Giro di Sardegna stage race, April 2010

blorg

The Giro di Sardegna is a 7-stage race run from Saturday 17 to Saturday 24 April 2010 (first stage seems to be on Sunday 18.)

Ryanair has cheap flights to Alghero leaving Fri 16 April, returning Mon 26 April. Renting a car would probably be best to get to the other side of the island, it is also reccomended for the transfers necessary to the stage starts.

Cost is from €490 (hotel) + €100 race entry.

Looks very good to me, anyone interested? There is also a non-racing "Tour" option.

I cycled in Sardinia earlier this year and it was probably the best place I have ever cycled.

blorg

Bump! This looks perfect for any of ye starting racing this year

lukester

Would love to do that sometime, particularly as they mention 'feeling stations' a lot, and because the first stage is intriguingly called 'Stage 2'.

Ryaner

blorg wrote: »

Bump! This looks perfect for any of ye starting racing this year

How would a 7 day stage race be a good introduction to racing?

I am honestly curious as I don't race and have no intentions of racing right now.

blorg

Ryaner wrote: »

How would a 7 day stage race be a good introduction to racing?

I am honestly curious as I don't race and have no intentions of racing right now.

That was a bit tongue in cheek, I reckon it would be a big effort, but very rewarding at the same time.

I get the impression though from reading about it that while the race leaders are going to be going at a killer pace the pack breaks up and everyone ends up going at their own pace, so most riders are not out challenging for the win but rather competing against those around the same level as themselves on the GC. There is also a tour option which is completely non-competitive.

Some accounts I have read about it from people who really seemed to enjoy it but didn't come across as crazy racers either:

http://2wheelchick.blogspot.com/2008/05/wanna-do-giro-della-sardegna.html
http://www.cyclosport.org/members/myBlog.aspx?mid=814 (scroll down a bit)

I imagine it would be a similar experience to the Tour of Ireland sportive which I very much enjoyed last year... but in Sardinia with hopefully better weather!

Slideshowbob

They call it a race but doesn't seem to be one in the strictest sense looking at the website

Is it under UCI rules etc?

blorg

I think the style is like a 7-stage Granfondo. It is timed, there is a GC, there are various stages including an individual and team time trial, I am unlikely to be able to go fast enough to win the thing or even stay at the front!

I don't know if it is under UCI rules, at this stage in my career I am unlikely to be looking for UCI points in any case.

There is a pro race with the same name in February.

Slideshowbob

blorg wrote: »

I think the style is like a 7-stage Granfondo. It is timed, there is a GC, there are various stages including an individual and team time trial, I am unlikely to be able to go fast enough to win the thing or even stay at the front!

I don't know if it is under UCI rules, at this stage in my career I am unlikely to be looking for UCI points in any case.

There is a pro race with the same name in February.

UCI rules aint just about points

blorg

Slideshowbob wrote: »

UCI rules aint just about points

Well my impression is that it is run like a Granfondo, so same as the Marmotte, Etape du Tour, Maratona dles Dolomites, Gran Fondo Campagnolo etc. So if anything more accessible than a traditional road race but I doubt any easier. Field would be closer to a road race size, more 100-200 rather than the 8,000 or so you get in the larger sportives.

Slideshowbob

blorg wrote: »

Well my impression is that it is run like a Granfondo, so same as the Marmotte, Etape du Tour, Maratona dles Dolomites, Gran Fondo Campagnolo etc. So if anything more accessible than a traditional road race but I doubt any easier. Field would be closer to a road race size, more 100-200 rather than the 8,000 or so you get in the larger sportives.

So this thing in Italy is more accessible than your local 'traditional' open bike race which you can get a one day licence for and enter for 20 or 30 euro???

blorg

Slideshowbob wrote: »

So this thing in Italy is more accessible than your local 'traditional' open bike race which you can get a one day licence for and enter for 20 or 30 euro???

I started racing myself this year and enjoy it very much, you are taking me up entirely wrong.

The entry fee for seven days of this thing is €100 which is hardly unreasonable.

By accessible I mean I get the impression that this event might be more "accessible" for those maybe not quite fit enough to stay with the pack in a "traditional" open bike race, which can be bloody tough, that is all. I get the impression that while the front is moving similarly to the "traditional" open bike race there is more of a mix of ability and more "groupettos" forming.

I imagine it will be similar to the Tour of Ireland sportive which was a great event sadly not taking part again this year.

As a location, much as I appreciate Ireland, and I have cycled around it enough, Sardinia is really fantastic and a bit of a change of scenery.

Slideshowbob

blorg wrote: »

I started racing myself this year and enjoy it very much, you are taking me up entirely wrong.

The entry fee for seven days of this thing is €100 which is hardly unreasonable.

By accessible I mean I get the impression that this event might be more "accessible" for those maybe not quite fit enough to stay with the pack in a "traditional" open bike race, which can be bloody tough, that is all. I get the impression that while the front is moving similarly to the "traditional" open bike race there is more of a mix of ability and more "groupettos" forming.

Do you have shares in the event organisation? ;-)

It's a foreign website so they might not have got the English correct by calling it a race.

You would have the travel and accom costs to add to the 100euro

It is misleading to call it a race here - it aint a proper race

niceonetom

I'd love to give something like this a go but I've already got two cycling trips planned for 2010 - that'll have to be enough...

blorg

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Do you have shares in the event organisation? ;-)

It's a foreign website so they might not have got the English correct by calling it a race.

You would have the travel and accom costs to add to the 100euro

It is misleading to call it a race here - it aint a proper race

Christ Bob are you interested or not? Have you done any Continental sportives? Would you consider the New York Marathon a "race"? The Etape, last year "won" by the French National Champion, Monsieur D. Champion?

I want to do it, I don't drive so am fishing for someone who does as we will need to get from Alghero (currently €19 each way with Ryanair) to the other side of the Island. That is the extent of my secret interest in the thing.

I think the whole thing is very reasonable price wise, I will be spending more to do the Marmotte week of sportives, I have spent more touring FFS.

I've never done it before, only read about it, I have been to Sardinia and it is a f'ing fantastic place to cycle. I think I've laid out enough detail based on what I can gather as to what I THINK it will be like. A lot of fun and a good week of training at the least. You will come back the better for your "proper" racing!

Slideshowbob

blorg wrote: »

Christ Bob are you interested or not? Have you done any Continental sportives? Would you consider the New York Marathon a "race"? The Etape, last year "won" by the French National Champion, Monsieur D. Champion?

I want to do it, I don't drive so am fishing for someone who does as we will need to get from Alghero (currently €19 each way with Ryanair) to the other side of the Island. That is the extent of my secret interest in the thing.

I think the whole thing is very reasonable price wise, I will be spending more to do the Marmotte week of sportives, I have spent more touring FFS.

I've never done it before, only read about it, I have been to Sardinia and it is a f'ing fantastic place to cycle. I think I've laid out enough detail based on what I can gather as to what I THINK it will be like. A lot of fun and a good week of training at the least. You will come back the better for your "proper" racing!

Not interested in going for it at the mo thanks, just concerned some newcomer might think it's a race and get there to realise it ain't.

Don't be so disingenuous about defintions - The NY marathon is a marathon, it is indeed a race too as per the common defintion of a marathon. Monsieur Champion can got and ride whatever events he wants in his spare time - I doubt such events feature on his palmares.

blorg

I apologise for misleading the boards.ie community /hangshead

Reckon this would be far more suitable for a newcomer than an open race...

My point is that continental GranFondos/Sportives are run on more competitive lines than sportives in this country or the UK, there are timings, broomwagons and cut-off times and both current and ex-pros race them. They are basically the cycling equivalent of a marathon.

So your basic objection to this (as far as I can make out) is that it may not be run under UCI jurisdiction.

Slideshowbob

blorg wrote: »

I apologise for misleading the boards.ie community /hangshead

Reckon this would be far more suitable for a newcomer than an open race...

Have you any coaching qualifications to add weight to your suggestions for newcomers?

Any testimonies from previous GDS participants available that could vouch for the suitability for newcomers?

ROK ON

blorg wrote: »

I apologise for misleading the boards.ie community /hangshead

Reckon this would be far more suitable for a newcomer than an open race...

FFS!!!!!!
Too late.

I have already gone ahead and booked it on the basis that it was a race.
This was to be my first stage race, and NOW, I find out that it isnt a race at all.

You have made a laughing stock of me. HOW DARE YOU.

blorg

ROK ON wrote: »

FFS!!!!!!
Too late.

I have already gone ahead and booked it on the basis that it was a race.
This was to be my first stage race, and NOW, I find out that it isnt a race at all.

You have made a laughing stock of me. HOW DARE YOU.

Who cares, can you drive a rental car

blorg

@bob- is your objection purely down to the word "race" in the title?

Ryaner

The event is setup like a race. Times people. Provides a GC and jerseys based on position. It just seems to allow you to continue should you not make the standard cut off periods.

Really does look like an amazing trip. If I hadn't already booked two cycling holidays next year and having spent an obscene amount on a new bike, it'd def be in consideration. Maybe 2011?

Slideshowbob

blorg wrote: »

@bob- is your objection purely down to the word "race" in the title?

Ya - I thought the title was misleading

niceonetom

I dunno... the more I think about it the more "Sardinia" sounds like a made up place like Atlantis or Kathmandu. Keep probing bob, you'll uncover blorg's nefarious scheme soon I'm sure.

Slideshowbob

niceonetom wrote: »

I dunno... the more I think about it the more "Sardinia" sounds like a made up place like Atlantis or Kathmandu. Keep probing bob, you'll uncover blorg's nefarious scheme soon I'm sure.

I will get to the bottom of it and rid the cycling forum of misleading headlines!