Giro D'Italia- Stage 16 ***Spoilers***

frenchfighter

A great looking stage tomorrow with a 13km 6.5% hill straight off the bat, two climbs (15.3km @6.1% and 14km @ 3.5%) before they hit the legendary Mortirolo (11.9km @ 10.9%). The race then leads down and immediately onto the final climb (14km @ 3.5%) but has a 15% 12km from the end.

So there will be fierce competition to make the break and it is going to have to be an elite group to make it to the end. Then the question is whether a GC guy lets rip on the tough Mortirolo and goes for a long one or waits for the final stinger. Contador may well go for a long one if he is getting bored but if he doesn't and wants to win the stage then he is going to have to attack on the 15% ramp as he wont be beating Landa or Aru in a sprint. Will be tough if at that point he attacks and has a few Astana riders trying to chase him down.

In any case:
“Winning a stage would be secondary. You can’t put the overall at risk just to win a stage,” Contador said. “If it happens, that’s great, but the priority is the general classification. To win a stage would require a big effort, more than one hour of effort. And that’s a lot, just thinking about this week, never mind the other races to come.”

Would love to see a long one though, a la TA 14:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1hm2t ... pe-5_sport




In 1994 Pantani conquered this climb in imperious fashion, setting a time of 42:40 (16.5 km/h average)

This stood until 1999 when Gotti, Hera and Simoni did it in 41:42 (16.83 km/h average)

Basso, Nibali and Scarponi did it in 44:39 in 2010

and Contador, Sella, Ricco, Rodriguez, Pozzovivo, Menchov and Simoni did it is a pedestrian 46:12 in 2008


More times here:
http://www.climbing-records.com/2015/05 ... es-on.html

RoadPainter

Why would Contador go for a long attack, when he'll surely be more focused on staying as fresh as possible for July?

thomthom

What's with the useless last climbs in this stage race?

gsk82

having ridden the mortirolo last year i'd say it's not actually that difficult. i've never taken any particular notice of it in a race though so will be good to see it....

but i've just noticed they'e climbing the side i descended so i'm talking rubbish

[EDIT] i wasn't talking rubbish, just lost my bearings.

frenchfighter

gsk82 wrote:

having ridden the mortirolo last year i'd say it's not actually that difficult. i've never taken any particular notice of it in a race though so will be good to see it....

but i've just noticed they'e climbing the side i descended so i'm talking rubbish

15-17km/h average by the best pro climbers = very difficult

gsk82

frenchfighter wrote:

gsk82 wrote:

having ridden the mortirolo last year i'd say it's not actually that difficult. i've never taken any particular notice of it in a race though so will be good to see it....

but i've just noticed they'e climbing the side i descended so i'm talking rubbish

15-17km/h average by the best pro climbers = very difficult

it was been hyped up on our trip as if we would be out the saddle grinding up it all the way. it was actually just like a yorkshire wolds climb, only 10 times as long.

frenchfighter

gsk82 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

gsk82 wrote:

having ridden the mortirolo last year i'd say it's not actually that difficult. i've never taken any particular notice of it in a race though so will be good to see it....

but i've just noticed they'e climbing the side i descended so i'm talking rubbish

15-17km/h average by the best pro climbers = very difficult

it was been hyped up on our trip as if we would be out the saddle grinding up it all the way. it was actually just like a yorkshire wolds climb, only 10 times as long.

Fair enough but 10% x 1km <hard then 10% x 10km, more than 10x as hard!

Macaloon

This is a sick sport. In a rational world, Contador's best-in-show race cruft and superb TT is top dog from early jersey wearer Nibali (+30"), Astana's A-Team and typical superior race strategy suprising everyone (again). Froome is 3rd (+1:15), recovering half his deficit from the early missed-split in the TT. Quintana looms menacingly in 4th (+1:30) recovering from early sickness to shred the field on S15's MTF.

Four natural born killers on bikes, only one of them competing in the sport's second most prestigious event. Meanwhile, caravans....

coopster_the_1st

Breakaway win written all over this stage with the way the race is now set-up except in two situations:

- Astana ride as they have been so far and make it a hard stage
- Someone dangerous to the podium contenders gets into the break and that relevant team (most likely Astana) have to ride early on to keep the break within a few minutes.

frenchfighter

gsk82, I reckon you should start training to be a pro!

@friebos · 5m 5 minutes ago
“It’s the hardest climb I’ve ever done. Savage. Long, steep and sick." - Mark Cavendish #Mortirolo
@friebos · 3m 3 minutes ago
"I was always scared of it. You’re just praying that your body won’t let you down.” - Gilberto Simoni. #Mortirolo
@giroditalia · 4m 4 minutes ago
@friebos "Il Mortirolo è il Maracanà del ciclismo." - Marco Pastonesi #Giro #Mortirolo
@friebos · 2m 2 minutes ago
"The Mortirolo? That thing just f**ks you up.” - Florido Barale (ex-Amore e Vita) #Mortirolo


@albertocontador · 40m 40 minutes ago
Today GREAT STAGE,with capital letters at Giro.Tough day from the start,with mythical Mortirolo! #Giro

mechanism

See what Simon Richardson thinks of the Mortirolo on GCN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwYCdNm7f0k

Crozza

frenchfighter wrote:

gsk82, I reckon you should start training to be a pro!

@friebos · 5m 5 minutes ago
“It’s the hardest climb I’ve ever done. Savage. Long, steep and sick." - Mark Cavendish #Mortirolo
@friebos · 3m 3 minutes ago
"I was always scared of it. You’re just praying that your body won’t let you down.” - Gilberto Simoni. #Mortirolo
@giroditalia · 4m 4 minutes ago
@friebos "Il Mortirolo è il Maracanà del ciclismo." - Marco Pastonesi #Giro #Mortirolo
@friebos · 2m 2 minutes ago
"The Mortirolo? That thing just f**ks you up.” - Florido Barale (ex-Amore e Vita) #Mortirolo


@albertocontador · 40m 40 minutes ago
Today GREAT STAGE,with capital letters at Giro.Tough day from the start,with mythical Mortirolo! #Giro

even Lance in his "prime" (2004) found it tough!

"It's a terrible climb...it's perfect for a mountain bike. On the hardest parts, I was riding a 39x27 and I was hurting, really hurting. (Mortirolo) is the hardest climb I've ever ridden. My time up the climb? It's not important; I rode the Mortirolo to have some fun and ride with the 'cicloamatori'...there were a few raindrops, but it was a great day."

frenchfighter

@friebos · 41m 41 minutes ago
"A 24-sprocket was Pantani's idea of blasphemy...but even he wanted one there." Beppe Martinelli (ex-Carrera DS Beppe Martinelli) #Mortirolo

Crozza

we need a giant bonk from Alberto to bring this race back to life

can't see it happening somehow

norvernrob

frenchfighter wrote:

gsk82 wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

gsk82 wrote:

having ridden the mortirolo last year i'd say it's not actually that difficult. i've never taken any particular notice of it in a race though so will be good to see it....

but i've just noticed they'e climbing the side i descended so i'm talking rubbish

15-17km/h average by the best pro climbers = very difficult

it was been hyped up on our trip as if we would be out the saddle grinding up it all the way. it was actually just like a yorkshire wolds climb, only 10 times as long.

Fair enough but 10% x 1km <hard then 10% x 10km, more than 10x as hard!

That gradient for that distance is hard....we did Curbar Edge a few weeks ago, which we realised after is in the '100 greatest UK climbs' book. 1.8km at 10.2%, it wasn't an out of the saddle grind but it wasn't pleasant, and to do something 6 times longer would be really really tough. I'm 68kg so not exactly a gorilla either!

Then to do it at 17/18 km/hr instead of the 10km/hr we averaged......not happening :oops:

TheBigBean

I've ridden up Swains Lane. Basically the same thing as the Mortirolo.

frenchfighter

Live in 20 mins hopefully.

All kicking off aggressively for riders trying to get in the break.

Rain.

Gruppetto is already 1.30 back. Looong day for them.

frenchfighter

Over the top of the climb and it's Carlos Betancur who leads the way, followed by Pellizotti, Intxausti, Zardini and then Hesjedal.

Pellizotti and Zardini currently lead the race with a chase group of three at 20 seconds, and the main field a further 16 seconds adrift.

frenchfighter

Zardini, Pellizotti, Felline, Bookwalter, De La Cruz, and Fernandez and Niemiec

Hesjedal

Peloton

Gruppetto

frenchfighter

On Rai now:
http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/dirette/Publ ... iSport%201

frenchfighter

Not the best break. Niemiec and Hesjedal might have what it takes though.

Pellizotti, Zardini, Bookwalter, De la cruz, Niemec, Fernandez, Felline, Hesjedal and Mihaylov

130km to race

ugo.santalucia

Would love Hesjedal to win...

milton50

Pirazzi not in the break for the Mortirolo stage? Fail.

bobmcstuff

Supposed to be starting on Eurosport (Giro Extra) but all I have is loads of tennis.

frenchfighter

Milton50 wrote:

Pirazzi not in the break for the Mortirolo stage? Fail.

He was the first to try but Zardini was the one who made it. Wouldn't put it past him to attack later anyway.

milton50

ThomThom wrote:

What's with the useless last climbs in this stage race?

It is a bit odd to tack a boring 3% climb on the end of the stage after the Mortirolo. If at this point in the race the strong climbers were behind on GC then it would have worked out perfectly though. They would have been forced to attack over the Mortirolo.

As it is I think we'll see Contador easily riding on Astana's wheel followed by an easy run it to Aprica. Hopefully we'll see the likes of Amador and Konig try something.

frenchfighter

Clarke has been chasing for 20 odd km and has managed to catch them! Nice work.

Gap steady at 1.30.

Looks cold out there with riders wrapped up a lot. No wonder all the Europeans want to come to the UK. Lovely sun outside here.

Macaloon

TheBigBean wrote:

I've ridden up Swains Lane. Basically the same thing as the Mortirolo.

+1

richa

frenchfighter wrote:

@friebos · 41m 41 minutes ago
"A 24-sprocket was Pantani's idea of blasphemy...but even he wanted one there." Beppe Martinelli (ex-Carrera DS Beppe Martinelli) #Mortirolo

Pretty sure I had more than a 23 too so Pantani had nothing to feel bad about:
https://app.strava.com/activities/63640868#1203983543

11.4km @ 11% (1,258m ascent). 1h22. Easy peasy


We came down the west side descent. It was awful - narrow, steep, rutted, pot holed and the tree cover means low light & no view... Hoping the S.E. descent they are doing today is significantly better.

Macaloon

Kruijswijk giving Ridgey the (PTP) ride of his life.

frenchfighter

Weather in this race is never great and this edition is no exception. Ridiculous.