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Giro 2021:- Stage 18: Rovereto – Stradella 232 km **Spoilers**

blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 20,520
edited May 2021 in Pro race

Stage 18: Rovereto – Stradella 232 km

Thursday, May 27th, 11.35 CEST

The stage travels across the Po Plain, from north to south, on straight and mostly wide roads.





Technical Info:
This is longest stage of the Giro with the first 200 kilometres just like last year, almost pan flat, but the last 31 kilometres serve up three short ascents. Hopefully, they will be enough to avoid a repeat of last year and unlike last year, the weather forecast is good. So, potentially we could end up with an extremely interesting finale. Also, as the stage passes through several urban areas, roundabouts, traffic islands and street furniture will be found along the route, adding stress to a tired peloton.

Final Kilometres

While the last couple of kilometres are straightforward, the preceding ones are rather technical in nature.





The climb:



What to expect:

Expect the breakaway to battle it out, as this stage is sandwiched between four mountain stages. The 18th stage also suits the sprinters, however the work involved in controlling the break over such a distance this late in the day, combined with the series of small climbs at the back end make this scenario unlikely.

Favourites 18th stage 2021 Giro d’Italia

*** Peter Sagan, Diego Ulissi, Rémi Cavagna, Taco van der Hoorn
** Mikkel Honoré, Jan Tratnik, Quinten Hermans, Patrick Bevin
* Andrea Vendrame, Francesco Gavazzi, Juan Sebastián Molano, Dries De Bondt

Rovereto
Nestled between hills and vineyards, Rovereto is the gateway to Trentino. Located in the center of the Adige Valley, along the main connecting road between Verona and Trento. Rovereto has always been a crossroads of cultures, a link between plain and mountain, Italian and German culture. Many illustrious guests have visited the city. The best known is Mozart, who held his first Italian concert in the Church of San Marco. “City of Peace”, Rovereto hosts international museums, including art, history and science.



In addition to refined wines, Vallagarina is also known for its quality products, which give an original and tasty touch to the table. The meats and cured meats: many butchers and farms in the city and in the small villages continue in the tradition of producing, each with its own recipes, luganega (salami from the Trentino valleys) and other typical cured meats.



Tagliatelle con funghi, luganega e panna: fresh tagliatelle is entwined with chestnut mushrooms, Italian Luganega sausage and a rich cream sauce.



Stradella
Stradella is located in Oltrepò Pavese (province of Pavia). Such an area includes both a plain and the northern Appennines hills. Stradella is one of the most important wine industries in Lombardy, as wine is grown on more than 4/5 of its lands. The small yet vibrant city centre hosts a variety of activities, from cafés to restaurants and shops.



Napoleon Bonaparte, first consul, while in Italy stopped at Stradella and asked his cook to prepare him chicken fricassee. Since he couldn’t find butter, he used oil instead. In a hurry and hungry, Napoleon found the chicken delicious and the dish appreciated since then. However, the modern version is likely different, as the recipe changed over time. The so-called chicken ‘alla Stradellina’ is cut into pieces and cooked with fine olive oil, salt, pepper, truffles and herbs. After cooking, a sauce is added, made of gelly and wine from Broni or Canneto, together with seared butter, onion springs and flour.



However, wine is the city’s pride.










"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
«13

Posts

  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 66,308 Lives Here
    Mini MSR
    _
  • gsk82gsk82 Posts: 3,251
    Will anyone test Bernal towards the end? I guess not. If its his back that's the problem it'll still be a problem tomorrow when real time can be taken.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • phreakphreak Posts: 2,709
    gsk82 said:

    Will anyone test Bernal towards the end? I guess not. If its his back that's the problem it'll still be a problem tomorrow when real time can be taken.

    Maybe look to today to tire out the Ineos domestiques so he's isolated earlier tomorrow?
  • kingstongrahamkingstongraham Posts: 23,429
    phreak said:

    gsk82 said:

    Will anyone test Bernal towards the end? I guess not. If its his back that's the problem it'll still be a problem tomorrow when real time can be taken.

    Maybe look to today to tire out the Ineos domestiques so he's isolated earlier tomorrow?
    Only way to do that is to get someone high up in gc into the break and no-one else chases. Then when that gets caught, launch another with a different rider high on gc. Not going to happen.

    Without that, only bora will care about the break.
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 66,308 Lives Here
    It is nice to have GC battle isn't it?
    _
  • andypandyp Posts: 9,260
    edited May 2021
    It's being reported that Giulio Ciccone will be a non-starter this morning.
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 66,308 Lives Here
    Ugh what a shame.
    _
  • phreakphreak Posts: 2,709
    rick_chasey said:

    It is nice to have GC battle isn't it?

    It probably helps that it must be ingrained into the psyche of the riders that the Giro repeatedly throws up quite big changes in the GC in the final few stages. It's rare for there to be a precession into Milan.
  • bobmcstuffbobmcstuff Posts: 10,565
    Break at 24s but coming down fast as lots of teams still keen... 45k down already
  • No_Ta_DoctorNo_Ta_Doctor Posts: 11,974
    Large break well established now at 5+ mins
    “Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”

    @DrHeadgear

    The Vikings are coming!
  • bobmcstuffbobmcstuff Posts: 10,565
    No_Ta_Doctor said:

    Large break well established now at 5+ mins

    Most threatening person on GC at 57 mins so that's probably it.

    6'23" now.
  • pblakeneypblakeney Posts: 22,372
    phreak said:

    rick_chasey said:

    It is nice to have GC battle isn't it?

    It probably helps that it must be ingrained into the psyche of the riders that the Giro repeatedly throws up quite big changes in the GC in the final few stages. It's rare for there to be a precession into Milan.
    Helped by there being a TT at the end instead of a procession to a sprint finish.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santaluciaugo.santalucia Posts: 27,896
    Fond memories of my University days. I studied in Pavia, a few miles away from Stradella and I often cycled to the Oltrepo' area to find some hills. Beautiful area, with vineyards and woodland.
    I had a friend whose dad had a winery in Broni, used to come to parties with a magnum bottle of their Brut sparkling wine...

    Happy days
    left the forum March 2023
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 20,520
    Who thought that having an Addy Engels impressionist in the commentary box was a good idea?
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 25,328
    Am I seeing this right? 45 to go and the break at nearly 15 mins..?
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 13,111
    gsk82 said:

    Will anyone test Bernal towards the end? I guess not. If its his back that's the problem it'll still be a problem tomorrow when real time can be taken.

    Bernal to be attacked early Friday or sat or both by everyone bar Caruso as they try and get on the podium. Caruso rides within himself into pink as bernal cracks . Not impossible.
    "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
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 25,328
    Hope that was a Lamborghini Tractor...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • kingstongrahamkingstongraham Posts: 23,429
    ddraver said:

    Am I seeing this right? 45 to go and the break at nearly 15 mins..?

    A no sprint flat stage in week 3 was fairly predictable.
  • shirley_bassoshirley_basso Posts: 5,708
    ddraver said:

    Hope that was a Lamborghini Tractor...

    My neighbour has one...
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 25,328
    shirley_basso said:

    ddraver said:

    Hope that was a Lamborghini Tractor...

    My neighbour has one...
    Case in point...

    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 25,328
    Kicking off at the front. Actually a few team combinations in the break that could lead to some fun...

    (Horrendous pun from Hatch there though 🤢)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 13,111
    Cavanga giving it some
    "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
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 20,520
    I doubt they’ll see him again
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 13,111
    Roche and bettiol trying to bridge
    "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
  • rick_chaseyrick_chasey Posts: 66,308 Lives Here
    Very Giro moto behaviour here.
    _
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 13,111
    Really small roads
    "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
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 25,328
    Lovely looking part of Italy....
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • ddraverddraver Posts: 25,328
    Remi to attack on the Cipressa next spring...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • mididoctorsmididoctors Posts: 13,111
    Cavanga riding away
    "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
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 20,520
    mididoctors said:

    Cavanga riding away

    Yeah, I was waiting for it.
    Once he had a few seconds it was all over, bar him coming a cropper on a corner somewhere.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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