Giro 2018: Stage 11, Assisi - Osimo 156kms *Spoilers*

blazing_saddles

Giro 2018 Stage 11: Assisi - Osimo Wednesday, 16 May 2018

The 11th stage in the Giro d'Italia is played out on a hilly route of 156 kilometres. Running from Assisi to Osimo, the race moves through Filottrano in honour of its former resident, the late Michele Scarponi. The finale is a feast for punchers.
It’s been six years that the Giro last visited Assisi. In 2012, Joaquim Rodríguez took a stage win in the birthplace of St. Francis, the founder of the Franciscans, a religious order that rejects extravagance. One may wonder what the preacher would have made of the pink circus.
Twice before the Giro finished in Osimo. In 1987 the forgotten French rider Robert Forest took his only major victory, while Moreno Argentin won in 1994. Both were solo-wins and given the tricky finale this is a likely scenario in 2018, too.
Following a flat and then slightly climbing 30 kilometres the riders tackle the Passo del Cornello. To arrive at the peak (814 metres) the road climbs for 8.5 kilometres at an average gradient of 4.4%.

The route drops to Molinaccio Umbro and after a short uphill section a false flat of some 40 kilometres runs to the base of the Valico di Pietra Rossa. After almost 100 kilometres, the climb peaks at an elevation of 674 metres.
A 26 kilometres drop leads to the foot of a sharp climb to Filottrano, hometown of Michele Scarponi who died in a training crash in April 2017. The slope is 1.8 kilometres at 7.8% with steepest ramps of 16%. The Tirreno-Adriatico’s 5th stage featured in a final circuit (stage win Adam Yates), now the caravan moves further east.



Brief highlights of Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 5:

https://youtu.be/9hHlbnS3Frg?t=259

Almost 30 kilometres left to race, mostly on rolling roads until the finale kicks in with 10 kilometres to go.
To stretch the muscles the riders tackle a 700 metres climb at 9% before heading to the final round in Osimo. The medieval town ushers in the Giro on a cobbled ramp of 250 metres with its steepest stretch at a whooping 16%. The riders fly down a tricky drop and following a narrow section the route climbs up Via Olimpia – 600 metres and averaging 12.4%. Positioning is crucial.
Via Olimpia continues onto a flat section to a narrow passage into the old town. A cobbled climb of 600 metres at 10% leads to the final 400 metres before the finish is at Piazza del Comune.
Fourteen years ago Moreno Argentin left the other riders behind on the last cobbles to arrive solo at the Piazza. He not only took the stage win, but also the maglia rossa. Since then local tifosi call this stretch the ‘scatto Argentin’.

Profile:-


Map:-


Finish:-
(the steep bits)

(the really technical looking bits: corners and cobbles)


ASSISI

Assisi, on the north-western side of Mount Subasio, slightly higher than the northern Umbria’s valley, is located at approx. 26 km south-east of Perugia. It is known as the city of birth and death of st. Francis, patron saint of Italy, and st. Clare.
MAIN SIGHTS
Basilica di San Francesco (Upper and Lower church, UNESCO World Heritage, 13th century), Basilica di Santa Chiara (13th century), Roman amphitheatre (1st century), Temple of Minerva (1st century B.C.), Rocca maggiore (14th century), Piazza del Comune.

Population: 28,000
Foundation: Pre-Roman (Villanovan) age
Ancient name: Asisium



Strangozzi al sugo d’oca: Pasta with goose meat sauce.



OSIMO
Perched on a peak at an altitude of 265 m, Osimo stands in a hilly landscape. Its historical centre stands on two hills, of which the highest one – with the cathedral – is called Gòmero. The Romans, since the III century BC, turned it into a major colony and built the strong walls (174-175 BC) that are still a unique landmark in the Marche, as well as a fountain, Fonte Magna, the name of which is attributed to Pompeo Magno’s arrival to Osimo during the civil war against Cesar.
MAIN SIGHTS
Cattedrale di San Leopardo (5th century), Concattedrale di Osimo (13th century), Santuario della Madonna di Campocavallo (19th century), the caves of Osimo, Teatro La Nuova Fenice (19th century).


Population: 30,000
Foundation: Pre-Roman age
Ancient name: Auximum



The local specialty is braised bunny.



The local vino that goes nicely.



Favourites 11th stage 2018 Giro d’Italia
*** Simon Yates, Diego Ulissi, Enrico Battaglin, Michael Woods
** Davide Formolo, Tim Wellens, Sergio Henao, Zdenek Stybar, Gianluca Brambilla, Alexei Lutsenko
* Mads Pedersen, Ben Hermans, Valerio Conti, Tom Dumoulin,

ShutupJens

Adam Yates a favourite?

Now this looks like a cracking stage. Although it is such a punchy finish you can bet GC riders and their teams will be desperate to hold position in the last 20km

The_Boy

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Favourites 11th stage 2018 Giro d’Italia
*** Adam Yates

Not scared to back a long shot, I see.

alanparsons

ShutupJens wrote:

Adam Yates a favourite?

Now this looks like a cracking stage. Although it is such a punchy finish you can bet GC riders and their teams will be desperate to hold position in the last 20km

That is a very long shot, can't see Adam winning considering he is riding the ToC.
Simon might give it a nudge tho'.

lettingthedaysgoby

Looks like a good 'un 8)

blazing_saddles

I see that the teachers are now all home from school......

A freudian slip from an earlier part of my post, obviously.

topper_harley

will MS be feeling today in their legs?

Mad_Malx

'kin 'ell Blazing, you looking for a job with the tourist board? Another fantastic opener.
I had a quick look at the route and thought 'ok', now
I'm really looking forward to it.

Vino'sGhost

Another lost day of productivity ......

rick_chasey

Short one this.

Enjoying the Giro one two with the overly long - overly short stage.

Assisi is wonderful by the way. Underrated.

takethehighroad

Great opening post Blazing

darkhairedlord

Big crash, neutralised stage.

rick_chasey

What?

blazing_saddles

Rick Chasey wrote:

What?

Over 3 hours to stage start.

Talking of big crashes, Dumoulin reckons he had one. Which probably means he didn't.
The reverse psychology of Froome's crash PR.

Somoene on CN found that 1994 Argentin win mentioned in my OP, with Phil Ligature commentating.
Here it be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkC-1TF ... e&t=10m32s

knedlicky

Blazing Saddles wrote:

The local specialty is braised bunny.

Usually eaten with fennel, which is parboiled then sliced and fried with sliced onions.
And if the bunny is a whole one, before braising it's filled with a stuffing made of chopped fennel stalk, rabbit offal, ham and breadcrumbs. Hmmm!

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Favourites 11th stage 2018 Giro d’Italia
*** Simon Yates, Tim Wellens, Diego Ulissi, Enrico Battaglin
** Tom Dumoulin, Sergio Henao, Zdenek Stybar, Gianluca Brambilla, Alexei Lutsenko
* Davide Formolo, Mads Pedersen, Ben Hermans, Valerio Conti

No stars for Woods?

Rick Chasey wrote:

Assisi is wonderful by the way. Underrated.

After Assissi and the first 40 km, the rest of the stage is in the province of Marche, which is also wonderful and underrated.
And somewhat unknown - it used to be said that many Italians themselves didn't know where Marche was, those from down in the heel-and-toe area thinking it was somewhere in the Alps, those from up Milan-way thinking it was somewhere near Africa.

Vino'sGhost

Froomes abandoned

Vino'sGhost

Pantanis ghost seen in pyjamas with a cutlas hanging off the chord

Tashman

I'm loving these write ups more and more. I'm wishing I'd booked Italy for Tashwife's 40th trip now rather than Paris

blazing_saddles

knedlicky wrote:

Blazing Saddles wrote:

Favourites 11th stage 2018 Giro d’Italia
*** Simon Yates, Tim Wellens, Diego Ulissi, Enrico Battaglin
** Tom Dumoulin, Sergio Henao, Zdenek Stybar, Gianluca Brambilla, Alexei Lutsenko
* Davide Formolo, Mads Pedersen, Ben Hermans, Valerio Conti

No stars for Woods?

An oversight on my part, seeing that I have now picked him ftw, elsewhere.
I will add him. to the list. While I am at it, I might move Wellens down a star, seeing he was complaining of not feeling great, yesterday.

kingstongraham

In Osimo, do they really turn left to go through this with 600m left to go?

https://goo.gl/maps/rYpW8vf6KJM2

the article don

Vino'sGhost wrote:

Froomes abandoned

Source?

salsiccia1

Sauce, more like

ShutupJens

KingstonGraham wrote:

In Osimo, do they really turn left to go through this with 600m left to go?

https://goo.gl/maps/rYpW8vf6KJM2

Doesn't seem particularly sensible. But this is the giro, so probably

mididoctors

ShutupJens wrote:

KingstonGraham wrote:

In Osimo, do they really turn left to go through this with 600m left to go?

https://goo.gl/maps/rYpW8vf6KJM2

Doesn't seem particularly sensible. But this is the giro, so probably

i google street viewed the finale too from 5 k out...it seems so...but the previous few km run in will really split them up... super technical IMO

mididoctors

bike racing...hurrah!

blazing_saddles

ShutupJens wrote:

KingstonGraham wrote:

In Osimo, do they really turn left to go through this with 600m left to go?

https://goo.gl/maps/rYpW8vf6KJM2

Doesn't seem particularly sensible. But this is the giro, so probably

They certainly do go through there.
It won't be a problem, as they will be really strung out by then.
Lovely sunshine at the start and the race is underway.

lettingthedaysgoby

Looking forward to this one. Could be some fireworks at the end I reckon.

blazing_saddles

Kirby kick it of and is straight into his: who might win the stage? by naming half the peloton.
Commentary observations about the ongoing battle for who wants to get into the break? No chance.

larkim

Early puncture for Froome apparently?

darkhairedlord

larkim wrote:

Early puncture for Froome apparently?

Still in the shed trying to get the tyre off.

fleshtuxedo

LL and De Marchi away, Masnada trying to bridge.

Peloton happy to let them go.

Bahrain rider (visconti) getting his patron on.