Giro 2020 - Stage 9: San Salvo – Roccaraso 208 km *Spoilers*

Stage 9: San Salvo – Roccaraso 208 km
Sunday, October 11th, 9:20 BST

The second Sunday of the race offers an interesting medium mountain stage with uphill finish in Roccaraso. The altitude gain adds up to more than 4,000 metres. It's actually a bonus mountain stage as it was added when the route had to be rearranged.
From the town of San Salvo, on the Adriatic coast, the peloton will head inland towards the Appennines.



After about 40 kilometres the pink caravan heads inland. Following a warm-up climb to Guardiagrele the riders face a string of huge mountains: Passo Lanciano, Passo San Leonardo and Bosco di Sant’Antonio. After this brutal trio there are 27 kilometres left to race. The first part travels on an undulating plateau before that road starts to go up again.



The first notable point of the race is the intermediate sprint in Guardiagrele which is on top of a small climb of around 7 km at 4-5%. After it the riders will move along the side of the Maiella massif, and then climb the first GPM of the day, Passo Lanciano (GPM1, 12.7 km at 6.9%). This is possibly its easiest side, but even so it’s a pretty hard climb. For reference, Passo Lanciano is also called Blockhaus.





Once the peloton reaches the bottom, they will start climbing immediately once again, all the way up to the Passo San Leonardo (GPM2, 13.8 km 4.5%)



Another descent (very easy) will bring everyone to the following climb, Bosco di S.Antonio (GPM2, 9.9 km at 5%), a very regular climb that tops at 27 km to go.



The finish climb is almost 10 kilometres long and the average gradient sits at 5.7%. That statistic is biased though, as the ascent evens out a couple of times.



The last 2 kilometres to the line slope at 7%, while the last kilometre serves a number of double digit ramps.



The finish lies at an elevation of 1,658 metres, which is almost 100 metres higher than the 2016 finish. Back then, Tim Wellens soloed to victory near the Roccaraso refugio.
Two intermediate sprints – at kilometre 75.6 and kilometre 194.0

San Salvo

San Salvo is washed by the Adriatic Sea and is the southern gateway to Abruzzo. An important production and commercial center already in Roman times. As a small rural town during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, following the discovery of methane deposits, it began an industrialization process with the settlements of the Italian glass company (later Pilkington and now NSG)
Blue Flag status for 22 years, it's a tourist destination both for the sea and for the historical heritage. It is “one of the 100 municipalities of small great Italy”.



Food:
Sagnitelle with tomato or meat sauce; cavatelli alla ventricina; cavatelli alla pescatora.




Drink

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and Pecorino (IGP), Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (red), Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo. Liqueurs: Flavored cooked must, Limoncello



Roccaraso (Aremogna)

Roccaraso is the best known and best equipped ski resort in the Apennines. It is located a short distance from Rome and Naples, on the High Plateaus, between the two large protected areas of the National Parks: the historical one of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise and that of Majella.



A long success story: for over half a century it has in fact been one of the most popular and popular tourist destinations in Italy in every season.
Roccaraso is a real paradise for snow lovers. With its new fast, modern and barrier-free lifts, it presents itself as a single large ski area that offers slopes of all kinds within an area of about 110 kilometers.










"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Comments

  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,802
    Had a very pleasant stay in Sulmona last year. Lovely part of the world.

    Encountered a wild boar in the woods near Passo San Leonardo coming down from Monte Morrone.
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,247
    Cyclingstage favourites suggest they think it's one for the break.

    Favourites stage 9 Giro d’Italia 2020
    *** Thomas De Gendt, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Jack Haig
    ** Lucas Hamilton, Matteo Fabbro, Ben O’Connor, Jonathan Caicedo
    * Wilco Kelderman, Rafal Majka, Jakob Fuglsang, Vincenzo Nibali
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,802
    Passo Lanciano is only really the lower part of the true Blockhaus climb. The full climb continues up to over 2000m before finishing up on a little gravel track next to a religious shrine.

  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,615
    DeadCalm said:

    Cyclingstage favourites suggest they think it's one for the break.

    Favourites stage 9 Giro d’Italia 2020
    *** Thomas De Gendt, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Jack Haig
    ** Lucas Hamilton, Matteo Fabbro, Ben O’Connor, Jonathan Caicedo
    * Wilco Kelderman, Rafal Majka, Jakob Fuglsang, Vincenzo Nibali

    Tao isn't getting anywhere near a break. He's in 19th, at 3'18", which is just 2 mins behind Fuglsang and a few seconds more behind Nibali. Looks like he's very much racing GC at this point. It's a decent chance to find out what how well he can hang with the big boys when not working for others.

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • DeadCalm
    DeadCalm Posts: 4,247

    DeadCalm said:

    Cyclingstage favourites suggest they think it's one for the break.

    Favourites stage 9 Giro d’Italia 2020
    *** Thomas De Gendt, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Jack Haig
    ** Lucas Hamilton, Matteo Fabbro, Ben O’Connor, Jonathan Caicedo
    * Wilco Kelderman, Rafal Majka, Jakob Fuglsang, Vincenzo Nibali

    Tao isn't getting anywhere near a break. He's in 19th, at 3'18", which is just 2 mins behind Fuglsang and a few seconds more behind Nibali. Looks like he's very much racing GC at this point. It's a decent chance to find out what how well he can hang with the big boys when not working for others.

    I don't disagree. I just thought it would be interesting to see what folks were thinking since Blazing Saddles seems to have stopped posting his favourites for the win recently.
  • mrb123 said:

    Passo Lanciano is only really the lower part of the true Blockhaus climb. The full climb continues up to over 2000m before finishing up on a little gravel track next to a religious shrine.

    Well yes, but it sounded more impressive. ;):D
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • The weather looks to be a bit on the mucky side.


    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,407
    DeadCalm said:

    Cyclingstage favourites suggest they think it's one for the break.

    Favourites stage 9 Giro d’Italia 2020
    *** Thomas De Gendt, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Jack Haig
    ** Lucas Hamilton, Matteo Fabbro, Ben O’Connor, Jonathan Caicedo
    * Wilco Kelderman, Rafal Majka, Jakob Fuglsang, Vincenzo Nibali

    Bookies and INRNG concur
  • Bookies and INRNG have Ben O’Connor right at least.

    Jonathan Castroviejo top GC man in the break at 6'-49" and is currently at 1'-20" on the virtual GC.
    Plus those two, Warbasse, Sepulveda, Guerreiro, Frankiny and old man Visconti are in this BOTD.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,615
    Castroviejo now only a few seconds away from virtual pink. Think that's going to doom the break.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • Leads the virtual race by 3 seconds now.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Hatch says there is no snow forecast for the Stelvio, next week, but the stage 20 forecast is a bit dodgy.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,313

    Castroviejo now only a few seconds away from virtual pink. Think that's going to doom the break.

    They don't really need to catch him though, just bring back enough time to stop him being a threat. He's likely to lose more time in the high mountains anyway but might gain some in the TTs.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,313
    This descent the break is on looks horrible. Could be some problems in the peloton.
  • Only just got in from a ride - have I missed anything?
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,313
    Ineos are a far more interesting team when they lose their GC rider.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,313
    The ease with which Hamilton and TGH rode away suggests the Trek attempt at setting a pace wasn't great.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,313
    When I first switched on and saw the break Castro and Guerreiro looked the most likely winners on a climb, they were noticeably smaller than the others. They look comfortable, still only 30 seconds though. Hamilton and TGH have 40" on the pink jersey group.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,313
    Peloton pulling a bit of time back of Hamilton and TGH on the flat. Castro attacks but gets held easily.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,313
    Think he might have been trying to dummy Guerreiro into having a dig.
  • Could no GC riders be bothered today?
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,407
    Yes EF! That kit is great isn't it ;)

    Nibali lost a bit of time there? Didn't look too fresh.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,313
    Castro has nothing in the sprint after looking the strongest. Guerreiro takes it comfortably. Another second for the Ineos domestiques. Bjerg third after closing a 5 minute gap to the break solo. Hamilton and TGH gain time, the favourites finally go for it in the last few hundred metres. Majka and Pozzovivo gain a few seconds. Nibali with a small gap on Almeida but pretty rubbish really.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,899
    What a slog
    "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 pm
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,899
    How much time did Tao get?
    "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 pm
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,899
    Class bit of wheel sucking by tgh there
    "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 pm
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,313
    Feel sorry for Castro, another who has worked his whole career at Movistar and Sky / Ineos for others missing out on a rare chance for glory. TGH gained a bit there, rode away from Hamilton and nearly caught the remains of the break.

    Swift was inside the top 30 on an MTF only losing about 30 seconds on the pink jersey group. Thomas had an in form team to back him here.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,246

    How much time did Tao get?

    20-35 seconds depending on who to.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,246
    Pross said:

    Ineos are a far more interesting team when they lose their GC rider.


    They've come round to Movistar's way of thinking and are chasing the team competition.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,899
    Weather took its toll...
    "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 pm