Giro 2024:- Stage 2: San Francesco al Campo – Santuario di Oropa (Biella), 161.0km ***Spoilers***
Stage 2: San Francesco al Campo – Santuario di Oropa (Biella), 161.0km
May 5th.
Start Time: 12-05BST.
Oropa is the earliest summit finish in the Italian Grand Tour since 1989. Back then, Acácio da Silva climbed to victory on Mount Etna. Oropa, a mountain made famous when in 1999 Marco Pantani won atop it despite dropping his chain at the bottom. The 150 kilometres long route rises at 6.2% to the line in the last 11.8 kilometres. The 2nd stage takes in an elevation gain of 2,300 metres. That’s not excessively, but since the bulk of it is packed into the last 45 kilometres the riders face a trying finale.
map
climb detail
final kilometres
The last 11 km are uphill, from Biella to the Sanctuary of Oropa. The first part has gentle gradients up to the village of Favaro, where the most unwelcoming sectors are reached (around 13%). The climb continues with numerous bends and slopes of around 9% until the final straight, 130 metres with porphyry paving 6.5 metres wide.
San Francesco al Campo
Overview
The town lies at the meeting point between the metropolitan area of north-western Turin, the plain that leads to the Lanzo Valleys and the morainic plateau entering the Canavese area. It is a municipality with an ancient agricultural tradition which has grown remarkably over the years, following the fate of numerous other towns in the province of Turin. Its proximity to the latter (about 20 km) has unquestionably favoured its development, welcoming over the years several families who chose to move out of the crowded city. The Sandro Pertini airport is located just out of town. Since 1996, it has been home to the Velodromo Francone (Francone Velodrome)
Local Cusine
The typical product for which this town is known throughout the region is ‘L Canaveis’ panettone, produced by a historic artisan workshop in San Francesco al Campo. It is a traditional Piedmontese panettone, therefore slightly lower than the Lombard version, glazed and baked according to a very special recipe that has made it an exclusive and particularly sought-after Christmas cake for decades.In addition to this local product, the town – thanks to its position straddling three areas (Torinese, Valli di Lanzo and Canavese) – offers a wide range of typical products, from Torcetti di Lanzo to Paste di Meliga (cornflour cookies) and the now widespread Pusa, the Piedmontese herbal liqueur (so-called “Amaro”) made with extracts and natural aromas typical of the area, such as genepy, serpyll thyme, chamomile, lavender, sage and mint.
Santuario di Oropa (Biella)
The origins of this sanctuary, which stands at an altitude of 1,200 metres, are extremely ancient: it served first a place of passage and later a place of devotion for pilgrims who climbed all the way up here to pray before the statue of the Black Virgin.The Savoy family, for whom Oropa held great symbolic and devotional importance, called in the greatest court architects to transform the ancient church into the most amazing Marian sanctuary in the Alps.The monumental complex is located in a natural setting of extraordinary beauty, within a Regional Nature Reserve that also includes the Sacro Monte di Oropa, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wine and other drinks
The Biellese waters are famous for their exceptional lightness.
Biella also boasts a high quality beer and the oldest active brewery in Italy, as well as many accolades for the numerous microbreweries located in the area.
Among the local wines, one D.O.C.G. must be mentioned: Erbaluce di Caluso, a straw-yellow wine, with a fine scent reminiscent of wild flowers and a dry, fresh and characteristic flavour. Red wine is also represented, with 4 D.O.C. wines: Bramaterra, Lessona, Canavese and Coste della Sesia, ruby red wines with a characteristic and intense aroma and a dry, harmonious flavour.
Comments
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Excellent preview blazing, cheers mate.
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Felt someone should post it
"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 pm3 -
Cheers for the threads blazing
"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 pm0 -
After his crash yesterday, Robert Gesink does not take the start.
It’s his 7th DNF in 23 GTs.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
A fairly sedate first hour at a shade under 46kph over a flat course.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Narvaez wearing just the right amount of pink. The pink accents on the shorts look good.
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Dunbar has crashed again.
Ollie Kooij also tastes the tarmac.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Valter makes it a Visma hat trick of crashes.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Into.the hills
"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 pm0 -
Over the climb and Into The Valley. 😉
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.0 -
Pog front wheel puncture just before final climb!
Might have to do a Pantani.
G takes 2 bonus seconds
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Puncture Pogacar.
He’ll now do a Pantani
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Well he needs to.do a pantani
"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 pm0 -
Puncture and crash for Pog but straight back up
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Will have to work a bit to get back
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Geraint takes an easy 2 second bonus.
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Surely benefits Ineos to allow Piccolo to take the stage and time bonus? G picks up a couple of seconds bonus at the interim point
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Pog back to the front of the peloton.
Bet he's got a huge adreleline rush!
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Straight back to the front for Pog
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Piccolo has 1:05 lead, UAE take it up
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Lead coming down quite fast now, looks like the stage win will be in play too.
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Nairoman out the back with 5.8 to go
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This is a pretty serious bit of bike racing
"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 pm0 -
Today’s early nail in the coffin award goes to Nairo Quintana
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0 -
Makes you wonder why Movistar brought him back.
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UAE losing riders quite quickly, must only be a matter of time before Pog attacks. Dani Martinez the latest victim of being my PTP pick
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Arensman hanging again
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Pog goes
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Rocket launched
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.0
