[Burkni]

Jumping the gun again, but this stage definitely deserves some discussion a few days in advance.
A non-cycling workmate of mine sent me this video of some guys who do the descent of Passo Crostis estremamente piano in a car.
I only hope this is before RCS allegedly added more netting and asphalt.

[Burkni]

A very, very, very small part of me wishes for an elite selection to take place on the ascent of the Crostis and Nibali then gaining a minute on the descent. With no one hurt of course.

[N.B.O.L.]

Burkni, on 17 May 2011 - 09:13 PM, said:

Jumping the gun again, but this stage definitely deserves some discussion a few days in advance.
A non-cycling workmate of mine sent me this video of some guys who do the descent of Passo Crostis estremamente piano in a car.
I only hope this is before RCS allegedly added more netting and asphalt.

That is scary just sitting in front of a computer screen. When he opened the door, I thought he was going to shoot straight down from there. Part of me is curious as to what that view was. Part of me is happy he didn't.

[vaunTrevi]

Damn what is that a smugglers road from the 14th century?
I think by the time they descend that the peloton will be shattered and scattered in chasing pairs and small groups untli the laughing group comes through.
First up are the climbs of the Passo di Monte Croce Carnico (cat 3), the Passo di Sant Antonio (cat 3) and the Passo della Mauria (cat 2). Then, after 160 km the climbing kicks up a gear with the first ever ascent of the Monte Crostis. The Crostis, at 14km long, averages over 10%, features stretches at over 18% and includes a final 4 km at around 12%. In its own right it is a tough test, but we aren't even started yet.

After the Crostis comes the climb that strikes fear into the peloton, the brutal Monte Zoncolon.
That road could use some work and a new paving. Definitely done with all caution.
With any luck no crashes.

[N.B.O.L.]

vaunTrevi, on 18 May 2011 - 03:08 AM, said:

With any luck no crashes.

I don't think there is enough luck in the world for that, I'm just hoping for no serious injuries from the crashes.

[Burkni]

What they should have done is reverse the order - the Zoncolan can be descended on the other side (can't be much worse than descending the Mortirolo) and then have a summit finish on the Crostis.

[The Rake]

Would have been interesting had they encountered a car (or a coach!) coming up in the other direction

[Jayhawk]

Ullllp -- what are they thinking?!

Those flimsy nets don't look worth a darn. I'm afraid of this stage. Did you see the Youtube comment about recent snow having ripped down some of the nets? I can't imagine them catching 140 pounds of flying cyclist.

[Burkni]

I saw a quote somewhere that the entire peloton (apart from Contador) was now happy with the safety precautions on the Crostis. Yeah right, Zomegnan.

[Leafcake]

Hello there , reading you fondly.

Just saw this fantastic video of the Crostis descent on the Giro page.
http://video.gazzett...52-40231cf1af7e

Don't know if this is Savoldelli, but i wish we would get in race bike cam shots. - well, generally. Exciting.

[Jayhawk]

No Crostis tomorrow. UCI asked it to be removed from the route.

http://www.cyclingne...om-giro-ditalia

[MrHarm]

Jayhawk, on 20 May 2011 - 08:36 PM, said:

No Crostis tomorrow. UCI asked it to be removed from the route.

http://www.cyclingne...om-giro-ditalia

And they decide this NOW?

Clowns (but that's what the "C" in UCI stands for anyway, right?)

Guess Riis got it his way then, proud fighter for a fair sport that he is.

Remove any dirt roads, any cobbles, any technical descents so we're sure that the ones who eat their meat win and take any advantage from having technical skills out of it.

This post has been edited by MrHarm: 20 May 2011 - 08:49 PM

[Burkni]

They are clowns, I agree, but ultimately I think that this was not a sensible descent to put in the race. I hope they include it as a last climb of a stage in a different year though.
I also hope that this will act to further estrange RCS and hopefully ASO from the UCI and give the legendary breakaway league some wind.

[MrHarm]

Excuse my heat of the moment rant

Though I honestly think the exceptional nature of the Crostis descent has been exaggerated.

And anyway, the removal wasn't based on safety concerns, according to the jury.

[Burkni]

And on Zoncolan day (and Dolomite weekend) some bright light at the maternity ward decides to induce labour in my wife. Fabulous timing

[bodomaniac]

Burkni, on 21 May 2011 - 01:02 PM, said:

And on Zoncolan day (and Dolomite weekend) some bright light at the maternity ward decides to induce labour in my wife. Fabulous timing

Congratulations on becoming a father or dad again if this is yet another child in the family fold! Awesome news!

[bodomaniac]

Leafcake, on 20 May 2011 - 02:19 PM, said:

Hello there , reading you fondly.

Just saw this fantastic video of the Crostis descent on the Giro page.
http://video.gazzett...52-40231cf1af7e

Don't know if this is Savoldelli, but i wish we would get in race bike cam shots. - well, generally. Exciting.

Unless Sav was on a mountain bike, this wasn't him. I'm bummed we fans were deprived of this descent, as outside of the tarmac surface not being the greatest in spots, it doesn't look much worse to me than some of the narrow and treacherous descents used by the TdF in the Pyrenean stages. As sad as I am about Weylandt's passing, cycling is an inherently dangerous sport and the possibility of death by crash or accident always looms out there. Were someone to die during a mass sprint crash are we are going to eliminate sprint finishes as well? Let's be honest, part of the reason a mass sprint finish is exciting is the possibility of carnage at over 60 kmh. Rest assured this will happen one day regardless of the safety precautions taken, if the object is to prevent the accidental death of a rider. IMO if they try to take all of the 'risks' out of the sport you will have such a watered down vanilla version of it that much the drama that attracts even the casual viewer will have been removed.

[mapeifan]

Burkni, on 21 May 2011 - 01:02 PM, said:

And on Zoncolan day (and Dolomite weekend) some bright light at the maternity ward decides to induce labour in my wife. Fabulous timing

Congratulazioni Burkni! And if it's a girl- Rosa perhaps?

This post has been edited by mapeifan: 21 May 2011 - 02:23 PM

[MrHarm]

bodomaniac, on 21 May 2011 - 01:45 PM, said:

Unless Sav was on a mountain bike, this wasn't him. I'm bummed we fans were deprived of this descent, as outside of the tarmac surface not being the greatest in spots, it doesn't look much worse to me than some of the narrow and treacherous descents used by the TdF in the Pyrenean stages. As sad as I am about Weylandt's passing, cycling is an inherently dangerous sport and the possibility of death by crash or accident always looms out there. Were someone to die during a mass sprint crash are we are going to eliminate sprint finishes as well? Let's be honest, part of the reason a mass sprint finish is exciting is the possibility of carnage at over 60 kmh. Rest assured this will happen one day regardless of the safety precautions taken, if the object is to prevent the accidental death of a rider. IMO if they try to take all of the 'risks' out of the sport you will have such a watered down vanilla version of it that much the drama that attracts even the casual viewer will have been removed.

+1000

[crockett]

Burkni, on 21 May 2011 - 01:02 PM, said:

And on Zoncolan day (and Dolomite weekend) some bright light at the maternity ward decides to induce labour in my wife. Fabulous timing

Wish her good luck, and tell her you will see her tomorrow.