93rd Giro d'Italia - Parcours Preview Week 2
The 93rd Giro d'Italia - 3,416.5 kms, 4 Time Trials, Five
Mountain Stages, Five Summit Finishes and One Maglia Rosa: it's the first Grand
Tour of the Year, it's the 2010 Giro d'Italia - Week Two Parcours Preview:
Stages 9 to 15
© 2010
Gazzetta dello Sport
With eight stages completed, including two Time Trials, a host of flat stages
and one mountain-top finish , week one of the Giro d'Italia is history. The
peloton now turns its attention to the second week of the race. It's a
predominately flat week, with a couple of hilly stages to warm the legs up for
the sting in the tail that comes at the week's end. Here then is the Daily
Peloton's guide to the second week of the 2010 Giro d'Italia.
Giro d'Italia
- Parcours Preview Week 1, Stages 1 to 8
Route Map
Graphic ©
Giro d'Italia 2010
- Gazzetta dello Sport
Stage 9; Monday 17 May: Frosinone
- Cava De' Tirreni 187 km
Graphic © 2010 Giro
d'Italia
After yesterday's gruelling 21km climb to Monte Terminillo the organisers of
the Giro have been kind to the riders, for now at least, giving them at least
some respite by offering up one of the easier days on the race. Starting in
Frosinone the route takes the riders directly south to Cava De' Tirreni. At
187km it is one of the shorter stages in the race (excluding Time Trials only
five finish short of today's187km) and it is also one of the flattest. There is
barely a pimple on the route so we are in prime sprinter territory here.
Undoubtedly an escape will form. Equally sure is that the teams of the peloton's
best sprinters will effectively manage the break to ensure it comes back at
exactly the right time. Put your house on a bunch sprint for the line in Cava
De' Terreni.
Stage 10; Tuesday 18 May:
Avellino - Bitonto 230 km.
Graphic © 2010 Giro
d'Italia
Almost right from the off today's route climbs, taking the riders up to 687m
before gradually taking them back down over the following 50km or so. Then the
road kicks up again taking the peloton up to the 668m Vallico dell'Imbandia.
From then the rest of the stage can be best described as a gentle rise followed
by a 50km gentle descent to the finish. There is a gentle kick up right at the
finish but nothing that should prevent the second mass dash for the line in as
many days.
Stage 11 Wednesday 19 May: Lucera -
L'Aquila 262 km
Graphic © 2010 Giro
d'Italia
A highly poignant stage as the finish town of L'Aquila was one of the hardest
hit in the Abruzzo earthquake of last year. At 262km it is also the longest
stage of the 2010 Giro and will certainly be a testing affair. Starting in the
town of Lucera, there is barely a flat section of road on the route to L'Aquila.
Whilst not a huge mountain stage when compared with what is to come, the stage
features three classified climbs including the 10km long Rionero Sannitico which
features stretches of 11%. The rolling terrain will make the stage ripe for an
attack, especially with the Capo de Valle, the third and final classified climb,
coming a tantalisingly 40km or so from the finish. Expect Abruzzo based Acqua e
Sapone to be particularly animated today: the stage looks tailor made for
someone of Stefano Garzelli's abilities.
Stage 12 Thursday 20 May: Citta
Sant'Angelo - Porto Recanati 206 km
Graphic © 2010 Giro
d'Italia
With the route now taking the peloton north there will be a feeling among the
riders that they are finally heading for home, but there remains well over a
third of the race still to go. After the rolling roads of inland Abruzzo, today
the riders take a long flat road up the coast for 100km before heading inland
and completing a loop and finishing in the coastal town of Porto-Recanati. A
flat day with little to trouble the riders, a short, sharp climb 11km from the
end might encourage an attack, but the probability is we will see the third
bunch sprint of the week.
Stage 13 Friday 21 May: Porto
Recanati - Cesanatico 223 km
Graphic © 2010 Giro
d'Italia
Today the race starts in yesterday's finish town – Porto Recanati, and is
strikingly similar in nature to the previous day's ride. A long drag north,
hugging the coast, for over 100km is punctuated by a detour inland before a
finish in the coastal town of Cesantatico. It's a tougher stage than
yesterday's, at 223km it is over 30kms longer and towards the end the terrain
gets noticeably tougher. But with a week of mountains looming ominously on the
horizon, the sprinters in the bunch will be eyeing up what is their penultimate
chance of a win. It is unlikely the sprinter's teams will let a breakaway or
attack stick meaning it's another mass battle for the line. It will be another
poignant day for the race as the Giro will be sure to pay its respects to local
hero and Italian cycling legend, the late Marco Pantani.
Stage 14 Saturday 22 May:
Ferrar - Asolo 205 km
Graphic © 2010 Giro
d'Italia
Two weeks into the race and now the fun can really start. This race is so
back-loaded with exciting mountain stages that it's a surprise the race itself
doesn't topple over. Stage 14, from Ferrar to Asolo, kicks things off nicely.
The initial 122km of the 205km stage are straightforward and simple before the
peloton hit an appetiser of three little kicks in the road to get the blood
pumping. Then the stage's main course is thrust upon us: the 1675m Monte Grappa.
Described delicately by Cycle Sport Magazine as “a pig of a climb”, the Grappa
is just shy of a 19 km slog with a maximum gradient of 14%.
There follows a fast, 20 km descent and a 16 km flat dash to the finish. The
Grappa will be sure to shred the peloton to pieces and the first over the top
stands a great chance of staying away to the finish. But with an even more
difficult day to come tomorrow, it is likely the main contenders will be content
to bide their time and mark each other.
Stage 15 Sunday 23 May: Mestre -
Monte Zoncolon 218 km
Graphic © 2010 Giro
d'Italia
Thanks to the early first rest day on day four, this is the 12th consecutive
stage and the final one before the riders get a well-earned second rest day. It
is also the hardest of the race so far, with a summit finish on the dreaded
Monte Zoncolan. Again, the initial 100 kilometers represent the lull before the
storm with a gradual drag up to 200 m from sea-level. Then comes the first of
three categorised climbs before Zoncolan itself. First up is the 955m Sella
Chianzutan after 140kms, followed by the 1069m Passo Duron and finally the 958m
Sella Valcalda. And then comes the big one.
Standing at 1730 meters (5,200 feet), Monte Zoncolon, along with the Angliru
in Spain, is widely regarded as the toughest climb in cycling. It is 10 km long
but it's severity is in the murderously steep pitch at which the road rears up.
With long stretches of over 15%, a maximum of 22% as well as other sections at
18% and 20% respectively, it is a climb that tests even the greatest of
climbers.
It will be packed to the rafters with the Tifosi, roaring on their heroes.
For many cycling's true stage is in the mountains and there is perhaps no
greater stage than the Zoncolan. There will be pain and sweat, suffering and
desperation, agony and torment but, at the climax, for one rider, there will be
glory. It should be one of the most spectacular days of cycling to be seen this
year. One simply not to be missed.
Be sure to stay with the Daily Peloton for live stage tickers, reports,
reactions and all the news from this year's Giro d'Italia.
Check back soon for the final part of the Daily Peloton's preview to the
parcours of the 93rd Giro d' Italia.
93rd Giro
d'Italia - Parcours Preview Week 1
93rd Giro
d'Italia - Parcours Preview Week 2
93rd Giro
d'Italia - Favorites Preview
2010 Giro
d'Italia Team & Rider Start List
2010 Giro
d'Italia - At a Glance
93rd Giro
d'Italia - Start List
Celebrating our tenth year!
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