Giro 2017: Stage 16 Rovetta - Bormio

TheBlaaMan

This beast of a stage stands head-and–shoulders above any other as the queen stage across the Alps and will feature a double pass over the famous Stelvio pass, firstly from the (southern) Bormio side, and then taking a first-ever climb up the (northern) Swiss side. The good news is that the Stelvio is open - from the webcam, it looks that the shops at the top opened on Sunday and lots of cyclists made it to the top.



The bad news for Tom Dumoulin is that it is likely to be a very, very stressful day for him and his team. The attacks are surely going to come thick and fast and his team will be key to his chances of holding on to the jersey. They will have to be careful in judging what attacks to chase, and what ones they can let go - it wont just be Movistar attacking them and they cannot chase everything or else it could all end very badly for them.


What we know at this point:

1. Dumoulin is climbing well, but is as yet untested in the real long steep climbs
2. Quintana hasnt looked invincible by any means, and his team have really haven't put it up to Sunweb to really defend the jersey thus far
3. Nibali, Pinot et al are waiting in the wings and will want to ensure this more than a 2 horse race. Their teams are likely to be just as aggressive as Movistar.
4. Dumoulin should be good for a further ~90seconds gain over Quintana during the last day TT, so Quintana & others need to put nearly 5 minutes into him over the next three days
5. 5 minutes isn't a lot on a tough mountain stage

General classification after stage 15
# Rider Name (Country) Team Result
1 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb 63:48:08
2 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 0:02:41
3 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:03:21
4 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:03:40
5 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:04:24
6 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:04:32
7 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:04:59
8 Bob Jungels (Lux) Quick-Step Floors 0:05:18
9 Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team 0:06:01
10 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:07:03
11 Adam Yates (GBr) Orica-Scott 0:07:43
12 Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac 0:08:09
13 Dario Cataldo (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:08:14
14 Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 0:09:11
15 Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:10:51


All in all, it is nicely poised for a battle in the Dolomites and it is great to still have the title 'in the balance' after two weeks. Added to the sheer amount of climbing meters they do on Stage 16 will be the potential impact of altitude on some of the riders - it wont be a problem for Quintana - approaching 2800m above sea level, breathing will be troubled for some and they are likely to have a tough day in the saddle.

ROUTE
The stage starts from Rovetta, and the route climbs slightly as it cuts across the Val Camonica. The first major climb is the fearsome Mortirolo Pass climbed along the southern side, with gradients topping out at 16% in the last kilometres. This is a dark and shaded climb with stretches of very tough gradients. It might be too early to see much in the way of a selection here, given what is to follow, but with a lot of time to make up, will someone try something this early? The narrow and very technical descent off the Mortirolo leads to Grosio, where the route will run alongside the Adda River in the valley, heading to Bormio for the beginning of a 100-km “circuit” and the double ascent of the Stelvio.

It is here the hostilities are likely to kick off. The climb up from Bormio is 21km at an average 7% to the highest point on the Giro (the “Cima Coppi”) at 2750m with a tight and very technical descent leading down to Prato. The race then enters Switzerland heading for the Umbrail Pass which cuts back onto the Bormio – Stelvio Pass road a little way below the peak, at just over 2500m. This part of the climb totals 13.5 km, at a steady 9% gradient, with peaks topping out at 12%. What will likely be a frantic and technical descent then leads all the way to Bormio passing through a number of tunnels along the way down – the advice when approaching these is to close one eye a few moments before entering the tunnel and then open it when inside so that you have some vision in the dark…...all while racing at serious descending speeds! The surface in the tunnels is grim in places, just to add a bit of danger to the event. A little after the 1km to go mark, in Bormio, the route takes a U-turn and levels out, heading for the finish after a few 90-degree bends. The finish line lies at the base of the ski lifts on the outskirts of the town.


Stage Profile


Mortirolo


Stelvio #1


the second ascent of the Stelvio via the Umbrail pass is a good deal shorter, but with a higher average gradient.


TIMETABLE
Stage starts a 09:25, due to finish around 3:45 with TV pictures due around noon - I don't think that will in time to see the climb of the Mortirolo. The leaders are due into Bormio for the first ascent of the Stelvio around 12:45.

These climbs will be known to a fair few on here, I think, as they are popular climbs to aim for in the Alps and feature in a number of sportif/grand fondo routes. A day on these climbs, well the Stelvio anyway...maybe not the Mortirolo....:cool: stands out as the most beautiful few hours you could ever spent on the bike. The descent is stunning, beautiful and exhilarating…….but it's worth taking it slowly to absorb the stunning scenery and racing down it will be something else altogether.

This a spectacular part of the Italy, though everything about the area – the architecture, food, languages spoken - hints at a Swiss or Germanic influences rather than Italian. Bormio particularly is an amazing spot to base yourself for a few days cycling – or any outdoor activity holiday.

robyntmorton

Excellent preview!

I think the biggest thing for Dumoulin and Sunweb is really to keep the head, race intelligently and only push when really needed. He probably won't quite match the true mountain goats, but if he can avoid haemorrhaging time (even counting his advantage in the final ITT) his standing in the peloton will go up immensely, leaving him in a fantastic place for the Maglia Rosa.

Dcully

Fantastic preview thanks

lissard

Great preview! Who'd want to be a pro-cyclist on days like tomorrow, the level of suffering will be off the chart.

fat bloke

Is that tomorrow? (tuesday)?

dastardly00

fat bloke wrote: »

Is that tomorrow? (tuesday)?

Yup

dastardly00

September 12th 2015 is a day that will live long in Tom Dumoulin's memory. This was the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a Espana. It was the final test before the procession to Madrid.

He started the day leading the GC.

He finished the day in 6th overall.



Fingers crossed tomorrow goes better

MPFGLB

Great preview ....

I hope for this week Philip Deignan can get in some breaks ...these stages actually suit him though if he is upthe road with Landa he will have to work for him

lissard

lissard wrote: »

Great preview! Who'd want to be a pro-cyclist on days like tomorrow, the level of suffering will be off the chart.

Who'd want to be a spectator even, sitting comfortably on the sofa watching it. My legs ache just looking at those charts

geotrig

great preview !! just wish it was on now !! i think Dumoulin looks stronger this year and with the itt at the end is something that can ease his mind and stop him panicking if he falls off the lead .... well thats i seemed like before as well !:pac:
im torn though i like dumouling and quintana

retalivity

Easier said than done but he just needs to ride his own race...if he blows the load on the first stelvio ascent, he could lose 10+ mins. He need to keep as many teammates round him for as long as possible

geotrig

aye ,and for us spectators it not much fun when they dont react and just look down at their clock for their deltas

dastardly00

It will be interesting to see what would happen if Movistar send Amador on the attack on the Mortirolo. Sunweb could burn all their domestiques trying to catch him, allowing Quintana et al. to attack on the Stelvio.

dastardly00

Seemingly Astana are going to be using these bidons in Stage 16 as a tribute to the late Michele Scarponi.

https://twitter.com/AstanaTeam/status/866643935103524865

wanderer 22

Great preview, thanks. Can't wait for this , what a route profile! I wait with bated breath to see if Quintana can beat my 2 hours 20 minutes on the Stelvio..

TheBlaaMan

Great news...................Eurosport are on air with Stage 16 from 11:15 tomorrow, meaning we get to see a further 45 minutes of pain and anguish/..........

Day off booked...

TheBlaaMan

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Great news...................Eurosport are on air with Stage 16 from 11:15 tomorrow, meaning we get to see a further 45 minutes of pain and anguish/..........

Day off booked...

Oh fair play for mentioning that, I'd not have switched on till midday otherwise.

dastardly00

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Great news...................Eurosport are on air with Stage 16 from 11:15 tomorrow, meaning we get to see a further 45 minutes of pain and anguish/..........

Day off booked...

I have a sneaking suspicion I'm not going to be very productive in work tomorrow!

Lusk_Doyle

dastardly00 wrote: »

It will be interesting to see what would happen if Movistar send Amador on the attack on the Mortirolo. Sunweb could burn all their domestiques trying to catch him, allowing Quintana et al. to attack on the Stelvio.

Surely the other teams ahead of him in GC would chip in with at least a dom or two to keep tabs on such an attack to protect their own GC aspirations which are more at risk than Sunwebs.

dastardly00

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Surely the other teams ahead of him in GC would chip in with at least a dom or two to keep tabs on such an attack to protect their own GC aspirations which are more at risk than Sunwebs.

Yes you would expect that the other teams would assist but they may roll the dice and let Sunweb burn themselves out!

dastardly00

After the riders complete their second ascent of the Stelvio, is the descent to Bormio the same road as the first ascent of the Stelvio?

If so, the road will be absolutely jam-packed with fans and it could be mental! :eek:

If it was team sky in pink ? Yeah no help from the rest but Sunweb? maybe they'll get some help plus TD did earn some good will on Sunday by slowing when Quintana had his off which may or may not have let him get 6 seconds back.

TheBlaaMan

dastardly00 wrote: »

After the riders complete their second ascent of the Stelvio, is the descent to Bormio the same road as the first ascent of the Stelvio?

If so, the road will be absolutely jam-packed with fans and it could be mental! :eek:

Yes. There's only one road up to the Stelvio pass from Bormio and apparently they are going to restrict the numbers of vehicles allowed on it tomorrow. I presume they have calculated things with enough time for the grupetto to be off the climb by time the leaders are heading back down...

dastardly00

Who should we expect in the breakaway tomorrow...
Omar Fraille definitely;
Mikel Landa surely;
Rui Costa probably;
Tejay Van G :pac:

dastardly00

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Yes. There's only one road up to the Stelvio pass from Bormio and apparently they are going to restrict the numbers of vehicles allowed on it tomorrow. I presume they have calculated things with enough time for the grupetto to be off the climb by time the leaders are heading back down...

There is roughly 60km distance to be ridden between the two Stelvio summits so there is no way that the grupetto will be that far behind the lead rider/group.

But I'm nervous/excited about that final descent. Normally descents are sparsely populated with fans, this will be the exact opposite. Unless the organisers have 20km of barriers erected...

Lusk_Doyle

dastardly00 wrote: »

Unless the organisers have 20km of barriers erected...

In Italy that is most unlikely!

dastardly00

25km gone already, but nothing noteworthy has happened so far according to live text updates

dastardly00

50.3 Km/h for the first hour of racing.
25 riders have a 45 second advantage over the peloton. Don't know who yet.
Less than 20km to go before the Mortirolo.

mirrormatrix

Is there anywhere to watch this live legally for free? I seem to remember one of the French or Italian papers websites having a live stream, but i've forgotten where it was.

Don't have access to Eurosport or the player.

dastardly00

mirrormatrix wrote: »

Is there anywhere to watch this live legally for free? I seem to remember one of the French or Italian papers websites having a live stream, but i've forgotten where it was.

Don't have access to Eurosport or the player.

On mobile or PC/Laptop?

mirrormatrix

dastardly00 wrote: »

On mobile or PC/Laptop?

Either will do fine

dastardly00

mirrormatrix wrote: »

Either will do fine

PM sent

dastardly00

Coverage has started on Eurosport...

...And it's LIVE <<< to be read in the voice of Sky Sports' Martin Tyler

Is that Philip Deignan at the back of the break?

Show of class there at the top. Fair play, was wondering what was being said on the way up. Likely agreeing not to chase him.

dastardly00

Very nice touch from Omar Fraile there. He allowed the Astana rider LL Sanchez to be first over the top of the Mortirolo (Cima Scarponi), even though Fraile is vying for the KOM classification

dastardly00

Deleted User wrote: »

Is that Philip Deignan at the back of the break

Both Deignan and Landa are there.
So is Kruijswijk

MPFGLB

Steven Kruijswijk has been riding with a broken rib sustained in Yorkshore...wow ...what a warrior....

Just goes to show how hard cycling is

SK was 21 days at altitude before the Giro...wonder what he would be like but for the crash...just like Thomas

Somedude9

Didn't Kruijswijk suffer that injury on the first day? Not sure it's a broken rib either, more bruised. He has been down twice so far. I expect he'll get stronger, big move from him today, I wouldn't let him get too far out of sight.

MPFGLB

Well ES said it was a fractured rib at Yorkshire ..

dastardly00

Somedude9 wrote: »

Didn't Kruijswijk suffer that injury on the first day? Not sure it's a broken rib either, more bruised. He has been down twice so far. I expect he'll get stronger, big move from him today, I wouldn't let him get too far out of sight.

From Cyclingnews:

Steven Kruijswijk's start to the Giro d'Italia was hampered by a rib fracture that he sustained on the opening stage of the Tour de Yorkshire late last month, the LottoNL-Jumbo rider revealed during the Giro's third rest day.

Boscoirl

That Bora ad is pure Cheese

ThisRegard

The Pantani banners reminded me of the tribute to him before either Saturday or Sunday's stage. Yes, he was a talented, but troubled guy, and I loved watching him at the time, but members of team management and current members of the peleton still idolising him as a great didn't sit right with me.

Somedude9

MPFGLB wrote: »

Well ES said it was a fractured rib at Yorkshire ..

Fair enough, I'm mistaken, thought I had read something else. Goes some way to explain he's poor form.

Inquitus

All going to be about if Quintana can drop Tom on the first time up the Stelvio and how much damage is done to the bunch on the lower slopes. Quintana and 3 teammates v Tom, Ten-Dam and whoever else will feel compelled to help.....

dastardly00

Looks like Sky have played their cards well in terms of going for the stage win. Kiryienka, Henao, Deignan all in the break to help Landa.

MPFGLB

Somedude9 wrote: »

Fair enough, I'm mistaken, thought I had read something else. Goes some way to explain he's poor form.

yes....such a pity as he was in top form before that
Hope now he can show what he can do on the long climbs

Where are the extended highlights of todays stage best viewed?

TheBlaaMan

i wonder if Kruiswijk will pull for Dumoulin if it comes to it? i know SK is reasonably placed, but you'd have to hope the alliances will start with compatriots and both are leading Dutch teams.....there again, maybe they hate each other......

dastardly00

The peloton haven't a hope of catching the breakaway group as long as Kiryi is leading it

MPFGLB

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

i wonder if Kruiswijk will pull for Dumoulin if it comes to it? i know SK is reasonably placed, but you'd have to hope the alliances will start with compatriots and both are leading Dutch teams.....there again, maybe they hate each other......

According to Dutch media Mollema, Dumoulin and SK all get on ...

dastardly00

I thought that a bell would be rung to signal the 'final' lap!