Giro 2018: stage 9, PESCO SANNITA - GRAN SASSO D'ITALIA (Campo Imperatore) 13 May 2018 / Sunday / 22
blazing_saddles
Posts: 22,730
PESCO SANNITA - GRAN SASSO D'ITALIA (Campo Imperatore) 13 May 2018 / Sunday / 225 km
Stage 9
The 9th stage of the Giro d'Italia travels from Pesco Sannita to a summit finish at the high altitude plateau Campo Imperatore at the Gran Sasso. The race through the Apennines takes in two intermediate climbs, while the route amounts to 225 kilometres. The last 45 kilometres point virtually all uphill. The first 100 km run on the fast-flow road leading from Benevento to Rionero Sannitico; the roadway is wide and well surfaced, with a number of well-lit tunnels along the route.
It’s been a while but the 2018 Giro d’Italia will be visiting the Gran Sasso again after a long hiatus. In the past, first riders at the massif in Abruzzo were Marco Pantani (1999), John Carlsen (1989), Franco Chioccioli (1985) and Vicente López Carril (1971).
The full name of the mountain range is Gran Sasso d’Italia, which is appropriate as it means Great Stone of Italy. The Gran Sasso is dominated by three peaks: Corno Grande, Corno Piccolo and Pizzo Intermesoli. At 2,912 metres, Corno Grande is the highest peak in the Apennines.
Gran Sasso may have been a stage finish four times, this year’s climb is new except for the last 6 kilometres. And in 1985 the finish line was located almost 1,000 metres lower, in Fonte Cerreto.
But before hitting the giant of the Appenines the riders face an upward rolling section of 100 kilometres to the base of the first climb, which runs to Roccaraso. The ascent is 8.9 kilometres at 6.2% with steepest ramps of 12%. Two editions ago the 6th stage of the Giro finished at the ski area of Roccaraso – 6 kilometres higher up the mountain – and Tim Wellens took the win.
Following the passage in Roccaraso the route continues on the flat for 10 kilometres before a long stretched descent runs to the foot of the ascent to Calascio. At 13.7 kilometres this climb is averaging 6%. The almost abandoned village is dominated by Rocca Calascio, an impressive mountaintop fortress at 1,460 metres.
Arguably, the last climb begins at the foot of the Calascio climb, with 47 kilometres remaining. After moving through the village the route remains on the flat for 5.6 kilometres and then it goes back up again. By now, the riders are on the final ascent to the Campo Imperatore (“Emperor’s Field”) of the Gran Sasso. This is the largest plateau of the Apennine ridge.
The actual last climb of the 9th stage opens with 10 kilometres at 4% before a rolling false flat of 9 kilometres followed by 3 kilometres at 4.1%. Then the Gran Sasso starts to show its teeth. The last 4.45 kilometres to the Campo Imperatore are marked by a 8,2%, while the steepest ramp of 13% is 1.5 kilometres before the line. The finish line (6 m in width) sits on a 120-m long tarmacked home straight.
The finish is at an altitude of 2,135 metres, which is almost enough for the Cima Coppi, the highest peak of the Giro d’Italia. But, not quite.
Profile:-
Map:-
Finish:-
PESCO SANNITA
Italian medieval town with about 2,000 inhabitants in the province of Benevento located on a rocky hill right of the Tàmmaro river. Its agricultural economy, traditionally providing for its population, is favoured by the river that makes the surrounding land fertile.
The local wine. (according to the official site)
GRAN SASSO D'ITALIA (Campo Imperatore)
Campo Imperatore is a wide plateau originally shaped by alluviums and glaciers, at an altitude of approx. 1,800 m in the province of L’Aquila, in Abruzzi, at the heart of the Gran Sasso d’Italia massif and the National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga.
Some of the local spectators.
Some bald bloke climbing it back in 1999:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0kfzCa_6h8
Oh and since we are nine stages in and haven't had one, yet.
Stage 9
The 9th stage of the Giro d'Italia travels from Pesco Sannita to a summit finish at the high altitude plateau Campo Imperatore at the Gran Sasso. The race through the Apennines takes in two intermediate climbs, while the route amounts to 225 kilometres. The last 45 kilometres point virtually all uphill. The first 100 km run on the fast-flow road leading from Benevento to Rionero Sannitico; the roadway is wide and well surfaced, with a number of well-lit tunnels along the route.
It’s been a while but the 2018 Giro d’Italia will be visiting the Gran Sasso again after a long hiatus. In the past, first riders at the massif in Abruzzo were Marco Pantani (1999), John Carlsen (1989), Franco Chioccioli (1985) and Vicente López Carril (1971).
The full name of the mountain range is Gran Sasso d’Italia, which is appropriate as it means Great Stone of Italy. The Gran Sasso is dominated by three peaks: Corno Grande, Corno Piccolo and Pizzo Intermesoli. At 2,912 metres, Corno Grande is the highest peak in the Apennines.
Gran Sasso may have been a stage finish four times, this year’s climb is new except for the last 6 kilometres. And in 1985 the finish line was located almost 1,000 metres lower, in Fonte Cerreto.
But before hitting the giant of the Appenines the riders face an upward rolling section of 100 kilometres to the base of the first climb, which runs to Roccaraso. The ascent is 8.9 kilometres at 6.2% with steepest ramps of 12%. Two editions ago the 6th stage of the Giro finished at the ski area of Roccaraso – 6 kilometres higher up the mountain – and Tim Wellens took the win.
Following the passage in Roccaraso the route continues on the flat for 10 kilometres before a long stretched descent runs to the foot of the ascent to Calascio. At 13.7 kilometres this climb is averaging 6%. The almost abandoned village is dominated by Rocca Calascio, an impressive mountaintop fortress at 1,460 metres.
Arguably, the last climb begins at the foot of the Calascio climb, with 47 kilometres remaining. After moving through the village the route remains on the flat for 5.6 kilometres and then it goes back up again. By now, the riders are on the final ascent to the Campo Imperatore (“Emperor’s Field”) of the Gran Sasso. This is the largest plateau of the Apennine ridge.
The actual last climb of the 9th stage opens with 10 kilometres at 4% before a rolling false flat of 9 kilometres followed by 3 kilometres at 4.1%. Then the Gran Sasso starts to show its teeth. The last 4.45 kilometres to the Campo Imperatore are marked by a 8,2%, while the steepest ramp of 13% is 1.5 kilometres before the line. The finish line (6 m in width) sits on a 120-m long tarmacked home straight.
The finish is at an altitude of 2,135 metres, which is almost enough for the Cima Coppi, the highest peak of the Giro d’Italia. But, not quite.
Profile:-
Map:-
Finish:-
PESCO SANNITA
Italian medieval town with about 2,000 inhabitants in the province of Benevento located on a rocky hill right of the Tàmmaro river. Its agricultural economy, traditionally providing for its population, is favoured by the river that makes the surrounding land fertile.
The local wine. (according to the official site)
GRAN SASSO D'ITALIA (Campo Imperatore)
Campo Imperatore is a wide plateau originally shaped by alluviums and glaciers, at an altitude of approx. 1,800 m in the province of L’Aquila, in Abruzzi, at the heart of the Gran Sasso d’Italia massif and the National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga.
Some of the local spectators.
Some bald bloke climbing it back in 1999:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0kfzCa_6h8
Oh and since we are nine stages in and haven't had one, yet.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
0
Comments
-
Likely to be well over 6 hours on the bike today.
You've got to love the Giro organisers. They're only classing this as a 3/5 star stage!0 -
Gesink spotted warming up on the turbo before the start.
He’ll want to be in the break then.
Also rain forecast.0 -
Rick Chasey wrote:Gesink spotted warming up on the turbo before the start.
He’ll want to be in the break then.
Also rain forecast.
In that case perhaps he wasn't on it long enough.
BOTD:
Mickael Chérel (AG2R), Davide Ballerini, Fausto Masnada (Androni), Manuele Boaro, Giovanni Visconti (Bahrain), Simone Andreetta (Bardiani), Cesare Benedetti (Bora), Tim Wellens (Lotto FixAll), Natnael Berhane(Dimension Data), Hugh Carthy (EF), Maxim Belkov (Katusha), Gianluca Brambilla, Laurent Didier (Trek) & Alex Turrin (Willier)
Yeah, thunderstorms around 4pm.
Not much wind about to speak of, given how exposed are the the slopes of the Gran Sasso.
A double shame, given that a raging cross/tailwind is forecast for a couple of hours after stage finish."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
These stage preview posts from Blazing Saddles are superb. Much appreciated
0 -
lettingthedaysgoby wrote:These stage preview posts from Blazing Saddles are superb. Much appreciated
Agreed. Thanks for all the effort!0 -
So, Michelton reveal their tactics for today on Eurosport.
Very predictable, rather than earth shattering: keep a lid on things until the final 4kms."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
I missed the chat at the beginning did they comment on the booing at the end of yesterdays stage?0
-
I missed it, too.
Mareczko abandons."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Weather looking good so far0
-
I want to visit jerusalem 0
-
Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.0
-
Blazing Saddles wrote:So, Michelton reveal their tactics for today on Eurosport.
Very predictable, rather than earth shattering: keep a lid on things until the final 4kms.
They are riding like a team that believes the pink jersey is only temporarily held by them. They have the upper hand at the moment and should make the most of it.0 -
Sound the klaxon.
Echelon alert!"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Meh.
5 minutes of chaos then they sit up."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Blazing Saddles wrote:So, Michelton reveal their tactics for today on Eurosport.
Very predictable, rather than earth shattering: keep a lid on things until the final 4kms.
just wanted it out there they arn't going for the stage I guess..."If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
TheBigBean wrote:Blazing Saddles wrote:So, Michelton reveal their tactics for today on Eurosport.
Very predictable, rather than earth shattering: keep a lid on things until the final 4kms.
They are riding like a team that believes the pink jersey is only temporarily held by them. They have the upper hand at the moment and should make the most of it.
I'm thinking the opposite
I think MS said it clear... they have to put time into froome et al today because the next chance is the zoncalan.. defending a 16 sec lead for a week will be super stressful compared to a min or 2... I think they are looking for yates to gain 40secs or so on TD is my wild ass speculation
MS team is strong..keeping it together for the last 40k could batter some of the guys out the gc early on the climb.."If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
Book now for Eurovision 2019!iainf72 wrote:
I am really suffering from lack of terrestrial coverage of the Giro. These threads are the only commentary I get outside the event web page.0 -
mrfpb wrote:
Book now for Eurovision 2019!iainf72 wrote:
I am really suffering from lack of terrestrial coverage of the Giro. These threads are the only commentary I get outside the event web page.
quest on freeview does highlights I think?"If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0 -
0
-
interesting that the GC riders in movistar seem to prefer the non aero bike option.0
-
Fair flying along, today. The break should start the final climb in about 20 minutes."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
-
much like my club run this morning. #shouldgopro0
-
Breakaway has got this.0
-
Ugh: “the next voice you hear will be Carlton Kirby”
The Eurosport equivalent of “the dentist will see you now”0 -
Astana turning the screws on the front of the peloton.Correlation is not causation.0
-
kleinstroker wrote:Breakaway has got this.
The breakaway had this.
90 seconds lost in less than 5 kms as Astana ramp it up.
Vino has been busy on the keyboard.
And yes. Big stage gets to the key time and Eurosport inflict Kirby on us again."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Carlton literally phoning this in0
-
Am I alone in finding it hard to pick out the classification jerseys? Too many blue jerseys, white looks like Sky, points hass too much white and sponsors on it.0
-
Kirby talking bullsh*t. There is no technical problems on Rai."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
-
