Giro di Lombardia 2011 - warning, contains spoiler information

ednwireland

http://www.cyclingnews.com/giro-di-lombardia/elite-men/preview

Final October date for "Race of the falling leaves"

Defending champion Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma - Lotto) passes the Madonna del Ghisallo chapel.

Saturday sees the curtain fall not just on the 2011 season, but on one of cycling’s most evocative traditions, as the Tour of Lombardy takes place on its usual October date for the final time. While the route of the Race of the Falling Leaves has changed regularly throughout its history (and does so again this year), the image of the peloton negotiating the rosy-hued shores of Lake Como in low Autumnal sunshine has remained a steadfast fixture in cycling’s collective consciousness from generation to generation.

From next season, however, the classic shifts forward to late September, before the leaves have even turned to brown in northern Italy, and the honour of bringing the WorldTour calendar to a close is instead bestowed upon the nascent Tour of Beijing. While the UCI’s efforts to spread the gospel of cycling to outposts beyond the Old Continent are justly encouraged, a worrying side effect of such evangelization is that the underlying fabric of the sport risks being unravelled in the process.

No matter, the riders lining up in Milan on Saturday morning will ride the 241km to Lecco unfettered by the burden of the race’s glorious past, even if one of their number can write his own chapter in history. Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) has enjoyed a season-long run of victories that harks back to rather more sepia-tinted eras, and he can crown his year of grace by joining Fausto Coppi and Alfredo Binda in the record books as the only men to win three consecutive Tours of Lombardy.

The route

After seven years in Como, the finish of the Tour of Lombardy moves to Lecco, a picturesque town on the southeastern branch of Lake Como, for the first time in its 106-year history. Famed as the setting for Alessandro Manzoni’s classic nineteenth-century novel I promessi sposi (The Betrothed), Lecco is signed up to host the finish for the next two years, and is also set to welcome a stage of the Giro d’Italia in 2012.

While a new race finish necessitates a new route, the 2011 edition will still feature most of the archetypal features one associates with the race, namely tumbling leaves, long climbs and sweeping descents along the shores of Lake Como. Like last year, the Tour of Lombardy gets under way from the centre of Milan, in the shadow of the Palazzo Lombardia, with a long neutralised section bringing the peloton northwards out of the city.

Rather than heading directly for Lake Como, however, the route branches off to the east, towards the climb of Valcava (78.4km), near Bergamo, the first major obstacle of the day. At 11.7km with an average gradient of 8%, the Valcava gets steeper closer to the summit, and the 17% slopes near the top are sure to create some early ripples in the peloton.

A lengthy descent takes the riders towards Lake Como, with the short Colle Brianza (122km) unlikely to cause any great problems. Next up is the rather stiffer Colma di Sormano, however, which arrives after 155km of racing. Though the route avoids the steep, narrow road that featured in the 1950s, the climb still announces the commencement of real hostilities; 9.5km long at an average of 6.6%, it should see the contenders begin to test one another.

The storied Madonna del Ghisallo follows shortly afterwards. Always the emotional centrepiece of the Tour of Lombardy, the climb has an additional tactical significance this year, as the race passes the famous chapel at its summit with just 46km still to race. As ever, the 14% slopes at the foot of the 8.5km climb are the greatest difficulty, but the brief descent and final kick up towards the chapel might well offer escapees a platform to forge clear.

A rapid descent takes the bunch back to the shores of Lake Como and the run-in to the climax in Lecco, but there is one more twist in the finale. The 3km-long kick up to Villa Vergano boasts gradients touching 15% near the summit, and is a natural springboard for attackers, with the finish a mere 9km away

gilbert anyone ?

ROK ON

Hard to back against him, but I doubt he will make it three in a row. Hopefully Deignan will finish with the shack on a high, he has a good race here 3 years ago IIRC. Hope Martin or Roche can do something.
Other than Gilbert, who do people think are in with a shout of the podium.

Sanchez, Nibali?

Chips Lovell

Getting to that time of year when you're unsure about poeple's form because you haven't seen them racing in a while.

Sanchez alright is one to watch. Lampre have a very strong squad with Cunego and Scarponi.

sy

Agree Liquigaz are in good form. Scarponi was unlucky to meet an in form Gilbert last year and Nibali is going well at the moment. Cunego has 3 Lombardy's on his palmares so will be trying to make it 4. Looking at the result in Piemont today Roche is going well as is Vockler Paolini and Van Avermaet. Rodriquez might be the dark horse here as Katusha have a really great squad with Paolini and an improving Pozzato in contention. Gilbert is going to be favourite but I think he may have peaked in Canada and might just have to wait till the spring before resumng his winning ways again.
Come on Dan the man!!

Chips Lovell

Good result for Roche today alright.

Voeckler will definitely have a pop at it. While we all talk about the form Gilbert kept for much of the year, it's amazing to think Voeckler's been flying since Kuurne - Brussels - Kuurne back on March 1.

sy

This is one of the great classics and has lost alittle of its prestige in the past 10/15 years. Probably because the season is now so long and more races on the calendar leaving riders tired etc. But you don't get classified as a Monument unless its difficult. looking at past winners it a who's who of the greats and looking at the climbs well you can judge for yourself. Glad to see they are moving to the week after the Worlds next year so maybe we will see it return to its former glory.


Apart from Binda, Coppi and Van Looy as mentioned by ednwireland above here is a list of winners from 1965 onwards. Very few 2nd class riders

• 1965. Tom Simpson (GBR)
• 1966. Felice Gimondi (ITA)
• 1967. Franco Bitossi (ITA)
• 1968. Herman van Springel (BEL)
• 1969. Jean-Pierre Monseré (BEL)
• 1970. Franco Bitossi (ITA)
• 1971. Eddy Merckx (BEL)
• 1972. Eddy Merckx (BEL)
• 1973. Felice Gimondi (ITA)
• 1974. Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)
• 1975. Francesco Moser (ITA)
• 1976. Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)
• 1977. Gianbattista Baronchelli (ITA)
• 1978. Francesco Moser (ITA)
• 1979. Bernard Hinault (FRA)
• 1980. Fons De Wolf (BEL)
• 1981. Hennie Kuiper (NED)
• 1982. Giuseppe Saronni (ITA)
• 1983. Sean Kelly (IRL)
• 1984. Bernard Hinault (FRA)
• 1985. Sean Kelly (IRL)
• 1986. Gianbattista Baronchelli (ITA)
• 1987. Moreno Argentin (ITA)
• 1988. Charly Mottet (FRA)
• 1989. Tony Rominger (SUI)
• 1990. Gilles Delion (FRA)
• 1991. Sean Kelly (IRL)
• 1992. Tony Rominger (SUI)
• 1993. Pascal Richard (SUI)
• 1994. Vladislav Bobrik (RUS)
• 1995. Gianni Faresin (ITA)
• 1996. Andrea Tafi (ITA)
• 1997. Laurent Jalabert (FRA)
• 1998. Oscar Camenzind (SUI)
• 1999. Mirko Celestino (ITA)
• 2000. Raimondas Rumšas (LTU)
• 2001. Danilo Di Luca (ITA)
• 2002. Michele Bartoli (ITA)
• 2003. Michele Bartoli (ITA)
• 2004. Damiano Cunego (ITA)
• 2005. Paolo Bettini (ITA)
• 2006. Paolo Bettini (ITA)
• 2007. Damiano Cunego (ITA)
• 2008. Damiano Cunego (ITA)
• 2009. Philippe Gilbert (BEL)

Morrisseeee

Looks like a great course/route, some tough climbs, hopefully an exciting finish. There's 9km to go after the final climb so others will have a chance to get back at Gilbert if he gets free. Dan Martin has an obvious chance but will need to time his attack perfectly, ie. he attacked a bit early in some of the Vuelta stages. Molema has had a good year, can he top it off with a podium or a win. Cobo is on the start list, and if he has his Vuelta form then........!! I'm not sure what the descent is like off that last climb, is it long & technical enough for Nibali to get away ?! Or can Roche frank his present form?!

Junior

Outside bet is Greg Van Amaremet..

ednwireland

making jam with cycling on great !

Inquitus

ednwireland wrote: »

making jam with cycling on great !

Where's it on? Eurosport says 16:30. Thanks.

ednwireland

Inquitus wrote: »

Where's it on? Eurosport says 16:30. Thanks.

eurosport from 14:45 (thats on the player) or eurosport hd or look up www.cyclingfans.com

nibali gilbert fuklslang off with 50km to go

Inquitus

Nibali is cooked, peleton together at the foot of the final climb it seems.

RobFowl

Roche up near the front !
Martin still there too

ednwireland

yep only 29s in front - whats that 30-40 riders still in the peloton (roche was up there on the last climb)
edit 13s now, hes gone

RobFowl

Off topic but Lombardy is beautiful at this time of year

Beasty

RobFowl wrote: »

Off topic but Lombardy is beautiful at this time of year

Definitely (off-topic that is;))

Keep this sort of stuff in the Camper Van, and when you get there can you send Bob over here if he wants to discuss the Tour of Lombardy:)

RobFowl

Roche dropped Gilbert looks in trouble

RobFowl

Martin attacks

Inquitus

RobFowl wrote: »

Martin attacks

Possibly the one that got away for Martin.

TheBlaaMan

Why oh why didn't Dan go earlier? - over the top of the last climb. He could have won that surely.....maybe he didn't think he had the legs.
Great result nonetheless.

ednwireland

martin 2nd just couldnt get away, basso and rodriguez serious scalps

SARBOY

Disappointed for Dan.. Great ride. Really thought he was gonna have go on the last climb.

Hermy

Great timing from Zaugg.

JacksonHeightsOwn

I think Zaugg just proved that pretty much anybody in that pro tour peloton is good enough to win a one day classic

Fair play to him, he rode well, and was in the right place at the right time

happytramp

chrisbonnie wrote: »

I think Zaugg just proved that pretty much anybody in that pro tour peloton is good enough to win a one day classic

Well, as long as you're not considered a big enough threat to be let get away.

Edit - as an aside, Dan Martin is now officially the 9th best rider in the world!!! (Well, according to the UCI world rankings that is)

Slideshowbob

Given he was born in UK etc, would him say winning the Tour de France mean as much to the Irish public as Stephen Roche's win?

IMHO, his performances don't attract the same grá as the lads results did.

SWL

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Given he was born in UK etc, would him say winning the Tour de France mean as much to the Irish public as Stephen Roche's win?

Given that RTE sports news did even cover todays second place, most Irish people are totally unware of the current pro ridrs and their talents.

Also I believe the lack of coverage of pro events means a lot of Irish sports fans are totally unaware of the nature of cycling especially younger fans - anytime I discuss cycling at work all I get is "sure they are all on drugs etc"

Pherekydes

1. Can a man control where he is born?
2. The Irish sporting public would be more enamoured of a win at Cheltenham than in the TdF. This says more about the Irish sports' media than anything else.

ontheditch2

I think the general public would be delighted. All they know is he is an Irish cyclist. And in the 7 second snippet at the end of the sports news, i don't think they will mention he was born in the UK.
The same way, Nico is regarded as Irish, even though he was born and grew up in France (didn't he?).

So once they have the Irish jersey on, all would be good.

I don't think Robbie Keane gets more recognition that say Ray Houghton would of got, just because he was born in Ireland.

p.s. A great week for Irish riders.

chakattack

Pherekydes wrote: »

1. The Irish sporting public would be more enamoured of a win at Cheltenham than in the TdF. This says more about the Irish sports' media than anything else.

Why do golf and horse racing get so much coverage? They're both crap! :cool:

brayblue24

To be fair when the F(ind) A(n) I(rishman) used the granny rule to the max for selection purposes in the soccer it didn't matter a jot to anyone-not in this country anyway. I think the lack of hype surrounding what's turned out to be a very good season for Martin is exactly what previous posters have said-lack of coverage.

ontheditch2

And Ireland is the 13th Best Country..

Hermy

SWL wrote: »

Given that RTE sports news did even cover todays second place, most Irish people are totally unware of the current pro ridrs and their talents.

In the recent Tour of Beijing RTE Radio 1 reported that Daniel Martin finished second behind Roche in stage 3 and the following day they reported that Tony Martin of Great Britain was leading the race so maybe just as well they didn't bother.:(

chakattack wrote: »

Why do golf and horse racing get so much coverage? They're both crap! :cool:

Money!

ednwireland

sure david norris was born in the belgian congo

Beasty

Threads merged - please don't start separate threads that will inevitably attract spoiler information on the day of a race

Thanks

Beasty

Slideshowbob

Horse racing has implimented new rules on more restrictive limits to use of the whip.

In 50 years time I can see horse racing being no more due to the cruelty it bestows on the animals.

amjon.

brayblue24 wrote: »

To be fair when the F(ind) A(n) I(rishman) used the granny rule to the max for selection purposes in the soccer it didn't matter a jot to anyone-not in this country anyway. I think the lack of hype surrounding what's turned out to be a very good season for Martin is exactly what previous posters have said-lack of coverage.

To be honest Martin and Brammeier can go fock themselves. They are Brits not Irishmen. Having lived in England for over half a decade I can tell the difference more than most. I would rather see Nico cycling by himself in the Worlds than having those two pitiful plastic Padddies along side him. I have to clarify that I wish all three of the aforementioned all the best in their professional careers but two of them should NOT be cycling under the tricolour- it cheapens and degrades it.

amjon.

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Horse racing has implimented new rules on more restrictive limits to use of the whip.

In 50 years time I can see horse racing being no more due to the cruelty it bestows on the animals.

No, it will still be going strong. In 20 years the politically correct/ animal rights agenda will have been exposed as the farce that it is.

Slideshowbob

amjon. wrote: »

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Horse racing has implimented new rules on more restrictive limits to use of the whip.

In 50 years time I can see horse racing being no more due to the cruelty it bestows on the animals.

No, it will still be going strong. In 20 years the politically correct/ animal rights agenda will have been exposed as the farce that it is.

So you don't think forcing an animal to perform at maximum capacity is cruel?

amjon.

ontheditch2 wrote: »

The same way, Nico is regarded as Irish, even though he was born and grew up in France (didn't he?).

Was schooled at Blackrock College in South County Dublin so did a reasonable portion of his growing up in Ireland.

amjon.

Slideshowbob wrote: »

So you don't think forcing an animal to perform at maximum capacity is cruel?

Not in the slightest. Animals were put on the earth by God to be treated as men please.

Slideshowbob

amjon. wrote: »

Slideshowbob wrote: »

So you don't think forcing an animal to perform at maximum capacity is cruel?

Not in the slightest. Animals were put on the earth by God to be treated as men please.

How do you know that?

TheBlaaMan

amjon. wrote: »

Not in the slightest. Animals were put on the earth by God to be treated as men please.

What stone did you crawl out from under?
You obviously never heard of Charles Darwin.

Explain this 'God' business please......:rolleyes:

//presumably a wind-up:D

Hermy

Man created God in his image.

Chips Lovell

Well that was a surprise winner.

Great ride by Martin and I'm sure he must be thinking about what could have been. With Gilbert not in the front group, you sould have fancied him to take the sprint. Zaugg took his win well though. While I'm sure he wasn't regarded as much as a threat as others in the front group, it did look like nobody had the legs to go with him on the final climb.

dastardly00

One hour highlights on Eurosport now.

Paul Kiernan

Slideshowbob wrote: »

In 50 years time I can see horse racing being no more due to the cruelty it bestows on the animals.

and the viewers!

elduggo

amjon. wrote: »

Not in the slightest. Animals were put on the earth by God to be treated as men please.

can you please continue with this discussion. It has potential to be entertaining.

Thanks

happytramp

What I want to know is where the hell was amjon when we needed a decent presidential candidate. Clearly his racist/pro-animal cruelty views could have helped to promote our country at an international level.

TurloughT

Would anyone know where I could find highlights of the race?
Thanks.

Inquitus

TurloughT wrote: »

Would anyone know where I could find highlights of the race?
Thanks.

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