SportingNonsense wrote:
@Spilak The UCI have brought in a regulation now requiring at least 5 days of racing before a rest day. Interesting to see how the Giro gets around that with a start in Ireland!
Yep, there's no way Ireland will have 5 race days though.
A prologue in Belfast I guess. Belfast - Dundalk and Dundalk - Dublin. That's just rough idea where stage 2 will end. Either there'll be transfer day from Ireland to Italy without rest day or Acquarone asking for exception or something.
... And the UCI caving because they are spineless.
And as Spilak said, it is a rest day not a transfer day.
Yep, I am just saying there'll be possibly no rest day. So example, stage 3 ends in Ireland at 2pm, than riders go on flight at 4/5, get to Italy around 7. And prepare for next stage next morning. So no rest day, just time between one day and other to transfer to Italy.
That's quite unlikely though, and could come in effect only possibly if the UCI really stand to the 5 days of racing before a rest day though.
2 hours transition from stage end to flights wouldn't be enough and ending the stage at that time would probably be too early for optimum tv audiences. I just don't see any way that it could realistically work.
SportingNonsense wrote:
@Spilak The UCI have brought in a regulation now requiring at least 5 days of racing before a rest day. Interesting to see how the Giro gets around that with a start in Ireland!
Yep, there's no way Ireland will have 5 race days though.
A prologue in Belfast I guess. Belfast - Dundalk and Dundalk - Dublin. That's just rough idea where stage 2 will end. Either there'll be transfer day from Ireland to Italy without rest day or Acquarone asking for exception or something.
... And the UCI caving because they are spineless.
And as Spilak said, it is a rest day not a transfer day.
Yep, I am just saying there'll be possibly no rest day. So example, stage 3 ends in Ireland at 2pm, than riders go on flight at 4/5, get to Italy around 7. And prepare for next stage next morning. So no rest day, just time between one day and other to transfer to Italy.
That's quite unlikely though, and could come in effect only possibly if the UCI really stand to the 5 days of racing before a rest day though.
Its all very well getting the riders to Italy in a few hours. What about all the team cars, team buses, etc?
SportingNonsense wrote:
@Spilak The UCI have brought in a regulation now requiring at least 5 days of racing before a rest day. Interesting to see how the Giro gets around that with a start in Ireland!
Yep, there's no way Ireland will have 5 race days though.
A prologue in Belfast I guess. Belfast - Dundalk and Dundalk - Dublin. That's just rough idea where stage 2 will end. Either there'll be transfer day from Ireland to Italy without rest day or Acquarone asking for exception or something.
... And the UCI caving because they are spineless.
And as Spilak said, it is a rest day not a transfer day.
Yep, I am just saying there'll be possibly no rest day. So example, stage 3 ends in Ireland at 2pm, than riders go on flight at 4/5, get to Italy around 7. And prepare for next stage next morning. So no rest day, just time between one day and other to transfer to Italy.
That's quite unlikely though, and could come in effect only possibly if the UCI really stand to the 5 days of racing before a rest day though.
Its all very well getting the riders to Italy in a few hours. What about all the team cars, team buses, etc?
Ferries I guess. But that'd take much longer, probably could make it at over night though, that's why it's quite unlikely to happen though at all, it would have to be organised immensly well.
But I can't see 5 race days in Ireland so the only real option is trying to get UCI change the rule. And there's still lot of time for Acquarone and RCS to do that.
Edited by Alakagom on 12-01-2013 13:06
Well, if Ireland it's going to be bad, in Iceland it's gonna be worst. Cross the sea to England and then come to Europe. I have no idea how will the Giro director's do that.
The organisation has succeeded in discovering all possible mountain top finishes in Spain. They must give a wildcard to Rodriguez his team, because when he won't win this GT, he'll never win one.
Although I loved last year's Vuelta, this is simply too much.... (but when it develops as last year's, I won't complain )
It is now official. If Rodriguez doesnt win the Vuelta he will never win a GT.
I know the organizers want to support and help the Spaniards as much as possible but this is ridiculous.
Not as bad as it seems. At least there are 3/4 stages which have some hard mountains before the final mountain to the finish. Especially the 2 pyrenees stages. Good choice going for the Peyragedes finish again, was really exciting during the Tour. Plus the TT is before most moutains so we should see some attacking.
I don't know why everyone is against that many mountain finishes. At least it's a grand tour where the climbers get what they want without pedaling 100km against the time, alone. Last year's Vuelta was one of the greatest races I've seen, without a doubt.
Can't wait for another epic battle like that, and I'd take those mountain stages over the dominating TT by Sky any day.
I prefer a course like this year Vuelta or last year Vuelta than last year Tour with 1000 km Time Trial Sky train. That was the most boring Tour I have ever seen.
The Time Trial didn't make Tour boring. It was total lack of competition for sky in the mountains. The amount of TT km's in Tour should actually have made Sky GC opponents attack more in mountain stages, but that didn't just happen as they were unable to do so.
The Vuelta isn't bad, it's should be exciting. I like it, but it's balance is just ...
Edited by Alakagom on 12-01-2013 17:14
Another funny thing about the Vuelta route. The stage is either for a sprinter or for a climber. Not one stage where you can say where the break will definetly stay away and win.
FreitasPCM wrote:
Holy shite. Stage 2 and already a mountain finish.
Strictly speaking, it's a mountain finish, yes. But the climb isn't hard at all, and most likely it'll come down to the harder last 2 kms.
Spilak23 wrote:
Another funny thing about the Vuelta route. The stage is either for a sprinter or for a climber. Not one stage where you can say where the break will definetly stay away and win.
Stages to Fisterra and Castedefells are good chances for the break imo.
Ian Butler wrote:
I don't know why everyone is against that many mountain finishes. At least it's a grand tour where the climbers get what they want without pedaling 100km against the time, alone. Last year's Vuelta was one of the greatest races I've seen, without a doubt.
Can't wait for another epic battle like that, and I'd take those mountain stages over the dominating TT by Sky any day.
100 km over 3500 (maybe less in Spain, right)...
Following your logic, a Grand Tour should be awarded to a climber ?
I'm not saying climbers shouldn't win, but a course should be rather balanced to give both type of leaders a chance.
)
