Giro to Galibier

frenchfighter

Cycling-Giro set for Galibier ascent in coming years - director
By Alasdair Fotheringham
LIMONE SUL GARDA, Italy, May 21 (Reuters) - The Giro
d'Italia is set for a stage summit finish on the famous Galibier
climb in France's Alps in the not too distant future, director
Michele Acquarone has said.
The Galibier is arguably the Tour de France's best known
single climb and last year the race celebrated the centenary of
its first ascent there in 1911 with its first ever summit
finish, won by Luxembourg-born Andy Schleck.
"It's a possibility in 2013 and a probability in the next
three Giros," Acquarone, who replaced Angelo Zomegnan as race
director last year, told Reuters.
Seeing the Tour finish on the Galibier in 2011 has given
Acquarone extra motivation to follow in the French race's
wheeltracks.
"We're smaller than the Tour, so we're more flexible. And if
the Tour did it, then so can we," he said.
"We have three different routes for 2013 and we will make a
definitive decision in the two weeks after this Giro finishes."
Unlike the 2011 Giro - widely criticised for being too tough
- Acquarone said the 2012 race, which started with three days
racing in Denmark, is more well-balanced between difficult and
easier stages and has a more international feel overall.
"Some people said we needed a tougher route in 2011 than in
2010, but it was too much. We had to give the race more
equilibrium," he said.
"I wanted a race where riders like (world champion Mark)
Cavendish can come for bunch sprints or ...have some
Classic-like, hilly stages riders can try and win."