Giro d'Italia 2017 - general thread

TheBlaaMan

OK, its about time someone put up a thread for this thing. There are lots of online guides.

** Specific stage threads to follow (it seems ....) but no stage results to be posted in this thread prior to the following stage commencing. **

• Official Giro pages http://www.giroditalia.it/eng/route/
• GCN Guide https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DBDDofK3BWCI%26list%3DPLYxl1_p4uhw-jZb6qkOmQVmCXT82ePMdd&usg=AFQjCNG6_VqMqrdRytJcnYjuez6WApI00Q
• Official Route eBook http://static2.giroditalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Garibaldi_2017.pdf
• INRNG http://inrng.com/giro/
• Steephill http://www.steephill.tv/giro-d-italia/
• 
  

The 4-5 key stages are back-ending the three weeks, starting with stage 16, (though stage 9 looks very intertesting ) so it looks as if this years race will again not be decided too early.

An interesting read on Roches win 30 years ago is here " No betrayal, just Business". Visentini still refers to Roche in kind terms.......:)

There will be TV coverage in an hour long highlights package each evening at 10 on ITV4 Quest as well as live coverage on Eurosport each day, in most cases it seems from very early in the stage rather thahn just the last 90 minutes. For the Tour, ES will brpadast each stage in full, flag to flag.

My podium guess for the Giro is 1 Nibali, 2 Quintana, 3 Tom Dumoulin with any lead Quintana makes in the mountains being scratched by Nibali's better TT - there are 70kms of ITT


MICHELE SCARPONI
1979 - 2017

neris

Seems theyve cancelled the prizes for the best downhill riders. Didnt seem to getting much support for the idea online and the Health & safety annoraks were out in force aswell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MDnsNievyg

The recon ride preview podcast
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/recon-ride-giro-ditalia-podcast/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKPr0rrTdD4

neris

STAGE PREVIEWS???

Any other takers for doing stage previews? I,ll get the 1st stage up by Thursday evening and 2nd aswell on Friday Evening but wont be around over weekend to do stages 3 & 4.

Currently at the Stelvio..

mr spuckler

that won't stop them once they get the scrapers to the road!

Daroxtar

lissard

ronoc wrote: »

Currently at the Stelvio..

They only have to go there twice on Stage 16. I forecast another 'polemica' on that day - after all it wouldn't be the Giro without some controversy and confusion!

MPFGLB

ronoc wrote: »

Currently at the Stelvio..

Looks like it did in 2014 at this stage...and Quintana won the stage , took the lead and won the race overall

And remember it was the stage Quintana left everyone behind (ignoring the red flag) when the race was neutralised

TheBlaaMan

Ah the Stelvio will be fine, dont worry. A few pics were posted late last week showing the top of the pass road being cleared and the roads looking grand - it has obviously closed again with drifting snow.

The webcams at the top are shown here : http://www.stelvio.net/english/webcam/
Currently a chilly -9C at the top....ahem.

neris

-9, wonder what the wind chill factor would be on the descent. Be a hard man who,d do that descent in a short sleeve jersey, shorts & no overshoes

Gallant_JJ

Heading over with 8/9 from the club for Stage 9, really looking forward to it. Climbing part of the route including Blockhaus on the day before.

Arrow in the Knee

Giro Highlights at 10pm on Quest Channel every night.

velo.2010

Lets hope there is a good battle and a fair outcome as the race as been decided by other factors in some recent editions. Quintana took advantage over confusion about a neutralised descent in 2014 and took the race lead, while in 2016, Nibali was gifted the race by Kruiswijk's crash late on.

MPFGLB

neris wrote: »

STAGE PREVIEWS???

Any other takers for doing stage previews? I,ll get the 1st stage up by Thursday evening and 2nd aswell on Friday Evening but wont be around over weekend to do stages 3 & 4.

I will do 3 and 4

but looking for a volunteer for 5/6/7

I can do 8/9 ...will need volunteers for the week after that

neris

MPFGLB wrote: »

I will do 3 and 4

but looking for a volunteer for 5/6/7

I can do 8/9 ...will need volunteers for the week after that

I,ll get a few in next week and the week after but i,ll be away from the 18th. Should be able to get 5-7 done alright

D9Male

Not a backloaded route at all. Two very tough summit finishes in the first week; Etna and Blockhaus. A rider entering the race in prime form can really steal a march on those peaking for week 3.

MPFGLB

D9Male wrote: »

Not a backloaded route at all. Two very tough summit finishes in the first week; Etna and Blockhaus. A rider entering the race in prime form can really steal a march on those peaking for week 3.

I think Geraint Thomas can do this as expecting hm to be in top form at the start

MPFGLB

neris wrote: »

I,ll get a few in next week and the week after but i,ll be away from the 18th. Should be able to get 5-7 done alright

Wellcan soemone take some of 10 onwards ??

Otherwise I guess they will just come to a halt

TheBlaaMan

MPFGLB wrote: »

Wellcan soemone take some of 10 onwards ??

Otherwise I guess they will just come to a halt

I'll do 10, 14 and 16 and let see if other chip in for the third week.

cunavalos

I will do 11,12,13.

Hopefully the above stages (Particularly 12,13) will be of interest to us as they will be Sams best chance of going well in the Sprints as his current fitness suggests the early sprint stages may come too early for him to find his best form and as with all grand tours the opening stages may also see the withdrawal of the some of his biggest competitors (Greipel, Ewan, Gaviria) as well as some of the second tier sprinters ( Modolo, Sbaragli)

MPFGLB

Thanks lads...

I will do 15 so we are covered up to stage 16

Neris = 1 & 2
MPFGLB = 3 & 4
Neris = 5,6,7
MPFGLB = 8 & 9
TheBlaaman = 10
Cunavalos = 11. 12. & 13
TheBlaaman = 14
MPFGLB = 15
TheBlaaman = 16


Anyone else for stage 17 onwards ?

greenspurs

MPFGLB wrote: »

Thanks lads...

I will do 15 so we are covered up to stage 16

Neris = 1 & 2
MPFGLB = 3 & 4
Neris = 5,6,7
MPFGLB = 8 & 9
TheBlaaman = 10
Cunavalos = 11. 12. & 13
TheBlaaman = 14
MPFGLB = 15
TheBlaaman = 16


Anyone else for stage 17 onwards ?

I can

velo.2010

Pirazzi and Ruffoni from Bardiani were popped for GHRP, GH releasing peptides. Two riders from the same team being caught for the same thing likely means others in the team have done similar. Obviously the team should be thrown out.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-two-bardiani-csf-riders-positive-in-out-of-competition-control/

Glad to see they're catching some of the slightly bigger fish, but there are still concerns among many that only the smaller teams are being targeted like this.

The use of GH and related products is allegedly widespread with many more substances not even accounted for by WADA and the UCI.

I wonder will we see more positives announced?

Shedite27

Is there a velogames setup this year?

godtabh

velo.2010 wrote: »

Pirazzi and Ruffoni from Bardiani were popped for GHRP, GH releasing peptides. Two riders from the same team being caught for the same thing likely means others in the team have done similar. Obviously the team should be thrown out.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-two-bardiani-csf-riders-positive-in-out-of-competition-control/

Glad to see they're catching some of the slightly bigger fish, but there are still concerns among many that only the smaller teams are being targeted like this.

The use of GH and related products is allegedly widespread with many more substances not even accounted for by WADA and the UCI.

I wonder will we see more positives announced?

The most worrying thing about this for me is the fact that two from the same team were caught at the same time.

The team says they'll be sacked if the B sample is positive as well but if 2 of 9 are at it what does that say about the team itself?

greenspurs

Shedite27 wrote: »

Is there a velogames setup this year?

There sure is .....

League Name: boards.ie
League Code: 40022208209


Allez...Allez

Dcully

I'm not sure about Thomas for GC, I think he will do well to make the podium.
Ive watched him race a lot, quality rider for sure but struggles at the very end of big climbs with top quality opposition.
While Thomas is a great climber i feel Landa would have more of chance of being right in there at the end.
That third week looks insane, cant wait

Rock Lesnar

Weepsie wrote: »

Triple Jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards is on hosting duties on Eurosport. Odd one that, but don't mind him particularly.

Would prefer Ashley House myself, no Carlton Kirby on commentary either it seems

TheBlaaMan

I was flicking back on old archives (here http://www.steephill.tv) from previous Giri, in this case, Stage 14 in 2009, and this pic struck me ......



Gerrans beating Froome in a steep uphill finish...........



The caption reads "The first two men to hit the pivotal 16% grade one km from the finish in San Luca. Simon Gerrans (left) pedals like a winner while Christopher Froome (right) literally hit the wall weaving his way backward to 7th. Froome was overgeared and needed a 27T by his own admission"

How times have changed, eh....?

velo.2010

^^^
Brailsford obviously a genius for spotting something we didn't see back then!

Daroxtar

velo.2010 wrote: »

^^^
Brailsford obviously a genius for spotting something we didn't see back then!

Yep, stick an 11-32 on the bike and Chris is a champ.

pelevin

When he saw Froome blow up on that hill Dave Brailsford said to Shane Sutton - and Shane will swear to that as will the bus driver who also was there - "If we could sign that Froome guy and get him the right gears, he could be the best ever."

TheBlaaMan

Still snow on the Stelvio, but its only a light covering - they have clearly cut the banks back to leave the road free subsequent to a final sweep (and pending no further falls....)



We can expect some epic scenery on the stage as the slopes immediately below the pass are still fully covered in snow. The lower roads are all clear, it seems. Lets hope it's a clear day and helicopters can get in the air unlike 2014........I feel a days leave coming on.

pelevin

That first photo looks kinda like one of those stop motion animation mock-ups rather than the real thing!

TheBlaaMan

pelevin wrote: »

That first photo looks kinda like one of those stop motion animation mock-ups rather than the real thing!

More to the point, I realise now that the pics are links to the constantly updated published stills from the webcams - I've now changed that so they are now static images from 8th May

dastardly00

What date is the Stelvio stage on?

neris

Sam Bennett reveals illness and rapid weight loss at Giro d’Italia

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/sam-bennett-reveals-illness-rapid-weight-loss-giro-ditalia/

buffalo

neris wrote: »

Sam Bennett reveals illness and rapid weight loss at Giro d’Italia

http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-news/sam-bennett-reveals-illness-rapid-weight-loss-giro-ditalia/

Here's the original: http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/sam-bennett-dizzy-and-unable-to-concentrate-i-thought-that-i-was-going-to-die-35690221.html

buffalo

buffalo wrote: »

Here's the original: http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/sam-bennett-dizzy-and-unable-to-concentrate-i-thought-that-i-was-going-to-die-35690221.html

And coverage from the rest day: http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/sam-bennett-its-a-dodgy-area-guys-were-trying-to-steal-our-bikes-35694258.html

mr spuckler

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

We can expect some epic scenery on the stage as the slopes immediately below the pass are still fully covered in snow. The lower roads are all clear, it seems. Lets hope it's a clear day and helicopters can get in the air unlike 2014........I feel a days leave coming on.

once it's a clear day the scenery will be epic regardless of snow - i drove it a couple of years ago as a recce ahead of cycling it the following day. stopped the car a few times and could see hardly anything through the clouds etc. following day on the bike i pretty much couldn't have asked for better

greenspurs

mr spuckler wrote: »

once it's a clear day the scenery will be epic regardless of snow - i drove it a couple of years ago as a recce ahead of cycling it the following day. stopped the car a few times and could see hardly anything through the clouds etc. following day on the bike i pretty much couldn't have asked for better

Pretty epic views alright !!

TheBlaaMan

mr spuckler wrote: »

once it's a clear day the scenery will be epic regardless of snow - i drove it a couple of years ago as a recce ahead of cycling it the following day. stopped the car a few times and could see hardly anything through the clouds etc. following day on the bike i pretty much couldn't have asked for better

Yeah, thats the thing about high mountain passes, it can change in a very short period from one extreme to another. Looking nice there today. There looked like a collapse of the snow banks on to the road but they have equipment up there re-opening it at present. http://www.stelvio.net/english/webcam/ Still -9C mind you..... :0

Kaisr Sose

Above 2000m it's a weather lottery for most of the year. I was going up the Timmlesjoch (2500m) in Austria in 2015 and had to turn back 350m (vertical) from the top as it started to sleet (early Sep) at 2150m and I could not risk the top and descent back down in icy conditions. That was a cold descent but in S?lden it was a balmy 14deg and back in Oetz where I started it was 18! It was like darting out in Summer, going into Spring and then early Winter going up, and reverse coming down. Stelvio is almost 2750m and it can still be Winter above 2500m! Timmlesjoch is not even open for the summer yet so perhaps the Stelvio is being cleared / opened specially for the Giro?

Can't wait anyway. Seeing all that snow makes we want to ski again, especially ski touring!!

mr spuckler

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

Above 2000m it's a weather lottery for most of the year. I was going up the Timmlesjoch (2500m) in Austria in 2015 and had to turn back 350m (vertical) from the top as it started to sleet (early Sep) at 2150m and I could not risk the top and descent back down in icy conditions. That was a cold descent but in S?lden it was a balmy 14deg and back in Oetz where I started it was 18! It was like darting out in Summer, going into Spring and then early Winter going up, and reverse coming down. Stelvio is almost 2750m and it can still be Winter above 2500m! Timmlesjoch is not even open for the summer yet so perhaps the Stelvio is being cleared / opened specially for the Giro?

Can't wait anyway. Seeing all that snow makes we want to ski again, especially ski touring!!

yeah when i did Stelvio i think it was about 5 degrees up top (in mid August) and 25 odd when i got back down to Bormio half an hour later! i must have looked a sight arriving with a gilet, leg warmers, full finger gloves, skull cap and neck gator into the village!

tbf on a descent like that there wasn't a chance of me stopping to de-layer half way down. one of the biggest buzzes i've ever had

really hoping they include stelvio again next year as i'll be in Bormio for a family event in May. i might even try to climb it in the cold :eek:

robyntmorton

Cyclists in the Giro peloton are lamenting the rise of selfie sticks...

http://lebuzz.eurosport.co.uk/viral/crazy-selfie-stick-wielding-cycling-fans-causing-havoc-giro-ditalia-28253/#uk-tw-po

neris

Has Jonathan Edwards any cycling history? He's good on the eurosport post race analysis.

Lusk_Doyle

neris wrote: »

Has Jonathan Edwards any cycling history? He's good on the eurosport post race analysis.

Think he used to cycle to school.

Lumen

He's like an even more boring version of Philip Schofield.

neris

https://twitter.com/cycling_podcast/status/864100972859150336

ThisRegard

neris wrote: »

Has Jonathan Edwards any cycling history? He's good on the eurosport post race analysis.

Lumen wrote: »

He's like an even more boring version of Philip Schofield.

I wondered the same myself, he appears to have the knowledge alright. But Lumen sums up his delivery. I'll give him time to ease and relax into it and he may become more natural.


Edit: No, it's not Jonathon Edwards I'm thinking of, it's the other guy that does that analysis of the last few k of the stage, not Juan-Antonio, the English guy?