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Friday, May 30, 2014
2014 Giro d'Italia Stage 19 Explained by Eros Poli
Today's 26.8 mountain time trial stage, possibly decisive, is explained by Eros Poli:
Ursus, the Italian wheel company, is organizing a big party on turn 23 where you can catch up with Mario Cipollini.
Want to learn more about Monte Grappa? Use the custom search to the right to find the many stories here.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
Ursus, the Italian wheel company, is organizing a big party on turn 23 where you can catch up with Mario Cipollini.
Want to learn more about Monte Grappa? Use the custom search to the right to find the many stories here.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Pinarello Dogma F8, "End of Discussion"
It is aero.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
Why I Love the Passo dello Stelvio
Why I Love the Passo dello Stelvio: you never know what you will face.
Stage 16, yesterday, was a fantastic viewing stage, not such a great stage for the riders.
There was confusion about whether the descent of the Stelvio was to be neutralized due to the weather. This is the official announcement post stage by the race directors regarding that:
"In consideration of audio recordings of instructions relayed to Directeurs sportifs during today's stage, the Directors of the Giro d'Italia would like to clarify that Race Radio provided an inaccurate interpretation of the indications stipulated by the Directors.
As previously stated, the intention was to guarantee rider safety during the first section of the descent (the first 6 hairpins, approximately 1500 m) of the Passo dello Stelvio, where visibility was restricted due to low cloud and fog.
At no point did Race Radio or the Directors of the Giro make reference to the possible neutralization of any part of the descent."
The Ponte di Legno – Val Martello (136 km), stage saw victory for the Colombian Nairo Quintana (Team Movistar) who also took the lead in the General Classification.
In a stage affected by poor weather, with snow and freezing temperatures on the Passo Gavia and the Passo dello Stelvio, the overall standings were reshaped by Quintana, the new race leader, 1'41" ahead of Rigoberto Uran (9th in the stage at 4'11") and 3'21" ahead of Cadel Evans (tenth in the stage at 4'48").
Dario Cataldo (Team Sky) crossed the 2758 m Passo dello Stelvio, the Cima Coppi of this year’s Corsa Rosa, in first place.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
Friday, May 23, 2014
May 23rd, Start of the 1988 Giro d'Italia
Today, in 1988, marked the start of the Giro d' Italia in Urbino. It was the Giro in which Andy Hampsten became the first American, and non-European, to win. It was also the Giro of the epic cold and snow of Passo Gavia.
Read Andy's account of that day on the Gavia here in ICJ.
Passo Gavia will be one of the three climbs on Tuesday's stage 16.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
Read Andy's account of that day on the Gavia here in ICJ.
Passo Gavia will be one of the three climbs on Tuesday's stage 16.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
2014 Giro Stage 16 Explained by Eros Poli
Next Tuesday, May 27th, brings us the "Cima Coppi" of the 2014 Giro d'Italia, Passo dello Stelvio is this year’s highest point of the race itinerary.
Here, Eros Poli explains this massive stage that includes Passo Gavia, Passo dello Stelvio, and Val Martello:
The location for the battle:
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Frankie Andreu: My First and Only Giro d'Italia
Good story here by Frankie Andreu of his 1990 Giro d'Italia. An excerpt:
"The 1990 Giro was won by the giant Italian Gianni Bugno. At more than six feet tall, Bugno was a strong, powerful rider who dominated time trials and climbed well enough to compete against the skinny climbers. He was an Indurain type of rider with a backside like a horse. His ass and thigh muscles seemed ready to burst out of his spandex when he stood on the start line. And I can only speak about him when he was on the start line because it was very rare that I saw him after that."
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
"The 1990 Giro was won by the giant Italian Gianni Bugno. At more than six feet tall, Bugno was a strong, powerful rider who dominated time trials and climbed well enough to compete against the skinny climbers. He was an Indurain type of rider with a backside like a horse. His ass and thigh muscles seemed ready to burst out of his spandex when he stood on the start line. And I can only speak about him when he was on the start line because it was very rare that I saw him after that."
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
New Campagnolo Gruppo Coming....When?
Spotted by James Huang for cyclingnews.com where Campagnolo prototype cranksets on a Europcar bike at the Giro d'Italia. Read the story and see all the photos on www.cyclingnews.com here.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
Friday, May 9, 2014
2014 Giro d'Italia Starts This Evening
Schedule
Meeting point: Titanic Quarter/Slipway Garden, 1600 (all times local)
First team (Colombia) departs Titanic Quarter at 1750
Teams depart at 5-minute intervals
Last team (Neri Sottoli) departs at 1935
Last team finishes at approx. 2000 at Donegall Square North (City Hall)
Race Headquarters: Belfast Waterfront, 2 Lanyon Place (650 m from the finish line)
Weather
Sunny intervals, medium-level cloud, 15-16 °C. Wind: W, 11-15 mph, very good visibility.
Route
Part mixed and technically demanding city-center route, part long, straight roads suited to high speeds. All roads have cat’s eyes along the centerline. After the stage start at Titanic Belfast, short, straight sections of road alternate with bends up to Upper Newtownlands Road (km 9.3). Thence, the route is straight for over 6 km. The road rises gently along the Prince of Wales Avenue, about 1.1 km long and lined with lime trees, to the split timing point at the Parliament Buildings in Stormont (km 7.9). The statue of 19th/20th century politician Lord Carson marks the mid-stage point. The race route then descends at the same rate, and rejoins the straight road that leads back to the city center. The second split time will be taken at km 15.3 (Oxford St). A further sequence of bends leads to the finish line.
Final kilometers
Entirely urban, slightly uphill, with 90-degree bends and turns leading to a final right-hand bend 300m from the finish, along a straight, well-surfaced, 8m wide asphalt carriageway.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
In Belfast, Pink Fever is Growing
Today, precisely 48 hours before the 97th Giro d’Italia starts, in Belfast at 17.50 on Friday, the expected protagonists spoke to the world’s press in today’s Top Riders press conference. The following likely protagonists contributed:
Nairo Quintana (Team Movistar): “For the first time ever, there are two Colombians here as favorites, which is a cause of national celebration. But I think everyone sitting here has almost equal conditions to win the Giro. The race will put us all in our place.”
JoaquÃn RodrÃguez (Team Katusha): “There are only 6 riders here because the table is too small for all the others. There are stages for everyone, and I think it will be a very open, very entertaining race, of a very high sporting standard.”
Michele Scarponi (Team Astana): “Astana comes to the Giro with a team that hopes to be competitive on all fronts. I’m the captain, but there’s also Fabio Aru, who is very talented and will one day be a rider who can do well in Grand Tours. He won’t just be a support rider: he’ll have chances to ride for himself too.”
Rigoberto Urán (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step): “The Irish stages will be very important to the overall outcome: they are complicated , windy and cold and it is consistency that wins Grand Tours.”
Nicholas Roche (Team Tinkoff – Saxo): “I’ve been looking forward to this moment for many months. I’m super-excited to be here, and to get going after such a long wait. There’s no great advantage in being the homeboy, but I’m sure it’s going to be a great event starting tomorrow with presentations.”
Dan Martin (Team Garmin Sharp): “This is big goal of my season and I’m here to do the best possible. I’ll take it day by day before I know whether I’m riding for the General Classification or for stage wins.”
Cadel Evans (BMC): “This is my first time in Northern Ireland, and it’s going to be every interesting. The wind is going to be a factor, making these days when we GC contenders must try not to lose time, rather than thinking about gaining time.”
Of the sprinters and stage hunters, the following also attended:
Marcel Kittel (Team Argos Shimano): “I’m now in the second phase of my season now. I want to be good here, I’m looking forward to my first Giro start so that I can get some experience of this race and, with the team around me, I’m very confident that we can do good things.”
Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr): “To win the sprints, you need a good team to keep you at the front in the crucial moments. I’ve yet to win a Grand Tour stage, and I hope that this will be the opportunity.”
Ben Swift (TEAM SKY): “I’ve only known I’ll be riding for about 2 weeks, but I’m coming off the back of some decent form, so it’s a good opportunity to use this form and see what we can come up with.”
Moreno Moser (Team Cannondale): “There’s a lot of interest in me, because it’s 30 years since my uncle [Francesco Moser] won the Giro d’Italia. Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it. I’m happy to be at the start of the Giro d’Italia and I’ll play my cards as best I can.”
Diego Ulissi (Team Lampre - Merida): “Everyone knows who the favorites are. The team captains are Cunego and Niemiec for the General Classification. My goal is to win at least a stage.”
The team presentation will take place tomorrow evening at 1800 hours local time, before Belfast City Hall in Donegall Square.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
2014 Giro in Numbers
The 97th Giro d’Italia starts on Friday in Belfast (the 11th time the race has started outside Italy in its 97 year history) with a 21.7 km team time trial. It wends its way across Ireland and Italy for three weeks, to conclude in Trieste on 1 June.
The Giro in numbers:
3445.5 kilometers,
198 riders on 22 teams with 9 riders each,
40 categorized climbs,
10 uphill finishes (including the mountain time trial at Cima Grappa, Stage 19),
Cima Coppi- the race’s highest point-at 2758m (on the Passo dello Stelvio, Stage 16),
longest stage at 249km (St. 11, Collecchio - Savona),
the shortest at 21.7km (the Team Time Trial around Belfast on St. 1),
40 years and 129 days, the oldest rider, Alessandro Petacchi,
20 years and 280 days, the youngest rider, is Sebastián Henao,
6 km of barriers are erected on every stage,
26 motorcyclists, 6 police cars, provided by Italian police
Jerseys:
Maglia Rosa (pink) Balocco’: leader, General Classification
Maglia Azzurra (blue’) Banca Mediolanum’: leader, Mountains classification
Maglia Rossa (red) ‘Algida’: leader, Points classification
Maglia Bianca (white) ‘Orsero’: leader, Young Riders’ Classification (born on or after 1 January 1989)
Time bonuses:
With respect to previous years, time bonuses have been slightly altered, for intermediate sprints, to 3, 2, and 1 seconds, and for stage finishes to 10, 6, and 4. More details here.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
New Race Regulations for 2014 Giro d'Italia
Friday, May 9th is approaching fast and the expected main protagonists of the Giro d'Italia (from Belfast to Trieste – 1st June) are warming up. The opening team time trial of the Giro will see the 22 teams, each made up of 9 riders, at the start line, with a total of 198 participants.
You should be aware that the Giro d'Italia management team has made significant changes to the race regulations as follows:
FINISHING AND INTERMEDIATE SPRINTS TIME BONUSES REDUCED
Improvements have been made to finish line and intermediate sprints bonuses. These bonuses are reduced to create a better balance of reward for consistently high performers in big sprint finishes rather than breakaways, contributing to more exciting racing.
The stage winner will be awarded a 10-second bonus; a 6-second bonus goes to the second place rider; and the third to cross the finish line receives a 4-second bonus.
On the intermediate sprints, time bonuses are: 3 seconds for the first place rider; 2 seconds for second place; and 1 second for third.
THE RED JERSEY – INDIVIDUAL POINTS CLASSIFICATION
The scores pattern of the Maglia Rossa has been improved by dividing the stages into three categories. In the first category, points awarded to the top 20 finishers – including 50 points for the first-placed rider.
In the second category, points are awarded for the first 15 – with 25 points for first place.
In the third category, points are awarded to the top 10 – with 15 points for first.
There are similar changes for the intermediate sprints.
In the first category, points are awarded to the top 10 ranked – with 20 points for the first-placed rider. In the second category, points are awarded to the top 5 – with 10 points for first place. In the third category, points are awarded to the top 3 – with 8 points for first.
This is to allow the true sprinters to fight for this shirt.
INDIVIDUAL POINTS CLASSIFICATION IN DETAILS:
At the finish of each stage (except for the team time trial), the following points will be awarded to riders arriving in order:
First Category (top 20): 50 points (for first place), 40 (for second place), 34 (for third place), then 28, 25, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 point for 20th position.
Second Category (top 15): 25 points (for first place), 22 (for second place), 20 (for third place), 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 point for 15th position.
Third Category (top 10): 15 points (for first place), 12 (for second place), 9 (for third place), 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 point for 10th position.
For each intermediate sprint, the following points will be awarded in the same way:
First Category (top 10): 20 points, 16, 12, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Second Category (top 5): 10 points, 6, 3, 2, 1.
Third Category (top 3): 8 points, 4, 1.
THE BEST CLIMBER – MAGLIA AZZURRA
The scores for the GPM (Best Climber) ranking have been revised to bring out the qualities of the best climbers who compete in the Giro d'Italia.
The scores have been changed by exponential increasing the scores of the hardest climbs categories to give them proportionally higher value.
For the first category, points are awarded to the top 8 riders: 32 points (for first place), 20, 14, 10, 7, 4, 2, and 1 point for 8th place.
For the second category, points are awarded to the top 6 riders: 14 points (for first place), 9, 6, 4, 2, and 1 point for 6th place.
For the third category, points are awarded to the top 4 riders: 7 points (for first place), 4, 2, and 1 point for 4th place.
For the fourth category, points are awarded to the top 3 riders: 3 points (for first place), 2, and 1 point for 3rd place.
The CIMA COPPI, which is always attributed to the highest elevation of the Giro d'Italia and this year will be the 2758m Stelvio Pass, the score will be awarded to the first 9 riders classified separately with 40 points for the winner, then 28 points for second place, 21, 15, 10, 7, 4, 2, and 1 point for 9th place.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
You should be aware that the Giro d'Italia management team has made significant changes to the race regulations as follows:
FINISHING AND INTERMEDIATE SPRINTS TIME BONUSES REDUCED
Improvements have been made to finish line and intermediate sprints bonuses. These bonuses are reduced to create a better balance of reward for consistently high performers in big sprint finishes rather than breakaways, contributing to more exciting racing.
The stage winner will be awarded a 10-second bonus; a 6-second bonus goes to the second place rider; and the third to cross the finish line receives a 4-second bonus.
On the intermediate sprints, time bonuses are: 3 seconds for the first place rider; 2 seconds for second place; and 1 second for third.
THE RED JERSEY – INDIVIDUAL POINTS CLASSIFICATION
The scores pattern of the Maglia Rossa has been improved by dividing the stages into three categories. In the first category, points awarded to the top 20 finishers – including 50 points for the first-placed rider.
In the second category, points are awarded for the first 15 – with 25 points for first place.
In the third category, points are awarded to the top 10 – with 15 points for first.
There are similar changes for the intermediate sprints.
In the first category, points are awarded to the top 10 ranked – with 20 points for the first-placed rider. In the second category, points are awarded to the top 5 – with 10 points for first place. In the third category, points are awarded to the top 3 – with 8 points for first.
This is to allow the true sprinters to fight for this shirt.
INDIVIDUAL POINTS CLASSIFICATION IN DETAILS:
At the finish of each stage (except for the team time trial), the following points will be awarded to riders arriving in order:
First Category (top 20): 50 points (for first place), 40 (for second place), 34 (for third place), then 28, 25, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 point for 20th position.
Second Category (top 15): 25 points (for first place), 22 (for second place), 20 (for third place), 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 point for 15th position.
Third Category (top 10): 15 points (for first place), 12 (for second place), 9 (for third place), 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally 1 point for 10th position.
For each intermediate sprint, the following points will be awarded in the same way:
First Category (top 10): 20 points, 16, 12, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Second Category (top 5): 10 points, 6, 3, 2, 1.
Third Category (top 3): 8 points, 4, 1.
THE BEST CLIMBER – MAGLIA AZZURRA
The scores for the GPM (Best Climber) ranking have been revised to bring out the qualities of the best climbers who compete in the Giro d'Italia.
The scores have been changed by exponential increasing the scores of the hardest climbs categories to give them proportionally higher value.
For the first category, points are awarded to the top 8 riders: 32 points (for first place), 20, 14, 10, 7, 4, 2, and 1 point for 8th place.
For the second category, points are awarded to the top 6 riders: 14 points (for first place), 9, 6, 4, 2, and 1 point for 6th place.
For the third category, points are awarded to the top 4 riders: 7 points (for first place), 4, 2, and 1 point for 4th place.
For the fourth category, points are awarded to the top 3 riders: 3 points (for first place), 2, and 1 point for 3rd place.
The CIMA COPPI, which is always attributed to the highest elevation of the Giro d'Italia and this year will be the 2758m Stelvio Pass, the score will be awarded to the first 9 riders classified separately with 40 points for the winner, then 28 points for second place, 21, 15, 10, 7, 4, 2, and 1 point for 9th place.
Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.
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