101st Giro d'Italia, May4th-27th 2018. Stage 1: ITT 9.7kms *Spoilers*

blazing_saddles

Stage 1
The stage is an individual time trial running through the city. The roads are variably wide and the route is very wavy, with several bends and constantly changing gradients. Split time is taken at km 5.1. At km 7.3, the route takes in a short, well-lit tunnel. Final kilometres: the last 3 km are wavy, still on city roads. The route descends slightly in the first part, with a bend 750 m before the finish. The final 300 m run steeply uphill, with gradients peaking 9% over the last 100 m. The home straight is on 6.5-m wide tarmac.

Profile:-


Map:-


Finish:-




JERUSALEM
Jerusalem is situated east of Tel Aviv at around 750 m. of altitude on a highland which separates the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea from the Dead Sea, in the Judea area. Its climate is mediterranean. It is the most populated town in Israel with almost 900.000 inhabitants.
The old town (UNESCO World Heritage), the Dome of the Rock (7th century), Church of the Holy Sepulchre (4th century), Western Wall, (Wailing Wall, 6th century), Tunnel del Muro (percorso archeologico), Museo d’Israele, Davidson Center (Parco Archeologico), Yad Vashem (Holocaust Memorial), Al-Aqsa Mosque (7th century), the Mahane Yehuda market.

Mad_Malx

Even the wines are controversial - several estates are in the settlement areas.



Jewish friend turned up to a party with Israeli wine (not this), and it stands out as a lowlight in my long career of drinking terrible wine, although some is highly regarded I believe.

homers_double

650ml? It isn't even a proper bottle!

rick_chasey

I have this fear that it's gonna be like the 2011 Giro.

Main rider waiting on whether he's gonna be banned or not romping away with it with consummate ease.

blazing_saddles

Apparently this goes down a bomb, locally.





At 15.5% it's proper kosher.

RichN95.

Rick Chasey wrote:

I have this fear that it's gonna be like the 2011 Giro.

Main rider waiting on whether he's gonna be banned or not romping away with it with consummate ease.

Although in the case the result will almost certainly stand if he is banned.

rick_chasey

RichN95 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I have this fear that it's gonna be like the 2011 Giro.

Main rider waiting on whether he's gonna be banned or not romping away with it with consummate ease.

Although in the case the result will almost certainly stand if he is banned.

I just can't see where Dumolin can really hurt Froome.

Froome's an olympic Bronze medalist TTer. Any gap Dumolin makes in a TT will be marginal, and I can't see him holding onto Froome when he goes all frog on a skateboard uphill.

And Sky>Sunweb.

RichN95.

Rick Chasey wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I have this fear that it's gonna be like the 2011 Giro.

Main rider waiting on whether he's gonna be banned or not romping away with it with consummate ease.

Although in the case the result will almost certainly stand if he is banned.

I just can't see where Dumolin can really hurt Froome.

Froome's an olympic Bronze medalist TTer. Any gap Dumolin makes in a TT will be marginal, and I can't see him holding onto Froome when he goes all frog on a skateboard uphill.

And Sky>Sunweb.

It's also notable that Dumoulin has never time trialled against Froome whilst going for GC. Last year he only beat a post crash Thomas by 49 seconds and lost the last one to van Emden. He's not going get big gains like he did at the Worlds that many imagine he will.

I think others will finish ahead of him too. Froome, Pinot, Aru is my podium.

rick_chasey

Exactly.

I do hope I'm wrong, but Dumolin needs a big step up if he's gonna seriously compete; or Froome take a nosedive.

blazing_saddles

Plus his prep has been effected. To me he seems to be very light on racing kms.

Anyhow, here be the start times for tomorrow:-

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/823d3a40b ... _crono.pdf

rick_chasey

Is israel the same timezone as Italy?

bobmcstuff

Just made all my picks up to Stage 9, I am absolutely lost without the bookies' odds and Inrng's previews

I hope it's slightly better than picking a random number between 1 and 176, but probably not by much.

m.r.m.

Rick Chasey wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

I have this fear that it's gonna be like the 2011 Giro.

Main rider waiting on whether he's gonna be banned or not romping away with it with consummate ease.

Although in the case the result will almost certainly stand if he is banned.

I just can't see where Dumolin can really hurt Froome.

Froome's an olympic Bronze medalist TTer. Any gap Dumolin makes in a TT will be marginal, and I can't see him holding onto Froome when he goes all frog on a skateboard uphill.

And Sky>Sunweb.

Dumoulin can climb with Froome mostly. Remember that Vuelta stage where Froome looked like the winner and Dumoulin looked like he was dropped, but came roaring back?
Agree with your overall take though, because I don't think Dumoulin can do that day after day. Plenty of riders can show up on one single day. Only a select few can do that for 3 weeks. Don't think Dumoulin is capable yet for that, but he will be. I think he is the only legitimate competitor to Froome at this time.

Landa possibly as well, but his TT is suspect and he hasn't really shown anything in a leading role at a GT yet.

RichN95.

M.R.M. wrote:

Dumoulin can climb with Froome mostly. Remember that Vuelta stage where Froome looked like the winner and Dumoulin looked like he was dropped, but came roaring back?

The climb that day was only 4km long.



In last year's Giro he lost two minutes to Nibali/Quintana on this


And another minute on this:

phreak

Rick Chasey wrote:

Exactly.

I do hope I'm wrong, but Dumolin needs a big step up if he's gonna seriously compete; or Froome take a nosedive.

It's the Giro though, so the weather is almost certainly going to play a part. Being able to handle the conditions is a big part of the race, and Froome hasn't raced this early in the year for a while.

milton50

phreak wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Exactly.

I do hope I'm wrong, but Dumolin needs a big step up if he's gonna seriously compete; or Froome take a nosedive.

It's the Giro though, so the weather is almost certainly going to play a part. Being able to handle the conditions is a big part of the race, and Froome hasn't raced this early in the year for a while.

I've also had that thought at the back of my mind. Wouldn't be surprised if Froome feels under the weather at some point.

Dumoulin's prep has been pretty underwhelming. The only potential positive for him is that, according to inrng, quite a few of the climbs are ski station roads which favour his abilities.

milton50

RichN95 wrote:

M.R.M. wrote:

Dumoulin can climb with Froome mostly. Remember that Vuelta stage where Froome looked like the winner and Dumoulin looked like he was dropped, but came roaring back?

In last year's Giro he lost two minutes to Nibali/Quintana on this

Bit harsh on Dumoulin using that example seeing as he was ill that day and had to stop for a toilet break.

RichN95.

Rick Chasey wrote:

Is israel the same timezone as Italy?

One hour ahead

Vino'sGhost

Froome has a lot on his mind.

He will lose

m.r.m.

RichN95 wrote:

M.R.M. wrote:

Dumoulin can climb with Froome mostly. Remember that Vuelta stage where Froome looked like the winner and Dumoulin looked like he was dropped, but came roaring back?

The climb that day was only 4km long.



In last year's Giro he lost two minutes to Nibali/Quintana on this


And another minute on this:

I stand corrected.

inseine

Chance of rain later in the day but no GC guys off really early. Plays into the hands of Dennis if there is a deteriation in conditions

NervexProf

GC - Froome

Prologue - Tom Dumoulin please

Vino'sGhost

phreak wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Exactly.

I do hope I'm wrong, but Dumolin needs a big step up if he's gonna seriously compete; or Froome take a nosedive.

It's the Giro though, so the weather is almost certainly going to play a part. Being able to handle the conditions is a big part of the race, and Froome hasn't raced this early in the year for a while.

What are you talking about? Froome has been racing since February. Ruta del Sol. But yes the weather can be a factor as in every gt.

phreak

Vino'sGhost wrote:

phreak wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Exactly.

I do hope I'm wrong, but Dumolin needs a big step up if he's gonna seriously compete; or Froome take a nosedive.

It's the Giro though, so the weather is almost certainly going to play a part. Being able to handle the conditions is a big part of the race, and Froome hasn't raced this early in the year for a while.

What are you talking about? Froome has been racing since February. Ruta del Sol. But yes the weather can be a factor as in every gt.

He's raced in largely meaningless events in warm weather. He hasn't really raced in rain or snow for a while, and certainly all of his GT wins have been in good weather.

ducknumber1

NervexProf wrote:

GC - Froome

Prologue - Tom Dumoulin please

I see you've put this in the PTP thread too - picks posted there only will be counted

blazing_saddles

phreak wrote:

Vino'sGhost wrote:

phreak wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Exactly.

I do hope I'm wrong, but Dumolin needs a big step up if he's gonna seriously compete; or Froome take a nosedive.

It's the Giro though, so the weather is almost certainly going to play a part. Being able to handle the conditions is a big part of the race, and Froome hasn't raced this early in the year for a while.

What are you talking about? Froome has been racing since February. Ruta del Sol. But yes the weather can be a factor as in every gt.

He's raced in largely meaningless events in warm weather. He hasn't really raced in rain or snow for a while, and certainly all of his GT wins have been in good weather.

If that is a valid argument, the same could be said of Dumoulin.
The only stage race he has completed this year is Abu Dhabi. He failed to finish at Tirreno. Last year, the Giro had mostly warm conditions, there was very little rain and certainly no snow.

dav1d1

Froome just crashed on the recon

Paul 8v

So which is more controversial, the starting country or Chris Froome? :-P

inseine

Paul 8v wrote:

So which is more controversial, the starting country or Chris Froome? :-P

Don't start! Even radio 4 covered the double controversies, so I supposed that halves the pain for Froome.

Paul 8v

inseine wrote:

Paul 8v wrote:

So which is more controversial, the starting country or Chris Froome? :-P

Don't start! Even radio 4 covered the double controversies, so I supposed that halves the pain for Froome.

:-D

RichN95.

Paul 8v wrote:

So which is more controversial, the starting country or Chris Froome? :-P

I'll wait until there are UN Resolutions about asthma inhalers.