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2015 Giro d'Italia - Week One (9th - 15th May)
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 21-11-2024 19:27
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| Malkael |
Posted on 08-05-2015 13:03
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Spoiler Surprise!  ... Dis gonna be good!
Some call it the purist's choice, others consider it a second fiddle to the glitz and glamour of July's Tour de France, whatever your opinion the time has come once again for some of the peloton's best riders to fight for pink. A rather Italian affair for the 98th edition after the overseas expeditions of the 2014 Giro d'Italia; Il Giro offers a more balanced parcours this year compared to its ASO led rival with 59.4km of individual time trial that Chris Froome can only dream about riding.
While you cannot win a Grand Tour in the first week, the first seven days of Il Giro provide the General Classification contenders some brief opportunities to fight for a slight mental and physical edge over their rivals. All this while the sprinters, opportunists and all sorts of one day specialists are fighting around them for the prestigious stage victories that will be up for grabs at each stage's finishing line.
Ahead of in-depth previews of each stage as it happens, here's a brief look at what week one of Il Giro has in store.
Stage 1: San Lorenzo - San Remo (17.6km TTT)
Il Giro begins its three week journey through the Italian countryside with what should be a fiercely fought out team time trial. While the battle for the Maglia Rosa should be decided in the individual time trial and high mountains any time gained here could prove advantageous come the decisive third week of the 2015 Giro d'Italia.
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Stage 2: Albenga - Genova (177km)
After the team time trial we move on to the second day of Il Giro and it should be a day for the sprinters if they don't let the opportunity slip. It also offers a chance for someone to claim the first King of the Mountains Jersey of the 2015 Giro d'Italia.
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Stage 3: Rapallo - Sestri Levante (136km)
Thankfully never one to abide by the Tour de France tradition of making the first week an all sprinters affair, day three of Il Giro brings with it our first medium mountain stage. With a lumpy parcours sure to sap the legs of the peloton, Stage 3 could be a day for those sprinters who pack some climbing legs or could be set to surprise.
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Stage 4: Chiavari - La Spezia (150km)
Coming in to day four of Il Giro and organisers RCS Sport have once again dealt up another medium mountain stage. Arguably tougher than Stage 3 of the 2015 Giro d'Italia, another chance at a stage victory for the likes of Michael Matthews will be decided on the day by how well the teams with vested interests can control the inevitable cavalier attacks of the opportunists.
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Stage 5: La Spezia - Abetone (152km)
The fifth day of Il Giro and our first glance at one of the seven summit finishes of the race. After warming themselves up for this challenge over the prior two medium mountain stages, Stage 5 will provide the General Classification contenders a chance to have a cautious jab at each other if they so desire. Unless the teams with vested interests keep the race together until the line then today could be a chance for a rider with good climbing legs and little perceived General Classification threat to boldly strike out late and hope to claim victory.
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Stage 6: Montecatini Terme - Castiglione Della Pescaia (183km)
After three days in the medium mountains Il Giro once again returns to the "flat" to gift the more vertically challenge sprinters another opportunity at snatching a stage victory. Not a pizza pan flat parcours, but the teams of the sprinters should hang their heads in shame if they miss out here.
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Stage 7: Grosseto - Fiuggi (264km)
The conclusion to what hopefully will have been an exciting first week of Il Giro and another opportunity for at least some of the sprinters to try and claim a stage victory. The finale to the seventh stage from Grosseto to Fiuggi will involve some modest climbing and could throw a few spanners in the works if the teams and their stage contenders misjudge their effort.
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Edited by Malkael on 15-05-2015 17:07
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| nacho63 |
Posted on 08-05-2015 13:30
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Sprinter
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Great preview, really can't wait for the start tomorrow. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 08-05-2015 13:53
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Tour de France Champion
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I so see Matthews taking victories here 
Awesome preview  |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 08-05-2015 14:01
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Tour de France Champion
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Ian Butler wrote:
I so see Matthews taking victories here
But Lobato is here to spoil the party. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Kirchen_75 |
Posted on 08-05-2015 14:12
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Grand Tour Champion
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Id much rather prefer ITT for Stage 1 than TTT. But hey Giro loves their TTT's on stage 1 that fixes the maglia rosa in hands of 1 team... |
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| Malkael |
Posted on 08-05-2015 14:34
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Sprinter
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GRAND DEPART 2015
Stage 1 - San Lorenzo to San Remo (17.6km TTT)
(Click image to enlarge)
There will be no holding back for the General Classification contenders and those eyeing off a few days in Maglia Rosa today as the 2015 Giro d'Italia opens with the almost customary team time trial. Departing from San Lorenzo and concluding in San Remo, much of the 17.6 kilometre stage will be along the Pista Ciclabile cycling path straddling the Italian coastline.
While a pizza-pan parcours, the relative narrowness of cycle path with its occasional twists and bend will bring some technicalities to the route. On paper at least, the best finishing times should belong to the teams who are equipped not only with some of the best team time trial riders but also a well drilled relay to go with them.
(Click image to enlarge)
Anyone familiar with the new old, quite the oxymoron I know, finish to Milan – San Remo should recognise Saturday's finish. Each train of riders will turn off the cycle path with about 600 metres and then subsequently tackle a left-hand and right-hand bend to get on to the Lungomare Italo Calvino and the complete the 250 metre straight to the finishing line.
Despite being a rather short stage the anyone serious about mounting a challenge for the Maglia Rosa over the three weeks will want, nay need, to perform well here. Seconds won or lost here could eventually prove vital by the end of the race if a closely fought battle for pink occurs. However, regardless of what may happen later in the race it is always a nice bonus to put some time between yourself and your rivals early on.
Although unfortunately lacking the time trial talent of Canadian Svein Tuft, Orica – GreenEDGE once again bring a capable team time trial roster to the Giro d'Italia and are the current favourites for the stage victory. With Michael Hepburn, Luke Durbridge, Brett Lancaster and Sam Bewley amongst the squad the Australian outfit aren't lacking for seriously horsepower.
Team Sky will be hoping to set up Tasmanian Richie Porte for a whirlwind assault on the General Classification and are viewed by many to be second favourite to claim the stage. While Richie Porte is the stand out time trialist of the squad, Team Sky are bring with them a handy number of diesel workhorses; such as Bernhard Eisel, Vasil Kiryienka and Kanstantsin Siutsou.
Whether Tinkoff – Saxo can sneak a stage victory in the team time trial is debatable, what cannot be denied however is that they need to finish close to Team Sky to ensure team leader Alberto Contador does not concede too much time to his rivals. With Michael Rogers at the helm to help guide the team along and provide some time trial experience alongside the flatland grunt of riders like Manuele Boaro and Matteo Tosatto, the Tinkoff – Saxo train will aspire to produce a surprise.
Having previously surprised in the opening team time trial at the Giro d'Italia, Team Katusha, fresh off a good team trial result at the Tour of Romandie, could well be a dark horse among the pack come Saturday. While the Russian outfit will be lacking some of the personal that comprised the train that accomplished a somewhat surprising third at Romandie, the absences of Simon Spilak and Egor Silin may be compensated for by the inclusion of strong workhorses like Luca Paolini.
Usually Etixx - Quick-Step would be up among the favourites for a team time trial event in such flat terrain but lacking the pedigree of Tony Martin, Niki Terpstra and Michal Kwiatkowski the Belgian outfit have been considered off the pace needed to be in contention for the stage victory. Can they possibly surprise the doubters with team leader Rigoberto Uran, Tom Boonen, Pieter Serry, Iljo Keisse and Peter Vakoc present?
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 08-05-2015 18:15
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3507
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Yay it's about to start!
Great preview btw, was thinking about making one this evening but you beat me too it, but it's probably better than what I would have come up with!
Looking at the map, it would have been quite cool if they had included the Cipressa and the Poggio in the profile tomorrow (and of course made it an ITT rather than a TTT, but that goes without saying), as they would have retained the bike path gimmick/innovation but had more of a nod to M-SR; but I guess that would only really make sense as an ITT rather than a TTT so isn't really feasible. Nevertheless looking forward to it!
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| DiCyc |
Posted on 08-05-2015 18:18
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Sprinter
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Nice preview!
I mean them both |
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| jandal7 |
Posted on 08-05-2015 18:19
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World Champion
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     Awesome...
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."
[ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT]  Xero Racing
5x  x5
2x  x2
2x  x2 |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 09-05-2015 14:11
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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And, we're live. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 09-05-2015 14:21
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3507
Joined: 06-10-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Since when did Androni replace Giocattoli with Sidermec?
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| Malkael |
Posted on 09-05-2015 14:27
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Sprinter
Posts: 1697
Joined: 02-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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According to the team's own website, since at least the fifth of May going by my very rough translation of the Italian language report. So they kind of sprung it on us pre-Giro and post other races. 
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| Riis123 |
Posted on 09-05-2015 14:37
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5075
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Holy fck, just realized how shitty a team Trek has gotten for this race apart from Felline and Nizzolo. No climbers at all. And I thought Arredondo was participating  |
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 09-05-2015 14:49
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3507
Joined: 06-10-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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'The Giro d'Italia; three weeks of exploring parts of your body.'
Thanks for that one, Rob Hatch.
Edited by Stromeon on 09-05-2015 14:52
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| Malkael |
Posted on 09-05-2015 14:52
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Sprinter
Posts: 1697
Joined: 02-08-2010
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Trek arguably very much have a sprint focused team with the inclusion of Marco Coledan, Boy Van Poppel, Eugenio Alafaci, Fabio Felline and Giacomo Nizzolo. With their other inclusions able to assist with help put, or keep, Trek in contention in the sprints. It's no HTC Columbia though unless they've spent a good deal of time drilling the train so it works better, 'cause Lotto Soudal didn't muck about bringing some of Greipel's A-Team.
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| Stromeon |
Posted on 09-05-2015 15:06
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Classics Specialist
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Astana's time looking good; BMC were slowed down a bit there, trying to look after Atapuma I guess.
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| Malkael |
Posted on 09-05-2015 15:07
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Sprinter
Posts: 1697
Joined: 02-08-2010
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Etixx - Quick-Step currently topping the provisional intermediate standings after 9.9km; 2" up on Astana and 4" up on Team Sky's times respectively so far.
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| matt17br |
Posted on 09-05-2015 15:08
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Directeur Sportif
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| 1 | Astana | 19.39 | | 2 | BMC | a 0.12 | | 3 | Sky | a 0.14 | | 4 | Trek | a 0.16 | | 5 | Bardiani | a 0.24 |
The current standings.
Edited by matt17br on 09-05-2015 15:12
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| SotD |
Posted on 09-05-2015 15:09
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World Champion
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Come on Etixx!!!
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| Malkael |
Posted on 09-05-2015 15:10
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Sprinter
Posts: 1697
Joined: 02-08-2010
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BMC Racing beating Team Sky's 19:53"...
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