Brutal last week at the Giro d'Italia
The last week of the 2017 Giro d'Italia feature some of the toughest mountain stages in professional cycling
The last 9 days of the Giro d'Italia is where the fight for pink, the Maglia Rosa, will be won or lost, on the way there are some key stages that are guaranteed to animate the race and make for unmissable viewing.
Stage 14, Saturday May 20, Mountain Finish
Castellania to Oropa - 131 km
A short and very intense stage, featuring the initial perfectly flat 120 km, runs across the Po Plain and reaches Biella, where the steep climb heads to the finish. Oropa is the Montagna Pantani, in memory of his victory in 1999.
The final climb measures 11.8 km in length at an average gradient over 7%, topping 13% half way through the ascent.
Any of the GC contenders who are struggling with time deficits could launch an all out attack on the final climb and take time back and get those all important time bonuses.
On the other hand, if the GC contenders have bigger fish to fry, a long range breakaway could see an altogether different rider get a stage win.
Stage 16, Tuesday May 23, the Queen Stage
Rovetta to Bormio - 227km
If we could offer any Giro d'Italia and Pro Cycling fan any advice, whatever you do, don't miss this stage in it's entirety!
It will be one a day that will go down in cycling history, the Queen stage is approximately 5,400 m / 17,777 feet of climbing, a brutal day. It's off the Richter Scale, this is basically a 2/3 rds everesting attempt over 141 miles and will push the cycling pros to their limits.
The stage proceeds up the valley Edolo and then climbs up the legendary Mortirolo (Cima Scarpoini) from Monno, only ever climbed once in 1990, the easier side. The stages passes over the finish line in Bormio, climbs up the Passo dello Stelvio (Cima Coppi) and reaches Prato allo Stelvio, crosses the border down into Switzerland and returns back up the Umbrail Pass leading back to Italy, just 3 km from the Stelvio summit, running back down to Bormio.
Climbing the Mortirolo with a vertical gain of 800 meters / 2,624 feet and a length of around 10 kilometers / 6.2 miles is not to be underestimated. It's arguably one of the hardest climbs in professional cycling. the climb from Monno has an average gradient of 7.5% and a maximum of more than 10% is very demanding, especially in the last part with the characteristic bends that lead up to the pass.
The Stelvio Pass is on the bucket list of road cyclists from all over the world and poses a tough challenge for every professional and amateur athlete: the route from Bormio winds up in 40 hairpin turns which are spread out over a distance of 21 kilometers / 13 miles and a difference in level of 1,533 meters / 5,029 feet. The top of the “Queen of Alpine roads” reaches 2,758 meters / 9,048 feet above sea level.
The first rider over the top of the Stelvio will earn himself the mountain bonus "Cima Coppi“ which is awarded to the first rider who reaches the Giro's highest summit.
“The queen stage of the 100th Giro will be of utmost importance inthe race“, says Luca Guercilena, General Manager of Trek-Segafredo. “With 227 kilometers / 141 miles, it is not only a long stage, the mythical Mortirolo and Stelvio will take their toll as well. However, the stage finishes with a long descent so this might benefit those who have perfected this technique of riding.”
The GC contenders will however be heading up the Umbrail Pass for the first time ever in the history of the prestigious race. They will get back to the Stelvio Pass road just three kilometers from the summit and then descend to Bormio.
Bauke Mollema (NED), team member of UCI WorldTeam Trek-Segafredo said: “This stage will be after the last rest day, so everybody will be refreshed and ready to go. And for this long and hard stage you also need it! It will be a crucial stage of this Giro including the Mortirolo and two times the Stelvio. We will not climb the Mortirolo from the steepest side, but it is still a very long climb. The length is also what makes the Stelvio a difficult climb. We have to overcome an altitude of 2,500 meters / 8,202 feet. In my opinion, it will be one of the hardest stages of the Giro.”
Fans who have always wanted to ride side by side with a pro can look forward to a special highlight: On May 22, the 3rd rest day, ambitious cyclists will have the opportunity to climb the steep, meandering Stelvio in the company of former road cycling pro and winner of the Giro d’Italia 2006 and 2010 Ivan Basso (ITA). Since autumn 2016, Ivan Basso has been active in a consulting role for the UCI WorldTeam Trek-Segafredo, focusing on the development of young riders.
Will the Shark Strike again?
Vincenzo Nibali is known for being able to detect weaknesses in his rivals. In last year's race in 2016, he realised that Steven Kruijswijk was not a great descender.
On stage 19, Nibali attacked and on the descent of the Cima Coppi climb of the Coll dell'Agnello. It was late Michele Scarponi who took the Cima Coppi, the first to crest the Giro's highest climb that year.
Kruijswijk, who was in the lead, overcooked a bend and crashed, he re-mounted, but his race was effectively over. With damage to his bike and his team car some way back down the climb, there was nothing the Dutchman could do but try and catch Nibali and Chaves without all his gears available. While Kruijswick managed to complete the stage with a fractured rib, he lost the pink jersey and the 2016 Giro d'Italia to Nibali.
On the same fateful stage on the same long descent off the Coll dell'Agnello, Ilnur Zakarin from Katusha, crashed and left in an ambulance. Zakarin, who was sitting in fifth overall, came off on a tight turn. The 26-year-old Katusha rider was sitting four minutes and 50 seconds behind Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo), who had already crashed.
Nibali is know to be one of the best descender's in the Pro peloton, if the favorites are together on the final descent of the Stelvio down to Bormio, there could be real fireworks, as Kruijswijk and Zakarin will not make the same mistake again this year.
Stage 19, Friday May 26 - Mountain Finish
San Candido to Piancavallo - 191 km
Two small climbs of the Monte Croce Comelico and Sappada are followed by a long descent with the short but steep climb of Sella Chianzutan before the second half of the stage heads downhill to Aviano. The stage then runs up the final steep 14-km ascent, where the first 6 km are at a gradient around 10% (topping 15%) and then the gradient shallows a little, but still a hard climb until the finish (Pantani won here in 1998).
Another chance for a GC contender to make up lost time and gain valuable time bonuses.
Stage 20, Saturday May 27, Mountain Stage
Pordenone to Asiago - 190 km
A long stage with long climbs. After the first half across the hilly region around Treviso famous for its Prosecco vineyards, the route reaches Feltre where (it climbs up the Monte Grappa on its north side. It is a climb measuring 24 km in length with long sections at 7-8% gradients with some short stretches and minor descents. A very long descent heading to Romano d’Ezzelino is followed by 10 km on a flat section leading to the 14 km climb up to Foza at a gradient of 7.1%. The stage route undulates the final 10 km to the finish in Asiago.
This could be a very crucial stage in the battle for the Pink jersey with tired legs and almost three weeks of racing.
This undoubtably, will be where attacks are made by GC contenders not confident in their time trialing ability.
Stage 21, Sunday May 28, Individual Time Trial
Monza to Milaan - 28 km ITT
The Individual Time is perfectly flat and runs along the boulevards in Monza and into Milan after the start at the Monza Motor Racing Track (one complete lap is raced). A “classic” finale in the city where the Giro d’Italia was born with the finish line in Piazza Duomo.
If there are any time gaps to be closed, this will be the final opportunity. Could it affect the overall classification. The final Time Trial may be unpopular with riders but spectacular for spectators from all around the world, who will visit Milano for the conclusion of the 100th Giro!
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