Giro 2021:- Stage 15: Grado – Gorizia 147 km **Spoilers**
blazing_saddles
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Stage 15: Grado – Gorizia 147 km
Sunday, May 23rd, 13.15 CESTOn this stage the Giro breaks quarantine and crosses the border into the land of cycling's new superstars.
Technical Info:
A short stage with a cross-border circuit between Italy and Slovenia of approx. 40 km. The route begins flat, all the way to Sagrado, and then clears the Monte San Michele climb. Starting in Mossa, the circuit features three passes over the steep, 2 km long Gornje Cerovo climb (GPM4, 1.7 km at 8.5% each time awarding KOM points), and a succession of tough climbs and descents. After the third lap, the route goes back to Italy through San Floriano del Collio, passes north of Gorizia and crosses the border again, passing through Nova Gorica.
The Climb:
Gornje Cerovo: GPM4, 1.7 km at 8.5%
Final kilometres
The last 5 km are raced partly in Slovenia and partly in Italy. Past Piazza Europa (trg Evrope), the route ascends for nearly 1 km at 14% max. gradients, and then takes a technical descent leading back to Italy. Over the final kilometre, the route covers a short stretch on stone pavers. The home straight is 300 m long, on tarmac road.
What to expect:
Should be too hard for the remaing sprinters, but not hard enough for GC contenders. So the most likely scenario sees one of the breakaway being successful. Expect the breakaway to consist of riders who tried, but failed, yesterday.
Favourites 15th stage 2021 Giro d’Italia
*** Gialunca Brambilla, Koen Bouwman, Diego Ulissi
** Davide Formolo, Pello Bilbao, Harm Vanhoucke, Felix Großschartner, Rudy Molard, Mikkel Honoré
* Matteo Fabbro, Michael Storer, Jan Tratnik, Larry Warbasse, Patrick Bevin, Chris Hamilton
Grado
Grado in Friuli Venezia Giulia is one of Italy’s most historically rich seaside towns and lies in the middle of the northernmost of the Adriatic Sea’s lagoons. The town is internationally known as a thermal bath centre as well as a prestigious seaside destination, which developed in the late 19th century. The urban grid has remained almost unchanged over time, the typical appearance of an Upper Adriatic seaside village.
The most famous gradese dish, is ‘Boreto a la graisana’, an ancient and unique fish soup, accompanied by white corn polenta. It's not a "pretty" dish.
A characteristic drink of Grado is Santonego, a special alcoholic infusion of marine absinthe (Artemisia coerulescens), a perennial aromatic lagoon plant. An intoxicating grappa-based elixir containing in its dry aftertaste with a bitter ending, it can also be enjoyed with oysters and chocolate.
Gorizia
Nestled between plains and mountains, in the extreme northeast of Italy, Gorizia also has a lot of history and an important past to tell. Also known as the “Nice of Austria”, for its mild climate and the elegance of the views that unfold from its centre at the foot of the medieval castle hill, Gorizia was at the heart of the tragic events of the First and Second World Wars, but today finds its identity as a city of culture, gastronomy, and multiculturalism.
The cusine of Gorizia is characterized by hearty dishes but, at the same time, it is refined and rich in peculiarities, which are able to fascinate even the most demanding palates.
Among the most original dishes of the area, one finds certainly Gorizia’s gnocchi, stuffed with plums, and which, despite their markedly sweet taste, are considered to all intents and purposes a first course.
The “gubana” from Gorizia, with its delicate puff pastry and dried fruit filling, or the traditional “strucolo in straza”, in its many variations, jealously guarded by every family, are the best way to end a meal on a sweet note.
The vineyards around Gorizia also produce the magnificent Friulano – which enthusiasts cannot but continue to call Tocai -, in addition to the various Sauvignons, Pinot Grigio, Merlot and Cabernet.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Comments
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It's a pity they didn't fancy a summit finish at Vrsic or Mangart in Slovenia. Both cracking climbs. The north side of Vrsic has cobbles so they could even have trolled Remco with a descent down to a finish in Kranjska Gora.1
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The phrase technical descent in that description makes me wonder if some might look to distance Remco either to move above him in GC or make sure he can't come back at them.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0
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Massive crash at the back
Neutralised
Breakaway guys upset0 -
Jos van Emden looks in a bad way0
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Chaos on a causeway again."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
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Bora rider also hurt - its Buchmann! Jaw?
Not clear what caused the crash.
Neutralisation possibly due to availability of medical cars
Bit of wind on this section, tailwind here but could get spicy later0 -
Race completely stopped now0
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Plenty of animated Italian voices and hand gestures."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
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What I've found is that watching the starts is nearly as good as watching the final...0
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Still all stopped - clearing the road to allow an ambulance through0
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Buchmann abandons
Berhane and Van Emden too."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Guerreiro looks a bit unsteady - insisting he can continue...
Buchmann, Berhane and Van Emden abandon0 -
I think that's him holding his back and ribs.bobmcstuff said:Guerreiro looks a bit unsteady - insisting he can continue...
Doesn't look comfy.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Rolling out again.
Have to say the Giro did a better job of stopping the race than the ASO, when Cancellara was involved in that mass pile up."Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Massive break seems to be being allowed to go0
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Bora to work for Sagan today after all?“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0
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Still a few people trying to fire off the front of the peloton, the gap is 1'25" at the moment0
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Off the back alreadyblazing_saddles said:
I think that's him holding his back and ribs.bobmcstuff said:Guerreiro looks a bit unsteady - insisting he can continue...
Doesn't look comfy.0 -
Kelly "Riders trying to calm the er.. calm the er.. Calm the shit down at the front"“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0
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Guerreiro already dropped.
Can’t be long before he abandons"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Break is 15 with another 4 chasing0
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He has abandoned. 4 today thenblazing_saddles said:Guerreiro already dropped.
Can’t be long before he abandons0 -
Guerreiro has abandoned"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
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Guerreiro looked a little to unsteady too of been allowed to continue.
One of the crashes that you kinda of wish they had caught on camera just to find out what happened, if only they din't overdo it with the replays afterwards
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The 4 guys in the middle are not going to make it...
Theyve had Wiggins in for commentary which is another nice touch, talking about racing with Nibali.0 -
“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!0
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Sounds like it should be the title of a song by The Smithsblazing_saddles said:Chaos on a causeway again.
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This looks hard work!0
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Rain has started and the town Square they just went through looked like an ice rink0
