul-3.jpg


Stage 20: Guillestre - Sant'Anna di Vinadio (134km)

This is a PROPER mountain stage, make no mistake. Although only 134km in length, we pack in long cat.1 ascents in a non-stop whirlwind of pain. The Col de Vars begins right from the very start of the stage and with 18.3 inconsistent kilometres at 6%, with the steepest stuff at the beginning, it will ensure a good fight for a strong break. The monolithic Col de la Bonette follows soon after (22.3km @ 6.7%) although we're not climbing the Cime loop in order to keep the Cima Coppi in Italy (or at least on the border). Nevertheless it's still a very long, very hard grind and the peloton should be minimal at the top of the ascent. A period of 10km of false descent between the end of the descent and the start of the next climb is the only flaw in this stage design, but it's a small one, and if someone's feeling very daring and there's weather chaos about, a move could be made on the Bonette. More likely, is that we will see a great deal of action on the Colle della Lombarda, which at 20km @ 7.5% is considerably steeper and perhaps more difficult. It's an absolutely brutal climb and we should see allsorts going on here. It tops out 10km from the line before a fast and furious descent takes us to the foot of the small but steep ramp to the Sanctuary where we finish (2.4km @ 8.1%) This stage will be absolute carnage whatever the weather, so I'm just praying that it goes ahead as planned.

static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T20_SAnnaVinadio_alt.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/T20_SAnnaVinadio_plan-1.jpg
Spoiler
static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T20_S01_Vars.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T20_S02_Bonette.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T20_S03_Lombarda.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/T20_SAnnaVinadio_ukm.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_G16_T20_Lombarda_3D.jpg


Stage 21: Cuneo - Torino (163km)

The flat parade stage finishes proceedings off much like last year, although we get to see a nice finish in Torino (would have been nice if they'd included the Superga somewhere...)

static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PW_T21_Torino_alt.jpgstatic2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/T21_Torino_plan-1.jpg

i.imgur.com/55sT7og.png Coldeportes i.imgur.com/55sT7og.png

Vamos Nairo! #SueñoAmarillo
 
Shonak
It is on like Donkey Kong, glorious week ahead of us.

Why there is no mountain stage on Corpus Christi in catholic Italy is beyond me honestly.
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"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
 
Riis123
A 260 km WC-esque route over Superga 10 times would've been glorious.

On a serious note, I can't wait for stages 18. I put on my finest climbing exhibition, ever, on Pra Martino in 2011, outspinting my 85-kg father on the top. That deserves some respect.

On a slightly more serious note, stage 20 looks like a goodie. I hope for action on Agnello, but the stage really is designed for a showdown on Risoul, unfortunately
 
Luxemburger
This will be very interesting to see. So many guaranteed action, with these considerable time gaps I can even think of attacks at the Agnello. And to be the first one making GC predictions (somewhat) I say that Chaves is the only one I can think of beating Kruijswijk, as he can hang on the Astana/Movistar trains and I think he's stronger than Nibali and Valv

And Bonette! Banana
 
Guido Mukk
stage 16 and 20..short stages. They never fail. Shorter they are..then harder they go.
Absolutely mad man designed profiles on this week. Great for sofa people. Hard for riders who has been riding 2 weeks already.
 
Riis123
Guido Mukk wrote:
stage 16 and 20..short stages. They never fail. Shorter they are..then harder they go.
Absolutely mad man designed profiles on this week. Great for sofa people. Hard for riders who has been riding 2 weeks already.


Its actually 'much easier' than the ending of the 2012 Giro fx. Unfortunately, or fortunately for us now, the chances are that the stages this year will be much better raced.
Stage 17 - Duran, Staulanza and Giau in quick succession. What a finale - on paper.
Stage 19 - Manghen, Lavaze and x2 Pampeago
Stage 20 - Tonale, Mortirolo and Stelvio

The same can you say about 2013, probably to a lesser extension than 2012, although everyone were cancelled, shortened etc.
Stage 15 - Cenis, Telegraphe and Galibier
Stage 19 - Gavia. Stelvio and Val Martello (the stage Quintana won in 2014)
Stage 20 - Costalunga, Pellegrino, Giau (from the bottom..) and Tre Cime.

You can probably do that for 2014 and 2015 as well, altho 2012 probably was the most insane. I say its a relatively moderate final days relative to what they have come up with in the past.
 
Spilak23
Today NIbali will start working towards his Giro win. People forgot how god Slongo's guys are in the final week. Both Aru and NIbali have previously shown weakness in 2Nd week before becoming absolute beasts in the final days.
 
Spilak23
Riis123 wrote:
The same can you say about 2013, probably to a lesser extension than 2012, although everyone were cancelled, shortened etc.
Stage 15 - Cenis, Telegraphe and Galibier
Stage 19 - Gavia. Stelvio and Val Martello (the stage Quintana won in 2014)
Stage 20 - Costalunga, Pellegrino, Giau (from the bottom..) and Tre Cime.


lol they really only did Telegraphe, Galibier and Tre Cime. Incredible in retrospect.
 
Riis123
Spilak23 wrote:
Riis123 wrote:
The same can you say about 2013, probably to a lesser extension than 2012, although everyone were cancelled, shortened etc.
Stage 15 - Cenis, Telegraphe and Galibier
Stage 19 - Gavia. Stelvio and Val Martello (the stage Quintana won in 2014)
Stage 20 - Costalunga, Pellegrino, Giau (from the bottom..) and Tre Cime.


lol they really only did Telegraphe, Galibier and Tre Cime. Incredible in retrospect.


Yep, the whether screwed that whole Giro
.. but take a look at the epicness of the 2012 stages. 2 incredibly hard dolomite stages and a +220 day with Mortirolo and Stelvio.
Edited by Riis123 on 24-05-2016 11:36
 
Arberg27
Spilak23 wrote:
Today NIbali will start working towards his Giro win. People forgot how god Slongo's guys are in the final week. Both Aru and NIbali have previously shown weakness in 2Nd week before becoming absolute beasts in the final days.

Nibali is overrated. People forgot that every time he faced the best in the world, he loses very BIG (Contador, Schleck, Wiggins, Froome, Quintana) and remember only the GTs, he has won over Mosquera, Urán and Péraud.
Edited by Arberg27 on 24-05-2016 12:41
 
Riis123
Arberg27 wrote:
Spilak23 wrote:
Today NIbali will start working towards his Giro win. People forgot how god Slongo's guys are in the final week. Both Aru and NIbali have previously shown weakness in 2Nd week before becoming absolute beasts in the final days.

Nibali is overrated. People forgot that every time he faced the best in the world, he loses very BIG (Contador, Schleck, Wiggins, Froome, Quintana) and remember only the GTs, he has won over Mosquera, Urán and Péraud.


That's a little too simplistic, nevertheless, its definitely true to some extent.

Antón was without a doubt the best climber in the 2010 Vuelta after winning 2 stages and being in the lead, but crashed out and therefore the road was paved for Nibali. That was the year, if I remember correctly, that Rodriguez also lost 7 minutes in the ITT and he fought fiercely to defend the jersey on the last day to Mosquera. However, that wasn't peak Nibali.

Giro 2013 was vague. Wiggins was completely different to the year before and didnt pose a thread at all, neither did anyone else. Some stages were cancelled and shortened, if they weren't, expect Nibali to win even bigger against the mediocre field. He was superb in 2013 and also won T-A and Trentino before finishing 2nd in the Vuelta to a doped to the grills Chris Horner. He put up a good fight, but it was obvious that the 42 y/o (...) Horner was better in the mountains.

Tour 2014 is probably the most interesting. Chances are, according to his numbers, that he would've hold on to that lead over Contador (almost 3 minutes). We never know, but thats the best Nibali we have ever seen and since, he hasn't really come close.

Nibali HAS been lucky. Nibali IS the worst rider to have won all 3 GT's. But he is no scrub and you don't win GTs by accident, but without various crashes and such, he would've probably won 2 if not 1 GT. But thats part of the game.
 
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Riis123
Spilak23 wrote:
Today NIbali will start working towards his Giro win. People forgot how god Slongo's guys are in the final week. Both Aru and NIbali have previously shown weakness in 2Nd week before becoming absolute beasts in the final days.


The funny thing is Slongo said yesterday that Nibali also will ride the Tour and his plan has been to hold his form from the Giro -> Tour - > Olympics.
Thats pretty arrogant honestly. 90% Nibali to win the Giro and dethrone Aru in the Tour afterwards?... I like the idea, its super risky, but I would have preferred Nibali to be at 100% here.
 
Luxemburger
Riis123 wrote:
Spilak23 wrote:
Today NIbali will start working towards his Giro win. People forgot how god Slongo's guys are in the final week. Both Aru and NIbali have previously shown weakness in 2Nd week before becoming absolute beasts in the final days.


The funny thing is Slongo said yesterday that Nibali also will ride the Tour and his plan has been to hold his form from the Giro -> Tour - > Olympics.
Thats pretty arrogant honestly. 90% Nibali to win the Giro and dethrone Aru in the Tour afterwards?... I like the idea, its super risky, but I would have preferred Nibali to be at 100% here.


Is that a new information? Because my latest news was that his peaks are Giro and the Olympics. Plus it would be much to ride le tour if you want to be in top form for the Olympics.
 
Riis123
Luxemburger wrote:
Riis123 wrote:
Spilak23 wrote:
Today NIbali will start working towards his Giro win. People forgot how god Slongo's guys are in the final week. Both Aru and NIbali have previously shown weakness in 2Nd week before becoming absolute beasts in the final days.


The funny thing is Slongo said yesterday that Nibali also will ride the Tour and his plan has been to hold his form from the Giro -> Tour - > Olympics.
Thats pretty arrogant honestly. 90% Nibali to win the Giro and dethrone Aru in the Tour afterwards?... I like the idea, its super risky, but I would have preferred Nibali to be at 100% here.


Is that a new information? Because my latest news was that his peaks are Giro and the Olympics. Plus it would be much to ride le tour if you want to be in top form for the Olympics.


Yes, as I said, yesterday. I think the article is on cyclingnews
 
deek12345
attacks all the time this is going to be a great stage
 
Guido Mukk
omg Zakarin attack
 
Guido Mukk
deek12345 wrote:
attacks all the time this is going to be a great stage


boring as usual.
Pressure all day. I like these short / hard stages
 
Guido Mukk
they are killing Kruijswijk today..mad
 
deek12345
majka attacking Rolling Eyes
 
Iguwell
Majka still wheelsucking even when attacking
 
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