Giro 2021:- Stage 19: Abbiategrasso – Alpe di Mera 166 km **Spoilers**

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 22,731
edited May 2021 in Pro race

Stage 19: Abbiategrasso – Alpe di Mera 166 km

Friday, May 28th, 12.35 CEST
The original route:



The original profile:



The new route: (the black line being the removed section)



The new profile:



Technical Info:
The route is now reduced to a single mountain stage featuring only one other recognised climb. The first 120kms being ridden along false flats: aka Ganna land.
Alpe di Mera will feature for the first ever in the Giro: a mountain top finish at the 9.7 kilometres at 9% near the Swiss border.
To get there, the route travels the lowland around river Ticino. The route now touches lake Maggiore to get to the intermediate sprint town, passes Gravellona Toce and Omegna, and clears the Passo della Colma (GPM3, 7.5 km at 6.4%). Past Varallo, the route continues along the valley floor up to the foot of the closing climb in Scopello.

The Climbs:

Not sure how this qualifies but...







Final Kilometres
The final climb rises steadily at 9-10% for 10 km, with pitches maxing out at 14%. The road is quite wide, with a number of hairpins. The home straight is on tarmac road.



What to expect:
Climbers with the ambition to move up in the GC will be eyeing up the final climb. The last 6.8 kilometers are particularly brutal. This being the penultimate mountain stage, ensures that although this stage might not be the hardest, the cumulative effect could still play a part, as we saw last year on the Stelvio.

Favourites 19th stage 2021 Giro d’Italia

*** Simon Yates, Egan Bernal, Joao Alemeida
** Aleksandr Vlasov, Romain Bardet, Hugh Carthy, Dan Martin
* Vincenzo Nibali, Damiano Caruso, George Bennett, Daniel Felipe Martínez, Davide Formolo

Charming lakes

From Lake Garda to Lake Como, through Lake Maggiore and Iseo, Lombardy is the region of lakes – water mirrors reflecting the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
With countless stories to tell, the lakes of Lombardy offer extraordinary experiences to suit all tastes. Wander along the shores or head further inland, off the beaten track, and be amazed by beautiful villas, blooming gardens and picturesque villages, sports, culinary delights and, above all, stunning landscapes.





Lombardy is a unique and varied territory, "a cradle of flavour". Recipes that tell a thousand tales, starred chefs reinventing the classics while looking beyond tradition, restaurants and wineries that hold true jewels of local food and wine tradition.

Cassoeula



'Strade del Vino e dei Sapori’ (Roads of Wines and Tastes) is the name for the collection of routes in and around Italy, that lead to and through major regional food and wine production areas.
(cheating a little with the picture here)



Alpe di Mera (Valsesia)
Alpe di Mera snowpark overlooks the valley from above with a surprising glance and allows its visitors to admire the Monte Rosa massif in all its majesty. This panorama is unmatched in Valsesia.








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

  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,108
    Should be all on the final climb then - be interesting to see if anyone attacks or they all save their legs for Saturday.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,620
    Anyone who's dropped on the first climb on Saturday could lose a week. I think Friday could be quite defensive.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    gsk82 said:

    Anyone who's dropped on the first climb on Saturday could lose a week. I think Friday could be quite defensive.

    Exactly why you attack here.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,913
    gsk82 said:

    Anyone who's dropped on the first climb on Saturday could lose a week. I think Friday could be quite defensive.

    Ineos and Bahrain for sure . Trouble is EF can attack but Hugh hasn't got the finish ...same with Astana and vlasov but they have to try something . Almeida would love to.drive early but the team is a bit lacking now . Maybe almeida fancies the stage and keeps the peloton close on the flat making a stage victory within reach . A lot of teams need to look at sat and realise when that hits the first climb whatever team they have it's going to be of no consequence for the rest of the giro . Use em while you got them. Bike exchange seem weaks in the hills so might as well for Vs on the flat with what ever assets they have . What's the alternative? Get a rider in the break ? ...
    "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
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,108
    Best thing for anyone hoping to unseat Bernal would be a rider within say 10 minutes goes in a break and forces Ineos to control it - the likes of Bike Exchange could then ramp up the pace on steeper sections - tire Ineos for tomorrow and isolate Bernal for the finale today.

    Worst thing would be some other team controls for a chance at the stage win and Ineos can just save themselves for tomorrow.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • davep1
    davep1 Posts: 837
    I missed why the stage has been shortened?
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,108
    The cable car tragedy - it went close to the site
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,913
    edited May 2021
    DeVlaeminck said:

    Best thing for anyone hoping to unseat Bernal would be a rider within say 10 minutes goes in a break and forces Ineos to control it - the likes of Bike Exchange could then ramp up the pace on steeper sections - tire Ineos for tomorrow and isolate Bernal for the finale today.

    Worst thing would be some other team controls for a chance at the stage win and Ineos can just save themselves for tomorrow.

    Yeah I guess. Ineos could just sit in the wheels that said a lot of the riders good for tomorrow it's going to be kinda moot . Who cares if puccio or ganna has a easy day it's CV Martinez and moscon that need to be weakened . And they get a easy ride either way . If ineos chase none of those 3 will do any work on the flat is my guess .
    "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_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,731
    Well this is just going to go on and on. Literally zero parcour to punch away early.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,913
    DQS trying to.slip 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_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,731
    Other than it being a large group, why did Ineos shut that lot down for Gawd's sake?
    Only Formolo within half an hour.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,913
    What's the Sagan story ? Odd there was no sanction from the race just the UCI ..
    "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: 18,913
    blazing_saddles said:

    Other than it being a large group, why did Ineos shut that lot down for Gawd's sake?
    Only Formolo within half an hour.

    Didn't want DQS riders up the road for almeida I think
    "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_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,731
    mididoctors said:

    blazing_saddles said:

    Other than it being a large group, why did Ineos shut that lot down for Gawd's sake?
    Only Formolo within half an hour.

    Didn't want DQS riders up the road for almeida I think
    And he's almost 9 minutes down.

    There's another 70kms of total flat at start of tomorrow's stage.
    Little or no variation in this Giro's final week stage starts design.

    Today hasn't worked out well, as it looks as if a very soft break has finally gone up the road.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,913
    If almeida opens up the stage and a rival bridges ?
    "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
  • davep1
    davep1 Posts: 837
    DeVlaeminck said:

    The cable car tragedy - it went close to the site

    Ah, thianks. Hadn't thought of that.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,913
    Bike exchange chasing
    "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_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,731
    Into some very desirable real estate territory now
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    QS drilling it, for no apparent reason other than stressing the peloton for fun
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,913
    DQS splitting it on the descent
    "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
  • larkim
    larkim Posts: 2,485
    mididoctors said:

    What's the Sagan story ? Odd there was no sanction from the race just the UCI ..

    What's this?
    2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
    2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
    2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
    2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
    2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
    2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,913
    This race is close to opening up
    "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
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,108
    Sagan fined and docked UCi points for intimidation shutting down people from trying to join the break yesterday
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Wonder what the rationale is. I assume the QS boys won't be much use uphill anyway so why not make use of them.
    _
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    Seems like they managed to catch 3 Ineos domestiques out who are having to chase hard
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Does anyone else feel with GTs that it feels like there's all the time in the world for the race to develop and then suddenly they run out of road?
    _
  • No_Ta_Doctor
    No_Ta_Doctor Posts: 14,692
    Finally understand what QS were up to, it was Martinez that was in the chasing group. Ineos think of him as a mountain domestique that's allowed to ride for a top 10. QS just see him as the bloke in 6th, just ahead of Almeida :smiley:
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,731
    rick_chasey said:

    Does anyone else feel with GTs that it feels like there's all the time in the world for the race to develop and then suddenly they run out of road?

    Do you mean it’s boring, then suddenly, just before it finishes, it isn’t?

    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,731
    Brambilla very slow getting back on his bike
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    I guess so. I feel a lot of riders seem to ride like they have loads of time left and then suddenly it's a sh!t-or-bust moment.

    Almost like a lot of riders never really even have a tilt. Of course it's not like that, I just often find that's the vibe I have in my head.
    _

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