Giro d'Italia route 2011

[Flying_Monkey]

The full route has just been announced.

Can I say OMFG?!


If anyone still had any doubt which was the toughest and most exciting of the Grand Tours, then that doubt is over. I am particularly loving the idea of the stage up to Mount Etna on Sicily... and there's hardly a genuinely flat stage anywhere.

 

[dan_bo]

Stage 14 looks like a belter as well- might have to get a dodgy eurodish sorted for that one.

 

[rich p]

It was tough enough last year to kill off the TdF chances of Evans and Basso (and Wiggins? ). I suppose making it tougher (I'm taking your word for it FM!) might put off some big names from participating.
It's become a great race in its own right though.

 

[Keith Oates]

If it does keep the big names away from the race then it's not so good in some ways but the Italian riders in particular may decide to do the Giro and either take a domestique role in the TdF or give it a miss altogether!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chuffy]

I so want to get into the Giro, but there are no books, no tv coverage (that I can get) and no pull out route special posters from UK magazines.

 

[Skip Madness]

This looks like an attempt to make the Tour route look sane. Seriously, 32.4km of flat ITT in the whole race, who's idea was that...

Seven MTFs, a mountain time-trial and two medium mountain stages with uphill finishes. Talk about overkill.

In its favour, the Zoncolan stage should go down as one of the toughest of all time and is well-placed and well-designed. The return of the Finestre will disappoint no-one, the Etna stage is gorgeous, the Montevergine stage is a nice introduction to the bigger stages, and stage five with it's medium mountains and sterrato and stage eleven with it's never-ending undulations will be among the highlights of the race.

But, those numbers just don't stack up. It needs way more ITT kilometres, way fewer MTFs and some more sensible stage designs and designations. The stages to Grossglockner, Nevegal and Macugnaga all seem to be a waste of time (the latter less so than the others, but it's unlikely to be exciting). And the last true flat stage is stage twelve. No sense of balance whatsoever.

This could still be the best GT route of the year, because the Vuelta usually has the weakest design out of all three. But now I'm having to hold out on Unipublic to produce the only remotely coherent grand tour parcours of the 2011 season.

 

[Crankarm]

Killer. Some serious doping will be needed to complete that route .

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I have no doubt... I mean it's insane... so why do I like it so much?

 

[Skip Madness]

The thing is, regardless of how off the end of the scale it is in terms of concept, you can't look at the stages to Orvieto, Etna, Castelfidardo, Zoncolan and Sestriere and not get a kick. Even the stage to Gardeccia, with it's needless MTF which would have looked far more appealing ending off the descent of the Fedaia, is just crazy difficult and could blow apart on the Fedaia on accumulated fatigue. The stage to Sondrio is also not getting much attention, but 245km over Tonale and Aprica with that fabulous little hill and descent at the finish should be a great stage. There are loads of individual bits to love and get excited about, but as a whole route there's just no sense in it whatsoever.

 

[gavintc]

Well, the stage on May 13 is relatively close to where we live, so I now have a date to organise a day off work. It would also be good to try to see some other stages - might squeeze a long weekend away. A weekend in Sicily would be outstanding to watch the Etna stage. Sadly, I missed this year's stage as we had a very busy conference to organise at work.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

All back to Gavin's place!

 

[addictfreak]

Can any of you guys with a little knowledge of the geography of Northern Italy tell me if the route goes any where near Bassanno Del Grappa?

I will be in that area the during the first couple of weeks of May next year (cycling). It would be great to see one of the Grand Tours up close.

 

[rich p]

Can any of you guys with a little knowledge of the geography of Northern Italy tell me if the route goes any where near Bassanno Del Grappa?

I will be in that area the during the first couple of weeks of May next year (cycling). It would be great to see one of the Grand Tours up close.

Staying with Ian? Give him my regards!

Stage 17 starts from Feltre which is about 20 miles north of Bassano.

Stage 16 is an ITT in Nevegal which is about 50 miles from Basano

 

[juanpelota]

The full route has just been announced.

Can I say OMFG?!


If anyone still had any doubt which was the toughest and most exciting of the Grand Tours, then that doubt is over. I am particularly loving the idea of the stage up to Mount Etna on Sicily... and there's hardly a genuinely flat stage anywhere.

Nice one! Now Mrs Pelota and I can book the Easyjet flights.

 

[addictfreak]

Staying with Ian? Give him my regards!

Stage 17 starts from Feltre which is about 20 miles north of Bassano.

Stage 16 is an ITT in Nevegal which is about 50 miles from Basano

Yes that's the plan, and hoping to be there at the same time as the Giro. Just depends if my mates and I can get leave at the same time!