Giro d'Italia - stage 3 - Middelburg - *SPOILER*

stagehopper
stagehopper Posts: 1,593
edited May 2010 in Pro race
Stage 3 is from Amsterdam to Middelburg, 224km, and flat as a pancake. Most of the second half of the race is right along the coast (the first half runs parallel to the coast but further inland). Will the wind blow?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-g ... gt/stage-3

After 59km there's a three man breakaway around 8 minutes up on the peloton:

Olivier Kaisen (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
Jérome Pineau (Quick Step)
Tom Stamsnijder (Rabobank)
@stagehopper
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Comments

  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    Vertical climb 20m, highest point 8m. Crikey you don't get a whole lot flatter than that.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • pat1cp
    pat1cp Posts: 766
    quote="stagehopper"]Stage 3 is from Amsterdam to Middelburg, 224km, and flat as a pancake. Most of the second half of the race is right along the coast (the first half runs parallel to the coast but further inland). Will the wind blow?
    http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-g ... gt/stage-3

    After 59km there's a three man breakaway around 8 minutes up on the peloton:

    Olivier Kaisen (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
    Jérome Pineau (Quick Step)
    Tom Stamsnijder (Rabobank)[/quote]

    err, yes. Right up their chuffs. 10mph North Easterly, so a tailwind, apart from the small loop at the end.
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  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Not that much wind today, and a no-typical North/Northeasterly, which will be mostly a tailwind all the way - BUT, on the coast in Zeeland, the Middelburg area, the wind always blows a bit harder, and there will be stretches the route will have crosswinds. And a good part of the route in the finale will not actually be along the coast but on very long dams and bridges between peninsulas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Works), so very exposed.

    Like the Giro organisers tend to prefer, even if not practical or safe, the finish is in Middelburg historic city centre. Watch out for some very sharp tight corners - something for a crafty sprinter with good bike handling skills - someone like McEwen
  • ademort
    ademort Posts: 1,924
    I am in Middelburg right now. I took some piccys of the start/finish this morning everybody was busy getting everything ready for the arrival of the riders at 16.30.Am off back to the finish now and will post some piccys later on for those who are interested. The finish is a tough one a sharp bend 200 metres before the finish and it cannot be more than 6 metres wide at the finish line.
    Ademort
    ademort
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  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Timoid. wrote:
    Vertical climb 20m, highest point 8m. Crikey you don't get a whole lot flatter than that.

    And probably the lowest point the Giro has ever been, 6 m below sea level, just north of Rotterdam.
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    In his CN stage predcitions, Pozatto's comments are a little odd for this one.
    This should be one for the sprinters but there's also always a risk of echelons in Holland. Of the general classification riders, I think Pellizotti will be the best equipped if the wind does blow. He's a good bike-handler and very alert. Evans and Basso might have more problems.

    I'd have thought Evans is one of the better bike handlers, what with his mountain-bike skillz.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    Timoid. wrote:
    In his CN stage predcitions, Pozatto's comments are a little odd for this one.
    This should be one for the sprinters but there's also always a risk of echelons in Holland. Of the general classification riders, I think Pellizotti will be the best equipped if the wind does blow. He's a good bike-handler and very alert. Evans and Basso might have more problems.

    I'd have thought Evans is one of the better bike handlers, what with his mountain-bike skillz.

    I reckon Pelizotti definitely won't fall off today.
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  • luckao
    luckao Posts: 632
    Not sure about Eurosport's choice of photo to front today's race coverage...
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Interesting BTW that for a stage focused on wind, the three breakaway riders are from QuickStep, Lotto, and Rabobank...
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Don't expect any live feeds until 13-45 or so. Finish about 15-15/30.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • stagehopper
    stagehopper Posts: 1,593
    FJS wrote:
    Not that much wind today, and a no-typical North/Northeasterly, which will be mostly a tailwind all the way - BUT, on the coast in Zeeland, the Middelburg area, the wind always blows a bit harder, and there will be stretches the route will have crosswinds. And a good part of the route in the finale will not actually be along the coast but on very long dams and bridges between peninsulas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Works), so very exposed.

    Like the Giro organisers tend to prefer, even if not practical or safe, the finish is in Middelburg historic city centre. Watch out for some very sharp tight corners - something for a crafty sprinter with good bike handling skills - someone like McEwen

    When I looked at the map it looked horribly exposed. Hope the wind picks up a bit.
    @stagehopper
  • stagehopper
    stagehopper Posts: 1,593
    Just noticed that the route for the last 40 km or so on the Gazzetta site is different from the Cyclingnews site:

    http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Girodit ... pla_03.pdf

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-g ... gt/stage-3

    Looks more coastal/exposed.
    @stagehopper
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    edited May 2010
    Stamsnijder was only 9 seconds down on GC this morning. He's bagged a 6 second bonus already and has chances of taking the maglia rosa on the road. Two questions:

    1. Why the hell was he allowed to get away?
    2. If he gets another 4 bonus seconds and becomes race leader, is it then Rabo's job to control the peloton?
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • kieranb
    kieranb Posts: 1,674
    I went on holidays about 2 years ago, near Vlissingen and Middelburg, about this time of year, great for family cycling. The 'climbs' will probably be the roads leading up to the top of the dams from the flat lower interiors. Road surfaces were great. Middelburg is nice enough, some nice cafes. From the beaches on the south side you can watch the hugh container ships just off the coast heading to the ports or the horses race along the beach.
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    This could be gripping viewing. Lionel Birnie has just written on Twitter,

    "But the finishing circuit is crazy. Narrow, difficult corners, speed bumps, cobbles and the barriers have old-school style stick-out legs."

    http://twitter.com/lionelbirnie/status/13723723162
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    Harmon and Kelly are go!

    Looks like the peltoon has split up, but not much info yet.
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Timoid. wrote:
    Stamsnijder was only 9 seconds down on GC this morning. He's bagged a 6 second bonus already and has chances of taking the maglia rosa on the road. Two questions:

    1. Why the hell was he allowed to get away?
    2. If he gets another 4 bonus seconds and becomes race leader, is it then Rabo's job to control the peloton?

    2. Well, they are obviously not going to chase him while he's still away, and mostly the sprinters teams will have taken over the work anyway before the breakaway is reeled in. But in case they are caught back very early, yes, Rabo might add a couple of riders to lead the bunch. Depends on who's in a next breakaway too..
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Moncoutie in a big last echelon losing time; seems to be the only GC rider there - Cofidis working hard
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    FJS wrote:
    Moncoutie in a big last echelon losing time; seems to be the only GC rider there - Cofidis working hard

    Might be a tactical move on his part. If he's a long way down on GC, he'll be allowed in breaks to mop up KOM points - which is his stated aim.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    A lot of Cofidis and Lampre in that huge second group.
    I'd be surprised if somebody hasn't missed out.
    Besides Pozzovivo, that is.........
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    RichN95 wrote:
    FJS wrote:
    Moncoutie in a big last echelon losing time; seems to be the only GC rider there - Cofidis working hard

    Might be a tactical move on his part. If he's a long way down on GC, he'll be allowed in breaks to mop up KOM points - which is his stated aim.
    But then Cofidis would not be working hard to get him back, would they? I think with this Giro, with minimal amount of TT kms, he might actually have had hopes of getting a decent GC..
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Cunego in one of the chasing groups
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Cunego, Pozzovivo and Moncoutie to lose time.... GC teams in the firts group riding hard..... boring first couple of days?
  • camerone
    camerone Posts: 1,232
    is the group with SKY pushing on the front the group of pink jersey and the first on the road (after breakaway)? it isnt a big group....
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    edited May 2010
    Looks to me as if Evans is on his lonesome in that lead group.
    He'd better not puncture..........

    Where's Gibo?.........ah, stuck will Prince boy...
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    The breakaway has been caught already.

    Dunno why any favourite worth their salt doesn't stick to the Dutch/Belgian teams for all their worth in this sort of stage conditions.
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • timoid.
    timoid. Posts: 3,133
    Cunego e Pozzovivo over a minute down now!
    It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    There should be more interesting crosswind sections between km 195 and km 210
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Yes, soon.
    Lampre get back, Petacchi punctures and he has Gibo for his engine. :oops:
    No chance I'm afraid.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    VDV out?
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.

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