Giro d' Italia 2014

[kosmonooit]

Been travelling and only snatching snippets of the action - what a gemors on the lead up to the finish up top Monte Cassino. I see Cuddles coming under some flack for BMC gaping it after most of the pelaton went down on slippery roads..

 

http://velonews.comp...eup-giro_328060

 

Talking of flack on the slopes of Monte Cassino, what a story there in terms of WWII battle fields. Went there myself a few years ago after reading up about it, just to check it out and the lay of the land. The Generals threw wave after wave of allied soldiers to their slaughter there, eventually the Poles took it. One of the most hectic battles of the war for sure, WWI trench war style And the destruction of the ancient abbey by the allied bombing was deemed by some as unnecessary, the Germans weren't even in it.

 

 

http://youtu.be/Oa-Sh6LdX1w

 

http://youtu.be/_QuL2QXq_nI

 

 

http://www.bbc.com/n...europe-27429702

 

http://www.bbc.com/n...mshire-27412958

Edited May 18, 2014 by kosmonooit

['Dale]

10-day forecasts are predicting favourable weather conditions between now and the big stage on Tuesday 27th that goes over the Gavia and the Stelvio. Crews have been cut the usual deep tunnels through the snow and are keeping the roads open, so 'fingers crossed' for a great spectacle that day.

 

MONTECOPIOLO, Italy (VN) — The Giro d’Italia should be able to reach its high point, Lo Passo dello Stelvio, assuming the weather holds. Race director Mauro Vegni says road crews are cleaning snow off the Stelvio and the Gavia passes for Tuesday’s stage to Val Martello.

 

“We will race the Gavia and the Stelvio, for sure,” Vegni told VeloNews in the early morning sunshine on Saturday. “The forecast is showing an improvement over the next two weeks for Italy. We shouldn’t have any problems.”

 

Vegni sent a photograph to Italy’s RAI television on Friday that made its way around the world via Twitter. Other photographs show the paths lined with snow walls that workers have already cut to reach the passes.

 

The workers are able to cut paths and plow snow quicker than one year ago, when cold weather and rain continued well into spring. The bad weather last year forced organizer RCS Sport to cut short the Galibier stage and cancel the stage over the Gavia and Stelvio to Val Martello.

 

For this coming Tuesday, RCS Sport planned the same route to Val Martello, west of Bolzano. But this time, Vegni said, time and the weather are on their side.

 

“We still have 10 days. The road crews are already working on the roads. If the weather doesn’t change radically, we’re fine,” said Vegni.

 

“The temperature is supposed to rise. We hope that the 10 days of warm weather will help the work they’re doing. The photo I sent to RAI yesterday showed the passage for the cars through the tunnel near the top of Gavia. That’s already cut and ready for the cars and riders to pass.

 

“They just need to continue to work and we need to hope that the weather doesn’t turn for the worse. Already today, though, the road is cleared all the way to the top. We’ve got to remember, these guys are experts at working the roads and cleaning the snow.”

 

Article here.

 

Awesome awesome!!!!

['Dale]

172km remaining from 172km

 

The riders have rolled out in front of large crowds in Lugo and under blissfully sunny skies.

 

['Dale]

 

The summit finish at Sestola could be a lot more difficult than everybody expects. It's has only been given category 2 status, but it is a grinding ascent at the bottom and many believe it should be given a higher categorisation. The riders will be given a little bit of respite as it flattens out towards the top.

['Dale]

162km remaining from 172km

The peloton have completed 10 kilometres and it is still gruppo compatto for now.

 

['Dale]

GO BASSO

['Dale]

 

Cadel Evans currently holds a 57 second advantage over Rigoberto Uran in the general classification. Provided he can stick with his rivals, he should be safe in that jersey, but the tough finish gives the likes of Nairo Quintana a chance to take some time back on the Australian.

['Dale]

157km remaining from 172km

 

The pace is high in the peloton and an escape has not been able to form yet. They are all still together.

 

['Dale]

136km remaining from 172km

 

After 36km of racing we've had a lot of attacks, but the Sky-lead peloton is not letting any of them go. It's all still together at the moment.

 

['Dale]

 

Today's start town was a finish in the 1914 Giro d'Italia. Pierino Albini won on that day in a whopping time of 17 hours 45 minutes 47 seconds.

 

['Dale]

Katusha have had a terrible time at the Giro d'Italia this year.

 

They are three men down and are out of contention in the general classification. Daniel Moreno is one of their best bests for victory and the Spaniard launched a late attack yesterday, but fell short. Despite losing out, Moreno remained upbeat about his performance.

['Dale]

 

There has been a crash in the bunch and the peloton has split. No news as to who has been involved.

 

['Dale]

 

There has been a crash in the bunch and the peloton has split. No news as to who has been involved.

 

['Dale]

 

Yesterday's second placed Robert Kiserlovski is one of the riders now in the second peloton, according to his Trek team.

 

['Dale]

 

Sky still controlling the front of the peloton. They seem reluctant to let anyone go at the moment and we've still got no breakaway.

 

['Dale]

 

We finally have a breakaway forming, with 14 men in it.