Giro 2014 - Stage 16: Val Martello *Spoilers*

frenchfighter

What an incredible stage, Tour de France can only do this in their dreams.

I love the way on this and other stages there is so little valley road which is destructive to attackers.

Uran is the first wearer of the Maglia Rosa - here is hoping he keeps it. Part of me wonders whether Quintana would not overhaul Uran even if he could. They were housemates for a good amount of time.

Given the time gaps of the first handful of riders are not too large and the last climb is a beast I doubt and understand if we dont see top GC riders going from the previous climb.

phreak

Really looking forward to this day. Epic stuff. Will the tv coverage start from the off? Would be a shame to miss the Gavia.

Richmond Racer

phreak wrote:

Really looking forward to this day. Epic stuff. Will the tv coverage start from the off? Would be a shame to miss the Gavia.

Don't think so. The early afternoon kick-off by RAI as per.

Off to the open village now and then we're driving up the Stelvio. Will report back.

greasedscotsman

This thread needs a webcam!

blazing_saddles

phreak wrote:

Really looking forward to this day. Epic stuff. Will the tv coverage start from the off? Would be a shame to miss the Gavia.

Rai actually have Giro based programming all day, today, so the chances are (this is what they usually do) is dip in and out of the early stages of the stage.
I expect they'll have the start, at least a segment of the Gavia and pick up coverage somewhere on the Stelvio.
(weather permitting, heli's flying etc)

Crankbother

I'm more worried about the tennis overrunning on ES than the weather ...

If they start playing a third set tie-break with snowballs we'll know they're taking the proverbial ...

I'm guessing an epic breakaway win will be the days excitement with the GC guys saving their legs (and health) for the last few days ...

knedlicky

About 40 mins ago at top of Stelvio.

blazing_saddles

Crankbother wrote:

I'm more worried about the tennis overrunning on ES than the weather ...

If they start playing a third set tie-break with snowballs we'll know they're taking the proverbial ...

I'm guessing an epic breakaway win will be the days excitement with the GC guys saving their legs (and health) for the last few days ...

I'd say that was a gimme. It always does on important stages.
I remember a Blockhaus Giro stage losing a whole hour to girlie clay court.
(and that wasn't even the RG)

Any how, the current "official" announcement says we have the green light for the big passes.

RideOnTime

Look at the peaks on that...

cc78

Blazing Saddles wrote:

phreak wrote:

Really looking forward to this day. Epic stuff. Will the tv coverage start from the off? Would be a shame to miss the Gavia.

Rai actually have Giro based programming all day, today, so the chances are (this is what they usually do) is dip in and out of the early stages of the stage.
I expect they'll have the start, at least a segment of the Gavia and pick up coverage somewhere on the Stelvio.
(weather permitting, heli's flying etc)

Judging by the picture above, it will be moto and roadside cameras only.

mechanism

It looks like live images start at 12:30 BST for some channels but British Eurosport doesn't start until 13:30 BST. Should still be in time for the Stelvio.

andyp

greasedscotsman wrote:

This thread needs a webcam!

Will this do;

http://www.passostelvio.com/ita-webcam.php

greasedscotsman

andyp wrote:

greasedscotsman wrote:

This thread needs a webcam!

Will this do;

http://www.passostelvio.com/ita-webcam.php

Yes!

Give me more

On Quintana watch:

Laura Meseguer @Laura_Meseguer · 11h [ES cycling journo]
.@BiciGoga reports @NairoQuinCo had fever last night and is suffering an ear infection #Giro

Laura Meseguer ‏@Laura_Meseguer 11h
@VeloVoices ear infection, sorry!

Matt Stephens ‏@RealStephens 11h
@Laura_Meseguer @VeloVoices Yep, was at his hotel earlier today. On antibiotics too..

Matt Stephens ‏@RealStephens 10h
@festinagirl @VeloVoices @Laura_Meseguer He trained on the turbo today with his team so perhaps he's on the up rather than down. We can hope

---

Elsewhere Pozzovivo has supposedly been suffering from bronchitis since stage 15 according to Italian media.

blazing_saddles

Mechanism wrote:

It looks like live images start at 12:30 BST for some channels but British Eurosport doesn't start until 13:30 BST. Should still be in time for the Stelvio.

Sporza starts at 12-30BST
Eurosport starts at 13-30BST...............or perhaps 14-00.............or maybe 14-30..........or

above_the_cows

Ooo an ear infection is not going to be nice with the changes in altitude, in the cold and with needing to be steady on the bike.

frenchfighter

As an aside:

During the last stage of the Giro last year, I met Rigoberto's girlfriend and spent some time with her and Sergio Henao's significant other. In speaking with them, I quickly learned that Rigoberto's girlfriend does not like him to be called "Rigo". In fact, she corrected me a couple of times. I still can't help myself.
-Cycling Inquisition

Crankbother

frenchfighter wrote:

As an aside:

During the last stage of the Giro last year, I met Rigoberto's girlfriend and spent some time with her and Sergio Henao's significant other. In speaking with them, I quickly learned that Rigoberto's girlfriend does not like him to be called "Rigo". In fact, she corrected me a couple of times. I still can't help myself.
-Cycling Inquisition

Berto it is then ... although I still prefer Barberella as it works on more than one level ...

Give me more

Roman Kreuziger ‏@Roman86_K 3h
This morning looks perfectly for#restday!I hope @giroditalia take right decision about the stage today#Gavia#Stelvio! pic.twitter.com/GEnSQXIkcE

shhh Roman you're not even racing it!

Pross

Must remember to use the Sky+ app and record this then ignore Bike Radar all day and watch as live later as I'm home alone this week. I suspect it's going to be an anti-climax though, the 'big' stages usually are.

RichN95.

An epic stage in which nothing relevant to GC will happen until the 14% bit 5km from the end

southdownswolf

RichN95 wrote:

An epic stage in which nothing relevant to GC will happen until the 14% bit 5km from the end

But the other 130km's will make sooo much difference to the last 5km...

above_the_cows

southdownswolf wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

An epic stage in which nothing relevant to GC will happen until the 14% bit 5km from the end

But the other 130km's will make sooo much difference to the last 5km...

True, true, but with the rubbish weather we cannot even tune in for the epic heli shots of the Stelvio

I've been bigging this stage up all Giro to the casual viewer, telling them they have to tune in for the scenery. I'm going to look like a right muppet now.

RichN95.

southdownswolf wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

An epic stage in which nothing relevant to GC will happen until the 14% bit 5km from the end

But the other 130km's will make sooo much difference to the last 5km...

I don't reckon it will. You'll get similar time gaps to Sunday which was completely flat until the final climb. Some riders may lose minutes but it will be because they are having a crap day rather than other's actions.

southdownswolf

Same here, I have been looking forward to it since the route was announced. Now we can't even be sure that today will go ahead and if it does, will it be abandoned half way through?

phreak

The Giro has the best routes of all the grand tours, but undoubtedly the worst weather.

southdownswolf

RichN95 wrote:

southdownswolf wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

An epic stage in which nothing relevant to GC will happen until the 14% bit 5km from the end

But the other 130km's will make sooo much difference to the last 5km...

I don't reckon it will. You'll get similar time gaps to Sunday which was completely flat until the final climb. Some riders may lose minutes but it will be because they are having a crap day rather than other's actions.

I agree, I just meant that the previous 130kms will take a lot out of the riders, 4000m of climbing in that weather is going to have a huge effect on the riders.

Pross

The earlier climbing is bound to have an effect but that's likely to just reduce the chances of aggressive riding on the final climb. We saw how tired everyone looked on Sunday and that was after a flat run in to a single climb. It's attritional and sorts out a deserving winner but I think routes with smaller climbs tend to provide more obvious excitement. These sorts of stages it's more about whether people can limit losses than can others make gains by attacking.

Crampeur

....

Crampeur

...

blazing_saddles

Just as suspected, race on, tv not.
No live possible due to weather conditions until at least 13-30cet.
Same as the last time they actually managed the Gavia.
So, in the modern age, is it worth it?