[Burkni]

RCS just released that next year's Queen stage will be fit for a queen indeed ... finishing atop the Stelvio, preceded by the Mortirolo

Normally this chain is done in the opposite direction but this way, a lot of guys could be isolated and even dropped before the Stelvio ... hope the prospect of it won't make for more passive racing.

Really looking forward to seeing the rest of the parcours. New director Acquarone can't put too many stages like that if he is serious about his ideas of a more "balanced route"

[sweatpea]

Well, I think the Giro is becoming more "interactive" in the sense that fans were asked to send in their favourite climbs that could not be missed in the 2012 Giro. This directly contrasts with the Tour de France organizers that seem to always have the same tour: on the boring side. When they include mountain stages ie. the Pyrennees before the Alps, the prior stage doesn't seem to help with the selection of the race. Which leads me always to say that the Giro is my favourite race in that up until the last day, you never know who can win.
It will be interesting to see what social media and fan interaction will play in future Tours. Perhaps the new Giro organizer is on to something promising and maybe the fans know a thing or too about how the race should unfold?

This post has been edited by sweatpea: 01 October 2011 - 01:47 PM

[micomico]

sweatpea, on 01 October 2011 - 01:44 PM, said:

It will be interesting to see what social media and fan interaction will play in future Tours. Perhaps the new Giro organizer is on to something promising and maybe the fans know a thing or too about how the race should unfold?

I am interested in seeing if the new Giro mgt. will work on the transfers and dangerous situations issues as well.

[Burkni]

This stage puts a new meaning into the much-used cycling phrase 'three-pronged attack':

That will be one HELL of a finale, ending on the Passo Giau no less!
The leaks are certainly not indicating any easier of a race than last year ... only 12 days to go to the official presentation.

Don't think that the race has arrived in Cortina since the Pantani era.

This post has been edited by Burkni: 04 October 2011 - 11:29 AM

[crockett]

Burkni, on 29 September 2011 - 02:50 PM, said:

RCS just released that next year's Queen stage will be fit for a queen indeed ... finishing atop the Stelvio, preceded by the Mortirolo

Normally this chain is done in the opposite direction but this way, a lot of guys could be isolated and even dropped before the Stelvio ... hope the prospect of it won't make for more passive racing.

Really looking forward to seeing the rest of the parcours. New director Acquarone can't put too many stages like that if he is serious about his ideas of a more "balanced route"

Nice! I would have sent them up the Mortirolo and then down the other side, and then back up it again, but I will settle for this.
By waiting until the second to last day of the race to use the Stelvio, there is additional time for the snow to melt!

[micomico]

micomico, on 02 October 2011 - 10:39 PM, said:

I am interested in seeing if the new Giro mgt. will work on the transfers and dangerous situations issues as well.

There's hope: New Giro d’Italia race director Michele Acquarone says the 2012 edition of the Italian tour will be “more respectful” to the riders and said plans to take the Giro to the United States are on hold.

[Burkni]

Rumour has it that the Rifugio Calvanico will be included, which on paper looks to me like it is harder than both the Zoncolan and the Mortirolo.

I only hope the transfers will be reduced, because the latter half of the race looks every bit as hard as when Zomegnan was as the reigns.

[crockett]

Burkni, on 13 October 2011 - 09:12 AM, said:

Rumour has it that the Rifugio Calvanico will be included, which on paper looks to me like it is harder than both the Zoncolan and the Mortirolo.

I only hope the transfers will be reduced, because the latter half of the race looks every bit as hard as when Zomegnan was as the reigns.

Looking forward to this mountain and the Giro. In marked contrast with the Tour. While I definitely prefer a mountainous Tour, since I'm only watching on TV, I wouldn't mind if all the stages were held solely within the confines of mainland Italy. And, the slower the stages are run, the better, makes for more good TV watching.

[Burkni]

crockett, on 13 October 2011 - 01:19 PM, said:

Looking forward to this mountain and the Giro. In marked contrast with the Tour. While I definitely prefer a mountainous Tour, since I'm only watching on TV, I wouldn't mind if all the stages were held solely within the confines of mainland Italy. And, the slower the stages are run, the better, makes for more good TV watching.

The steep mountains are there in France, ASO is just too chicken to use them.
Examples: The Dent du Chat and the Grand Colombier (which could actually be used in tandem to rival any Giro stage)

[The Rake]

Burkni, on 13 October 2011 - 04:56 PM, said:

The steep mountains are there in France, ASO is just too chicken to use them.
Examples: The Dent du Chat and the Grand Colombier (which could actually be used in tandem to rival any Giro stage)

The name alone should strike fear: the cat's tooth.

Love the romantic names of these climbs. In the UK it would be called the B266 or something. Though in Cornwalll, they may call it the Turtle's Head or similar

This post has been edited by The Rake: 14 October 2011 - 08:05 AM

[Burkni]

The Rake, on 14 October 2011 - 08:04 AM, said:

The name alone should strike fear: the cat's tooth.

Love the romantic names of these climbs. In the UK it would be called the B266 or something. Though in Cornwalll, they may call it the Turtle's Head or similar

[micomico]

Burkni, on 13 October 2011 - 09:12 AM, said:

Rumour has it that the Rifugio Calvanico will be included, which on paper looks to me like it is harder than both the Zoncolan and the Mortirolo.

I only hope the transfers will be reduced, because the latter half of the race looks every bit as hard as when Zomegnan was as the reigns.

Aquarone said the plan is to have all riders in their hotels by 7:30 pm so that they have time to eat, get massages, rest. Marked change from Angelo's regime.

[Burkni]

micomico, on 16 October 2011 - 07:18 PM, said:

Aquarone said the plan is to have all riders in their hotels by 7:30 pm so that they have time to eat, get massages, rest. Marked change from Angelo's regime.

A good thing, no doubt about that.
The route however, is bland at best after the fireworks of Zomegnan's reign.

GC status quo (more or less) can be expected between stages 4 and 15 and the Giro becomes a sprinter's festival again. Bizarrely, the ridiculously loaded last week is bound to scare the sprinters off two weeks into the race.

The kick-off in Denmark could have been a lot better, there actually are climbs there that can cause splits, even in that very area.

Two interesting stages are into Sestri Levante and Lago Laceno, with a nice hard climb followed by 4km of false flat at the end. Could play out similarly to stage 5 of this year's Paris-Nice, with the climb creating a small selection which then plays some nice games of elite cat-and-mouse. Looking forward to that one.

Obligatory Lake-stage 15 looks beautiful and could cause some damage.

The Stelvio stage could quite well be epic ... having a stage finish there is no doubt inspired by the Tour's finishes on the Galibier and Tourmalet these past couple of years.

The Milan TT is exactly the same as last year's one - remains to be seen whethere it needs to be shortened again.

[micomico]

Basso said he'd be riding the Giro, looking for victory, which makes sense for him. He has a much greater chance of winning it than claiming a podium spot at future TdFs.

[Jayhawk]

Acqua & Sapone didn't get an invitation. I'll miss Garzelli a lot and DiLuca a little.

[micomico]

Jayhawk, on 10 January 2012 - 02:08 PM, said:

Acqua & Sapone didn't get an invitation. I'll miss Garzelli a lot and DiLuca a little.

Yes, an mini-era in the Giro has played itself out. That's two Giro winners who got suspended for drugs who aren't back, not that Basso extraterrestial activities are forgotten, but he has reedemed himself, although he never got to top speed again, after his suspension.

With DiLuca, he got a lot of bad press after his suspension, going from the winning local hero from the earthquake of Abruzzo to a played-out drug user. I think that with Angelo gone and a new era starting, perhaps having had DiLuca on the team may have hurt rather than helped their chances for an invitation, don't know. They have been invited to San Remo, Tirreno and Lumbardy.

Jayhawk, when you were there, what was the mood like on the papers re DiLuca?

This post has been edited by micomico: 10 January 2012 - 02:59 PM

[Jayhawk]

micomico, on 10 January 2012 - 02:42 PM, said:

when you were there, what was the mood like on the papers re DiLuca?

I don't read/speak Italian, so unfortunately can't intelligently answer your question.

But when we were Italy during the start of the Giro, I poured over Gazetto della Sport and another cycling mag anyway, looking over the pictures & trying to decipher the text using long forgotten Latin and
French, and it was all Nibali Nibali Nibali.

We were in Italy again in June, and I picked up a cycling magazine's post-Giro edition. It was all Contador Contador Contador.

[buddy]

Well under the system where there are wild card picks there are always going to be teams that miss out and fans (and sponsors) who are going to be unhappy. It will be very sad if Aqua & Sapone pull out of the sport due to this non invite.

The UCI tried to fix this selection problem but the teams didn't support them when the organisers played hard ball. So here we are with the same wild card problems.

Last year it was Menchov and Sastre missing out on the tour.

It will continue.

Thanks,

Buddy

[crockett]

Jayhawk, on 10 January 2012 - 09:51 PM, said:

I don't read/speak Italian, so unfortunately can't intelligently answer your question.

Jayhawk, this is where you and I differ. I would never limit my responses to questions where my answer is intelligent.

[micomico]

crockett, on 11 January 2012 - 05:54 PM, said:

Jayhawk, this is where you and I differ. I would never limit my responses to questions where my answer is intelligent.

Good one That is where Jayhawk has the advantage over us; and in this case her admiting to ignorance also demonstrated wisdom - rats, another advantage.

This post has been edited by micomico: 14 January 2012 - 04:19 PM