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Giro 2017: Stage 9 Montenero Di Bisaccia - Blockhaus *spoilers*

Richmond Racer 2Richmond Racer 2 Posts: 4,698
edited May 2017 in Pro race
Here's Jered Gruber whetting our appetite

IMG_3286_zpseo55aaal.png
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Posts

  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 14,220
    Here's the technical bits.

    STAGE 9: Montenero di Bisaccia – Blockhaus 149 km

    START TIME: 13.00 CEST

    Map:-
    map-09.jpg

    Profile:-
    T09_Blockhaus_alt_web.jpg

    Climb:-
    stage-9-blockhaus.jpg

    Last Kms:-
    stage-9-1km.jpg
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • yourpaceormineyourpaceormine Posts: 1,231
    Blockhaus - an interesting name. Seems a little out of place. From the German military term for an isolated fortress, the fortress was built in 1860. My knowledge of Italian history is very sketchy, I know that big chunks of the North were part of the Hapsburg Empire, but Blockhaus is firmly in the state of Naples. So why the use of the German term? Answers on a postcard please...

    edit: it would appear that it was fashionable at the time for Italian military types to hold Austro-Hungarian military terms, training, tactics as the gold standard to which they aspired. Hence the use of the German term Block Haus.

    Gastronauts can be content with bruschetta, the local cheeses including ricotta, varied lamb dishes including Arrosticini (a lamb kebab) all washed down with the highly regarded white wine of the area Trebbiano d'Abruzzo.

    Sadly the local cattle breed, Abruzzese, was declared extinct in 2007.
  • milton50milton50 Posts: 3,892
    It seems people in the know are really reinforcing how difficult this climb is.

    Inrng has said it's more difficult than Mont Ventoux and apparently Pozzovivo says it's the hardest in the Giro this year.

    Could be some real damage.
  • DeVlaeminckDeVlaeminck Posts: 5,679
    Let's hope we don't have a head wind.
    AFC Mercia women - sign for us
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 14,220
    DeVlaeminck wrote:
    Let's hope we don't have a head wind.

    https://www.ilmeteo.it/meteo/Passo+Lanciano-Majelletta

    Looks to be tail, moving to cross, with the possibility of a spot of rain, late on.

    Gratuitous photo time.

    monte-blockhaus-1.JPG.910x680_q95.jpg
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 14,220
    Just got underway.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • RichN95.RichN95. Posts: 22,992
    A huge 62.5% of PTP picks are for Quintana. Pinot is the next best on 10%.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Bluemoon17Bluemoon17 Posts: 732
    Really hope this isn't one of those climbs that's so hard that people are too afraid of blowing up to try anything. Hopefully the sheer number of GC contenders means that at least someone will give it a go.
  • thestrandthestrand Posts: 112
    Any ideas on why Cannondale are chasing down their own man in the breakaway?

    *edit* never mind, I thought the group at the head of the race was the Rolland groups of 3, it does make sense now
    Felt F95 2012

    Hello to Jason Isaacs
  • DeVlaeminckDeVlaeminck Posts: 5,679
    Looks like the stage win will be from the peloton - might mean more action from climbers who aren't realistic gc men.
    AFC Mercia women - sign for us
  • above_the_cowsabove_the_cows Posts: 10,863
    yourpaceormine wrote:
    Blockhaus - an interesting name. Seems a little out of place. From the German military term for an isolated fortress, the fortress was built in 1860. My knowledge of Italian history is very sketchy, I know that big chunks of the North were part of the Hapsburg Empire, but Blockhaus is firmly in the state of Naples. So why the use of the German term? Answers on a postcard please...

    edit: it would appear that it was fashionable at the time for Italian military types to hold Austro-Hungarian military terms, training, tactics as the gold standard to which they aspired. Hence the use of the German term Block Haus.

    Thank you.

    I was going to ask if anyone knew why it had such a name.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • above_the_cowsabove_the_cows Posts: 10,863
    I once had a most delicious dinner in nearby Sulmona. Wild boar is a speciality. Just saying.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • yourpaceormineyourpaceormine Posts: 1,231
    Above The Cows wrote:
    I once had a most delicious dinner in nearby Sulmona. Wild boar is a speciality. Just saying.
    There are wild boar running around this part of Derbyshire. Not a local delicacy yet.

    I've just woken up after a post roast dinner snooze. Last thing I remember Rolland had just made it onto the lead group. Anything exciting happened, or has it just been a countdown to the Blockhaus climb?
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 14,220
    Right, what's left? 26 kilometres at 7.3%, that's what.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • inseineinseine Posts: 5,617
    If Quintana doesn't do something his team aren't going to be happy
    http://cyclinganddesign.blogspot.fr/
  • inseineinseine Posts: 5,617
    SKY moving up. Best they can hope for is top 5 overall according to Stephen Roche
    http://cyclinganddesign.blogspot.fr/
  • yourpaceormineyourpaceormine Posts: 1,231
    Interesting, Movistar have 6 riders, Sky 7, Bahrain Merida only have 3 (incl Nibs). BMC have 4. AG2R are there, no Orica train at the front
  • above_the_cowsabove_the_cows Posts: 10,863
    Big chute!
    Correlation is not causation.
  • above_the_cowsabove_the_cows Posts: 10,863
    Big Sky chute with G, down.

    Looks like a police moto took them out.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • inseineinseine Posts: 5,617
    SKY disaster. Bloody motorbike
    http://cyclinganddesign.blogspot.fr/
  • above_the_cowsabove_the_cows Posts: 10,863
    He's back on his feet.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • gweedsgweeds Posts: 2,043
    WTAF

    How many times
    Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.
  • blazing_saddlesblazing_saddles Posts: 14,220
    Police moto destroys Sky
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • milton50milton50 Posts: 3,892
    What. A. Joke.
  • above_the_cowsabove_the_cows Posts: 10,863
    Kiry looks as clam as ever holding bikes.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • yourpaceormineyourpaceormine Posts: 1,231
    G, Landa, Yates all taken out
  • inseineinseine Posts: 5,617
    For christ sake. unacceptable
    http://cyclinganddesign.blogspot.fr/
  • lettingthedaysgobylettingthedaysgoby Posts: 1,293
    Oh no :(

    Sodding motorbikes.
  • above_the_cowsabove_the_cows Posts: 10,863
    How in gods name did that stupid plonker think that he could stop there? What. A. Tool.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • milton50milton50 Posts: 3,892
    Yates is at least back on his bike. Giro gone though.
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