Giro 2018 Stage 14: San Vito al Tagliamento - Monte Zoncolan 186 kilometres *Spoilers*

blazing_saddles

Giro 2018 Stage 14: San Vito al Tagliamento - Monte Zoncolan 186 kilometres

Saturday, 19 May 2018 - At 186 kilometres, the 14th stage of the Giro d'Italia travels from San Vito al Tagliamento to the Monte Zoncolan. The route takes in four intermediate climbs before the steep final haul up the mountain of torture. The Zoncolan is 10.1 kilometres at 11.9% with steepest ramps of up to 22%.
It’s the sixth time that Monte Zoncolan serves as a finish in the Giro d’Italia. The race climbed the mountain before in 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2014. Except for the first time, the Giro took the most demanding way up the Zoncolan, approaching the climb from Ovaro, which will be no different in 2018.
Following the start in San Vito al Tagliamento the riders face four intermediate climbs before the final haul up the mountain of horrors. At kilometre 40 the Monte di Ragogna looms, which is a short and sharp toil. The first 2 kilometres feature solely double digits before the climb ‘flattens out’ to 9.8% in the last 750 metres.

A hilly 60 kilometres stint leads to the foot of the next ascent. The climb to Avaglio is 4.5 kilometres and it’s the middle section that’s demanding. For 2 kilometres the average gradient is 13%, while the lower and higher slopes are much milder.

Although insanely steep at times, the first 110 kilometres of the race are just a warm-up. The Passo Duron appears with 50 kilometres remaining and it’s a 4.4 kilometres toil at 9.8% with its nastiest ramps at 18%.

Back in the valley and it shortly goes back up again. The Sella Valcalda is 7.6 kilometres at 5.6%, although that statistic is biased as the first half is nothing special, but at kilometre 4 the slopes go up and hover around 8 to 10% for 2 kilometres.

After the descent the route turns left to follow the Torrente Degano River for a while. Another left turn in Ovaro and the riders tackle the Zoncolan – or is the other way around? The first slopes are relatively easy, but then torture really kicks in. The section from kilometre 2 to kilometre 6 is averaging a grueling 15.4% before the following 2 kilometres go up at 13.9%. Monte Zoncolan is a monster of 10.1 kilometres with its average gradient at 11.9%.



A 60 seconds or so wizz up the climb.

https://youtu.be/44A93XTlDn8?t=4

Birds eye view of the route.

https://video.relive.cc/7530894749_reli ... site-embed

Profile:-

Map:-

Finish:-



SAN VITO AL TAGLIAMENTO

It is a dynamic and lively town, located in the Veneto-Friuli’s plain in the province of Pordenone. Its origin dates back to pre-Roman and Roman settlements and it has noble historical, cultural and artistic traditions.

MAIN SIGHTS
The Mediaeval old town with the ancient walls, three towers (Raimonda, Scaramuccia and Grimana) and the Castle; Piazza del Popolo (16th century), Duomo (18th century), the ancient Loggia Pubblica (currently the seat of Teatro Arrigoni), Palazzo Altan-Rota (currently the seat of the “Diogene Penzi” Museum of peasant life), Parco Naturale del Tagliamento (nature park).

HISTORY
Population: 15,000
Foundation: Roman age


Hardly surprising that this is a specialty of the area.



With a choice of this in either red, or white.


MONTE ZONCOLAN

Monte Zoncolan is a 1,750-m high mountain of the Carnia, Friuli, between the municipalities of Sutrio, Ovaro and Ravascletto. It is an important skiing resort of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It has become famous among the cycling fans by its nickname, “Kaiser”, as the climb is an extremely testing one.




Favourites 14th stage 2018 Giro d’Italia
*** Simon Yates, Thibaut Pinot, Miguel Ángel López, Robert Gesink
** Fabio Aru, Domenico Pozzovivo, Chris Froome, Giulio Ciccone
* Tom Dumoulin, Michael Woods, Wout Poels, Ben O’Conner, Richard Carapaz, Esteban Chaves?

topper_harley

The dawg starts his fight back tomorrow

topper_harley

Seen Yates saying to flecha the he hasn’t been up the final climb, what a shock he’s in for

MissedTheBreak

Topper harley wrote:

Seen Yates saying to flecha the he hasn’t been up the final climb, what a shock he’s in for

Damn, might have to change my PTP pick...

above_the_cows

That sausage lump looks seriously yummy.

Some of the local four legged friends:



Some other four-legged friends (no not what you think):


A mule who was part of the Alpini...



And Tommy D's lost shoe.

RichN95.

I'm going to predict Pozzovivo in pink at the end of the day.

kingstongraham

5km at 15.3% average is completely insane. What gearing will they have on for that?

lettingthedaysgoby

KingstonGraham wrote:

5km at 15.3% average is completely insane. What gearing will they have on for that?

34/32 if they have any sense

norvernrob

KingstonGraham wrote:

5km at 15.3% average is completely insane. What gearing will they have on for that?

In the video of Froome doing a training recce up it last month he had 34/32 and was still pushing over 400 watts! Early in the video he said to the guys in the car ‘what have I got on, 34/32?’, to which they replied ‘yes’, and Froome said ‘wow, it feels hard already’ :shock:

above_the_cows

KingstonGraham wrote:

5km at 15.3% average is completely insane. What gearing will they have on for that?

rick_chasey

I want to do a gif with Zoncalon, royal wedding and the fa cup on this but I’m on ma phone so no can do.

rick_chasey

NorvernRob wrote:

KingstonGraham wrote:

5km at 15.3% average is completely insane. What gearing will they have on for that?

In the video of Froome doing a training recce up it last month he had 34/32 and was still pushing over 400 watts! Early in the video he said to the guys in the car ‘what have I got on, 34/32?’, to which they replied ‘yes’, and Froome said ‘wow, it feels hard already’ :shock:

Yes I have wondered in the past if the real fast spinners will run out of speed and teeth on climbs like this.

Suspect he’ll be at the sharp enough end that he can still spin up.

Wouldn’t expect anything from him mind.

I would have thought Yates is favourite. Pozzovivo is an obvious name for it but he’s never really excelled on it.

I doubt TD will lose a lot, though there’s a decent chance I’m wrong.

topper_harley

if the tiny climbers have any sense they need to destroy Tom D tomorrow even if that means working together

rick_chasey

Working together on the Zoncalon?

Put whatever you’re smoking down.

rick_chasey

Always a bit of a sense of a circus when this comes around.

Remember last time, I think was it Rogers who won (?), fans going crazy, riders going so slow they had time to nick the fan’s sunglasses and moto engines packing up because of the gradients.

The anticipation is as fun as the climb.

It’s a narrow ride in and it’s so steep, making up 5m is an enormous effort, so look out for a fast run in.

lettingthedaysgoby

Topper harley wrote:

if the tiny climbers have any sense they need to destroy Tom D tomorrow even if that means working together

No chance, it’s every man for himself once they hit it

The_Boy

Topper harley wrote:

The dawg starts his flight back tomorrow

Ftfy

The_Boy

RichN95 wrote:

I'm going to predict Pozzovivo in pink at the end of the day.

Was my prediction also. Can't help remembering when he won the .... Ummm... Italian stage race on that stage that ended with the climb up the...ummm...super steep climb.

Was the year before he moved to Ag2r. I'm too tired to even Google the fucker.

But anyway, that. I reckon he looks good. Failing that someone like Bennet pulling off a surprise wouldn't erm, surprise me.

Edit:. Trentino. Punta veleno.

pblakeney

Topper harley wrote:

if the tiny climbers have any sense they need to destroy Tom D tomorrow even if that means working together

Work together?
There can't be much slipstream at 10mph. Strongest legs and heart to overcome weight wins.

andyp

PBlakeney wrote:

Topper harley wrote:

if the tiny climbers have any sense they need to destroy Tom D tomorrow even if that means working together

Work together?
There can't be much slipstream at 10mph. Strongest legs and heart to overcome weight wins.

10 mph? More like 6 mph.

the article don

I can see Peanut slogging his way to a famous win. Yates will still be in pink afterwwards

pblakeney

andyp wrote:

PBlakeney wrote:

Topper harley wrote:

if the tiny climbers have any sense they need to destroy Tom D tomorrow even if that means working together

Work together?
There can't be much slipstream at 10mph. Strongest legs and heart to overcome weight wins.

10 mph? More like 6 mph.

I was guessing and giving them credit. Emphasises my point though.
I am hoping I can do it at 50rpm on 34x29, whatever speed that is. :shock:
Edit:- 4.6mph apparently. Faster than walking pace then. Optimistic.

davieb78

I’m riding it 3rd July. I have 36-32. I’m concerned now!

above_the_cows

davieb78 wrote:

I’m riding it 3rd July. I have 36-32. I’m concerned now!

Never too late to get one of those motors fitted.

blazing_saddles

The_Boy wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

I'm going to predict Pozzovivo in pink at the end of the day.

Was my prediction also. Can't help remembering when he won the .... Ummm... Italian stage race on that stage that ended with the climb up the...ummm...super steep climb.

Was the year before he moved to Ag2r. I'm too tired to even Google the ******.

But anyway, that. I reckon he looks good. Failing that someone like Bennet pulling off a surprise wouldn't erm, surprise me.

Edit:. Trentino. Punta veleno.

Another completely nuts, Italian climb.
Worth watching again for that hair raising bit of road towards the finish. (27'- 45" ish into the video)

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

inseine

lettingthedaysgoby wrote:

KingstonGraham wrote:

5km at 15.3% average is completely insane. What gearing will they have on for that?

34/32 if they have any sense

It's days like tomorrow that it's a shame Aqua Blue arent riding.

knedlicky

Blazing Saddles wrote:

It’s the sixth time that Monte Zoncolan serves as a finish in the Giro d’Italia. The race climbed the mountain before in 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2014. Except for the first time, the Giro took the most demanding way up the Zoncolan, approaching the climb from Ovaro, which will be no different in 2018.

The side from Ovaro wasn't fully tarmaced until Autumn 2005, the tunnels in particular being until then unsurfaced.

RichN95 wrote:

I'm going to predict Pozzovivo in pink at the end of the day.

I think Pozzovivo a good call for the stage win, though the climb might be a bit too long for him to be at peak performance, so for the stage I'd equally look at Lopez (if the GC contenders stay together until high up, he then breaking away), or at Carapaz (whom I think under-estimated so far and I imagine is capable of a much earlier solo break).

lettingthedaysgoby wrote:

KingstonGraham wrote:

5km at 15.3% average is completely insane. What gearing will they have on for that?

34/32 if they have any sense

I'll be surprised if the profis go as low as 34/32. I've never ridden the Zoncolan but about 10 years ago I knew acquaintances who claimed they rode it using between 34/25 and 34/29 (although I've no idea what speed they went at or how often they paused).
Eitherway, I remember their overall opinion was that the beginning was the hardest (although not so unusual for many Alpine climbs, several are worst at their beginning - very dispiriting for the non-climber).

bobmcstuff

davieb78 wrote:

I’m riding it 3rd July. I have 36-32. I’m concerned now!

Hardly difficult to chuck a compact on.

phil485

bobmcstuff wrote:

davieb78 wrote:

I’m riding it 3rd July. I have 36-32. I’m concerned now!

Hardly difficult to chuck a compact on.

sportive breaks stelvio weekender???
think im doing it the same day.
compact but 28 is what ive got

DeVlaeminck

bobmcstuff wrote:

davieb78 wrote:

I’m riding it 3rd July. I have 36-32. I’m concerned now!

Hardly difficult to chuck a compact on.

36 is a compact innit...unless bike tech has moved on quicker than I thought during my sojourn coaching football. 36*32 is about as low as you'd want to go on a road bike for a long climb, you are down to pretty much fast walking pace if you want with that.

blazing_saddles

Aaaaand the weather forecast is now exactly the same as we have experienced these past two days.
Sunny, right up until around about the foot of the Zoncolan. Then a big black shower cloud arrives to dump it's load on the riders as the ascend into hell.