Giro d'Italia, stage 6: Cassino - San Giovanni R. 238km

neris

After a wet neutralized day yesterday it,s back to another long stage that nearly goes straight across Italy. Coudl be another long boring day. Lumpy rolling stage again with talk of Roglic possibly letting the jersey go for a few days on this stage.

Technical Overview:
Stage 6 is a very long (238 km!) and quite demanding stage, despite not having any particularly hard climb (in fact, it has only one categorized climb, even if it should have more...). From Cassino the riders will head all the way east, crossing the entire peninsula and reaching the other side. The first difficulty of the day arrives at km 11, and it's a small climb of roughly 4.5 km at 4.5%. From there, the road becomes a slightly ascending false flat until it transforms into a proper climb at km 42. This second climb of the day, passing near the town of Isernia, measures 13 km at 3%, and it is very irregular, hiding some proper ramps. After this comes an easy section of flat roads, leading to another climb just before the town of Campobasso, with around 9 km at 3%, again with some decent ramps, this time at the end. From here on, descent and another flat section towards another uncategorized climb, 3 km at 5.5%, before the road gets down again and flattens out. This is by far the easiest section of the day, which ends just at the foot of the only categorized climb, starting at 32.5 km to go: Coppa Casarinelle (GPM2, 15 km at 4.4%) is a long uphill drag, with some good ramps here and there but overall it is second category only because it's close to the finish. The top is at 18 km to go, but it's not the last climb of the day. In fact, after 5 km of descent to reach the town of S. Marco in Lamis the final ramp starts, which looks to be 2.5 km 6% average. From the top there are 10.5 km to go, 5 of which are on an easy and fast descent, while the last 5.5 are mostly flat and run though the roads of S.Giovanni Rotondo, where the finishing line is located.

dastardly00

I know there are boring weeks in every GT, and we've probably been spoiled during the last few years, but so far the route has been a bit of a snoozefest.

I hope a big breakaway gets away today and there is a fight within that group to become the new leader of the race

TheBlaaMan

Roglic down in a crash, but back on his bike and seems unaffected
Ten Dam has abandoned.

Probably a day for the sprinters, but that Cat2 after 220km could shake things up for them a bit. Yates to spring a late one and gain 10 seconds

Half moon at the Giro :pac:

neris

what happened there?

neris

Ackermans in there

Love to see Masnada do this. He's looked great recently in the Alps.

Borderfox

Masnada is turning himself inside out, Conti not doing a lot

Borderfox

Masnada might be in luck, Conti is the virtual pink jersey

ED E

Borderfox wrote: »

Masnada might be in luck, Conti is the virtual pink jersey

Huzzah!

TheBlaaMan

Borderfox wrote: »

Masnada might be in luck, Conti is the virtual pink jersey

Perfect example of a breakaway group/duo that had differing but complementary objectives. ....won-won

TheBlaaMan

Eddie up the front of the peleton.....he's going well..

Thats some change in overall GC ! Is there anyone left from yesterday? No matter, it wont last long like that...

MPFGLB

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Eddie up the front of the peleton.....he's going well..

Thats some change in overall GC ! Is there anyone left from yesterday? No matter, it wont last long like that...

Not allowed in break though

neris

Hope Roglic brought his climbing legs to get 5 minutes back

Eamonnator

dastardly00 wrote: »

I know there are boring weeks in every GT, and we've probably been spoiled during the last few years, but so far the route has been a bit of a snoozefest.

I hope a big breakaway gets away today and there is a fight within that group to become the new leader of the race

Chateau!!!

dastardly00

Eamonnator wrote: »

Chateau!!!

Here you go

Eamonnator

^^^
yeah, that's the one i had in mind.

neris

https://twitter.com/procycletrumps/status/1129081056546758661?s=19

neris

Swiss Tony goes running

https://twitter.com/inrng/status/1129043303910051842?s=19

dastardly00

^^^^
Only an Italian could get away with wearing runners with a suit

Ha saw that earlier, not a bad pace for a man in his 70's.

neris

dastardly00 wrote: »

^^^^
Only an Italian could get away with wearing runners with a suit

And a cravat.

Finnrocco

I thought for a moment Conti was going to try for stage win, looked like he was gearing up for a gallop but I reckon it was a bit for show.

Sam would have won that stage .......

Eamonnator

Finnrocco wrote: »

I thought for a moment Conti was going to try for stage win, looked like he was gearing up for a gallop but I reckon it was a bit for show.

Sam would have won that stage .......

Another ship, that has has long sailed.

Finnrocco

I'm being facetious, I don't think he would have been allowed up the road yesterday by the teams looking to get into the break.

To be fair, Ackermann looks good, could win the points jersey, although not sure how he climbs in terms of getting over the big mountains v Gaviria, Ewan & Co. within the time limit.