Giro 2017: Stage 18: Moena – Ortisei/St.Ulrich 137 km *Spoilers*

blazing_saddles
blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
edited May 2017 in Pro race
I've virtually no internet access at the moment so count yourselves lucky.


Stage 18: Moena – Ortisei/St.Ulrich 137 km

START TIME: 13.00 CEST

This queen stage starts from Moena which has been stage town six times and goes across the Dolomites taking in 5 consecutive categorised climbs, with not even a single flat stretch in between: Passo Pordoi (2016 KOM Damiano Cunego), Passo Valparola, Passo Gardena, Passo Pinei and Pontives (final climb). The stage features a remarkable rise and drop of a little less than 4,000 m in 137 km, with average gradients of approx. 7% and topping out at 15%. The roads are always moderately wide and well surfaced. The stage arrives in Ortisei, already arrival of the Giro in 1940 and 2005. The Pontives categorised summit (4 km before the finish) marks the slope change in the closing climb. Next on the route are a false-flat uphill drag, up to 1,500 m before the finish, and a steep stretch up to 500 m before the finish, with gradients topping out at 13%. The stage course then turns right and takes a short descent on setts-paved road, up to 150 m from the finish, where the road levels out. The finish line sits on 5.5-m wide asphalt road.


9643714830_4800706eb7_b.jpg

Map:-
T18_Ortisei_plan-REV.jpg

Profile:-
T18_Ortisei_alt-1.jpg

Climbs:-
S01_Pordoni-e-S02-Valparola.jpg
T18_S03_Gardena_web.jpg
S04-PINEI-E-S05-ORTISEI.jpg

Final Kms:-
T18_Ortisei_ukm_web.jpg
"Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
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Comments

  • FocusZing
    FocusZing Posts: 4,373
    Another cracking photo to set the scene.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,196
    The climbs look mainly regular which could suit Dumoulin. Inrng actually gave him 2 chainrings for the stage (along with Quintana and Landa).

    Thoughts, feelings?
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Look at those lovely rocks!
    Correlation is not causation.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
    2ymsu46.jpg
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,892
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    The climbs look mainly regular which could suit Dumoulin. Inrng actually gave him 2 chainrings for the stage (along with Quintana and Landa).

    Thoughts, feelings?

    I've ridden these roads quite a few times and they are relatively gentle as climbs go (no Fedaia or Giau for instance), so I can see Dumoulin holding on today.
  • ContrelaMontre
    ContrelaMontre Posts: 3,027
    Thank you Rick Chasey. Hat tip

    Rule No.10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    phreak wrote:
    bobmcstuff wrote:
    The climbs look mainly regular which could suit Dumoulin. Inrng actually gave him 2 chainrings for the stage (along with Quintana and Landa).

    Thoughts, feelings?

    I've ridden these roads quite a few times and they are relatively gentle as climbs go (no Fedaia or Giau for instance), so I can see Dumoulin holding on today.

    Yep, they're pretty gentle.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,892
    They are however all over 2,000m so it will test Dumoulin's stomach, if not his legs.
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    phreak wrote:
    They are however all over 2,000m so it will test Dumoulin's stomach, if not his legs.

    Good point. The scenery is stunning though. You can poo with a view.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • pat1cp
    pat1cp Posts: 766
    Quintana will have to try and put some time into him today.

    Tom's already quite isolated. I predict fireworks.
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,892
    phreak wrote:
    They are however all over 2,000m so it will test Dumoulin's stomach, if not his legs.

    Good point. The scenery is stunning though. You can poo with a view.

    Pooing in a UNESCO site. Surely there are laws?
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    ^Ha!

    But look at this beautiful scenery and lovely hairpins.
    Correlation is not causation.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 21,741
    Internet mended. :D
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,892
    The Dolomites are looking stunning.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
    Sunweb down to LTD already.

    Not even 2:30 BST yet.
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    Sunweb down to LTD already.

    Not even 2:30 BST yet.

    Is this the best they could surround TD with, or are they keeping their powder dry for other races?
  • bluemoon17
    bluemoon17 Posts: 718
    Big group out front, 1'20 ahead. Includes 3x Sky (Landa is in there for PTP'ers), 3x Cannondale, 2x Movistar, 2x BMC (Van Garderen), and 2x Trek amongst others.

    Dumoulin looks very isolated already- could be in trouble later in the stage.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
    Dinyull wrote:
    Sunweb down to LTD already.

    Not even 2:30 BST yet.

    Is this the best they could surround TD with, or are they keeping their powder dry for other races?

    Kelderman got taken out by the rozzers.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
    Giro again making good use of the long stage / short stage combo.

    Me likey a lot.
  • phreak
    phreak Posts: 2,892
    Giro again making good use of the long stage / short stage combo.

    Me likey a lot.

    Very similar to their 'Maratona' stage from last year, in that it's relatively short but all either up or down.
  • fleshtuxedo
    fleshtuxedo Posts: 1,853
    Sun web regrouping but they're going to be gapped again on the climb
  • milton50
    milton50 Posts: 3,856
    If Dumoulin is 100% healthy then I would be surprised to see him get dropped today.

    The climbs are pretty steady with regular gradients and the stage is only 130km.
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    Dinyull wrote:
    Sunweb down to LTD already.

    Not even 2:30 BST yet.

    Is this the best they could surround TD with, or are they keeping their powder dry for other races?

    Kelderman got taken out by the rozzers.

    And after Kelderman and LTD do they not have any other help in the mountains?

    I understand not everyone has budget's like Sky and Movistar, but 2 peeps seems a bit weak for GC hopes, no?
  • bluemoon17
    bluemoon17 Posts: 718
    Amador and Anacona in the break again for Movistar.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
    Dinyull wrote:
    Dinyull wrote:
    Sunweb down to LTD already.

    Not even 2:30 BST yet.

    Is this the best they could surround TD with, or are they keeping their powder dry for other races?

    Kelderman got taken out by the rozzers.

    And after Kelderman and LTD do they not have any other help in the mountains?

    I understand not everyone has budget's like Sky and Movistar, but 2 peeps seems a bit weak for GC hopes, no?

    Nah. Climbing domestiques = €€€€€€€

    Only other they have is Barguil, and he's French, so no Giro.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,196
    Bluemoon17 wrote:
    Big group out front, 1'20 ahead. Includes 3x Sky (Landa is in there for PTP'ers), 3x Cannondale, 2x Movistar, 2x BMC (Van Garderen), and 2x Trek amongst others.

    Dumoulin looks very isolated already- could be in trouble later in the stage.

    Hirt from CCC is up there again. Having a good Giro clearly.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
    Bluemoon17 wrote:
    Amador and Anacona in the break again for Movistar.

    They must be getting cheesed off with Quintana.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,137
    edited May 2017
    Breakaway:

    Rosa, Landa, Deignan (Sky), van Garderen, Rosskopf (BMC), Fraile, Berhane (Dimension), Dombrowski, Villella, Rolland (Cannondale), Plaza (Orica), Stuyven, Pedersen (Trek), Amador, Anacona (Movistar), Cataldo (Astana), Siutsou (Bahrain), Hirt (CCC), Foliforov (Gazprom)
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,236
    Who needs more than two domestiques in the mountains anyway?

    Dumolin ain't Wiggins who needs to neutralise the main competitor by having him as a teammate to win :P.
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    Sunweb down to LTD already.

    Not even 2:30 BST yet.

    There was a group of them massing at the front of the peloton just now before the ad break.
    Correlation is not causation.