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Stage 16 » Pinzolo › Aprica (177k)
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Only 177km in length today, but this is a monster mountain stage today. Straight after the rest day and with 5 categorised climbs and over 4500m of vertical climbing anyone who does not have strong legs could see their GP hopes ended by this stage. We start in Pinzolo in Trentino in the Northern Italian Alps and head West to Aprica, a town, ski resort and eponymous pass in Lombardy. Today's route has 2x Cat 3s, 2x Cat 2s and a Cat 1 climb. Starting in Pinzolo the peloton immediately head upwards, again taking the Campo Carlo Magno climb (Cat 2) which the riders will be familiar with having taken most of it yesterday on the way up to Madonna Di Campiglio. We descend into Dimaro and then climb the Cat 2 Passo Del Tonale.
The Passo Del Tonale is a fairly steady climb, 15km long with an average gradient of just over 6%. The Passo del Tonale is crested with still only 55km gone, and already the climbing could see a large grupetto formed, but there are still 3 more categorised climbs and still 120km to go. We descend through Ponte Di Legno and Edolo and take the Aprica for the first time through Santicolo. There are gradients of 15% on the early slopes but in reality this is a fairly easy climb thereafter, rarely going beyond 5%. We pass Corteno Golgi and follow the ss39. We go over the finish line for the first time at the summit of Aprica. Many of the sprinters will want to climb off here, but we still have 75km to go and lots more climbing.
We have a wide and fast descent that gets narrower and more technical towards Stazzona. After a brief flat section we head to the Mortirolo climb, from the traditional Mazzo di Valtellina side. The Mortirolo climb is awarded this year's "Pantani Montagna" in memory of his 1994 stage win here. The Mortirolo is an absolute beast, 12km lng at an average of almost 11%. It has an awful middle section with about 6km at over 12% with peaks of 18%. The descent from the Mortirolo is technical on a narrowed roadway in the first section. This leads to Monno and then to Edolo before we again take the final 14km to Aprica.
The finale is uphill all the way to the line. The peloton again take the very steep section between Edolo and Santicolo but the gradient then eases off again, dropping to 5% for the last 5km and only 2% for the last 500m. The finish line is on a slight uphill gradient on a 7.5km wide asphalt road.
Aprica has been a stage finish 7 times previously, including 6 times since 1990. The most recent winner here was Michele Scarponi, who won Stage 19 in 2010.
This could be a stage that the breakaway can win, so we should possibly look for excellent climbers who are not a threat on the GC like Przemyslaw Niemiec.
Route
Profile
Only 177km in length today, but this is a monster mountain stage today. Straight after the rest day and with 5 categorised climbs and over 4500m of vertical climbing anyone who does not have strong legs could see their GP hopes ended by this stage. We start in Pinzolo in Trentino in the Northern Italian Alps and head West to Aprica, a town, ski resort and eponymous pass in Lombardy. Today's route has 2x Cat 3s, 2x Cat 2s and a Cat 1 climb. Starting in Pinzolo the peloton immediately head upwards, again taking the Campo Carlo Magno climb (Cat 2) which the riders will be familiar with having taken most of it yesterday on the way up to Madonna Di Campiglio. We descend into Dimaro and then climb the Cat 2 Passo Del Tonale.
The Passo Del Tonale is a fairly steady climb, 15km long with an average gradient of just over 6%. The Passo del Tonale is crested with still only 55km gone, and already the climbing could see a large grupetto formed, but there are still 3 more categorised climbs and still 120km to go. We descend through Ponte Di Legno and Edolo and take the Aprica for the first time through Santicolo. There are gradients of 15% on the early slopes but in reality this is a fairly easy climb thereafter, rarely going beyond 5%. We pass Corteno Golgi and follow the ss39. We go over the finish line for the first time at the summit of Aprica. Many of the sprinters will want to climb off here, but we still have 75km to go and lots more climbing.
We have a wide and fast descent that gets narrower and more technical towards Stazzona. After a brief flat section we head to the Mortirolo climb, from the traditional Mazzo di Valtellina side. The Mortirolo climb is awarded this year's "Pantani Montagna" in memory of his 1994 stage win here. The Mortirolo is an absolute beast, 12km lng at an average of almost 11%. It has an awful middle section with about 6km at over 12% with peaks of 18%. The descent from the Mortirolo is technical on a narrowed roadway in the first section. This leads to Monno and then to Edolo before we again take the final 14km to Aprica.
The finale is uphill all the way to the line. The peloton again take the very steep section between Edolo and Santicolo but the gradient then eases off again, dropping to 5% for the last 5km and only 2% for the last 500m. The finish line is on a slight uphill gradient on a 7.5km wide asphalt road.
Aprica has been a stage finish 7 times previously, including 6 times since 1990. The most recent winner here was Michele Scarponi, who won Stage 19 in 2010.
This could be a stage that the breakaway can win, so we should possibly look for excellent climbers who are not a threat on the GC like Przemyslaw Niemiec.
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Bugger, didn't realise that about Danielson 
My main man Niemiec and also Zardini make the break
My main man Niemiec and also Zardini make the break
Hesjedal could not be good for the break, hes "only" 11min down on GC, and 1min on top 10.
Not sure this break is going to stick anyway with Hesjedal in it
Hesjedal isn't a gc threat - well not to Tinkoff anyway
Not to Tinkoff, but is a threat to top 10 and to top5 if it wins 4-5min
Hesjedal off the front. Tinkoff clearly don't want the break to go too far.
Hesjedal goes alone. I love this guy, but its a crazy effort going alone with 75km to go
This is interesting. We're going to have the original breakaway, Astana group and Katusha group all come together about 45 seconds ahead of the Tinkoff group.
a few more kilometers in the flat and Contador would be done, Tinkoff has only one rider left to help him! Good to him that Mortirolo is coming soon
Yes think he should be able to bridge across fairly easily once the road starts to go up. Taking its toll though, he's down to just Mick in that group from the look of things.
This will be at least 1 minute at the start of mortirolo! Will be hard to be back
Not sure Contador should be worried on current form he should be able to skip up this climb a couple of minutes faster than anyone else.
Reckon Bertie is properly going to throw his toys out of the pram here
What happens when he gets back on? Aru to attack immediately? Or Bertie to fly past the Astana group? 
Just when you think you've seen it all in this Giro it just gets more mental...
Well the winner of this stage is going to be riding under a soviet licence. Only Kruiswijk left?
Aru has to go before Contador joins. This is AST's best chance, they should gamble, and if Aru falls apart, so be it.
But looks a lot that Aru is trying to follow Landa, buts its hard! Landa should go for it
Landa would have put minutes in to Contador here if he didn't have to wait for Aru all the time. Contador said yesterday Landa is the strongest rider at the moment shame he is being held back by Aru.
Really impressed with Kruiswijk here.
The pace Astana are going Hesjedal is going to get back.
The pace Astana are going Hesjedal is going to get back.
If Kruiswijk can stick with Bertie to the top, he may descend better?
Hesjedal back on with Aru, I've backed the big Canadian at 50/1.
Landa has everything to win the stage. Only needs to follow Contador.
Hesjedal should be the best descender here, so wouldn't be surprised if he's with the leaders as they hit the Aprica.
Hesjedal still has some work to do and Kruiswijk looks fairly comfortable, and can descend quite well, plus he looks hungry-enough to take some chances.
So you think Trofimov and Hesjedal will get back on the descent?
It really depends on how Kruijwick will make the descent... Contador and Landa wont risk anything.
If that GPS is right and they are a minute behind I can't see it.
Then again if the descent is wet it's all in play again.
Then again if the descent is wet it's all in play again.
This gps is rubbish
it showed contador is 50 seconds behind
but in reality he was about 10 seconds behind
it showed contador is 50 seconds behind
but in reality he was about 10 seconds behind
Lay contador again today
landa looks stronger and he doesnt have to win
landa looks stronger and he doesnt have to win
yes GPS is rubbish since the beggining. Trofimov is descending very well.
Landa showed a great turn of speed last time out -- can't ignore him I don't think.
Has Trofimov gone wide at a corner when the camera wasn't on him? Seems a lot further behind the front three than he was.
Strange, Trofimov was seen the 3 upfront and now is 35s...
Bobby Julich has just correctly pointed out that Aru didn't take his bidon when he swapped bikes - no drinks for him til the end now.
Julich: Aru just changed bikes, but he made a mistake… He didn’t take his bottle with him and now will have to finish the race with nothing to drink since he is inside 20km to go. Young riders pay attention to these details even under stressful situations.
This last climb is too draggy to rule out Trofimov, Hesjedal and possibly even Amador. It's not much more than false flat.
Trofimov now 1'15, what's gone on with him? Reckon it must be from front group of 3 now. Gaps seemed much smaller than that before the ad break.
If Aru rejoins the chase 3 than Contador will have to attack his three, I believe.
Nice one MC, the 3.3 avg suits Kruiswiujk, but Landa has the turn of speed.
Trofi, Amador and Hesjedal took some time... maybe they can catch them?
They have put in a lot of work. Only Amador looks fresh to me.
I wouldnt be surprised if krujswik will win
contador wants to defend his jersey and gain some time to aru
landa won yesterday
contador wants to defend his jersey and gain some time to aru
landa won yesterday
Don't particularly like Aru but feel a bit sorry for him here. That feeling of not quite being able to get back on with a group just in front is horrible.
Landa will not give this to anyone, thats for sure. And hes just sitting there for long km, he has everything to win.
The chase group are working quite well but look knackered, and the front three are also working well. Aru is going to lose more time in the last few kms imo
Yep, it's a tough thing to turn yourself inside-out and not make ground to rejoin.
Masterclass from Contador today .....Landa will scoot past them both for the stage after sitting in his hammock for the last hour.
Landa attacks...and the director shows us Aru doing nothing
I think AST have backed the wrong rider for the Giro!
I think AST have backed the wrong rider for the Giro!
Landa won 30sec in 2km... if he attacked in the beggining we never know...
I've been critizing Astana all the stages and now is very clear why!
Landa wouldn't have had permission to attack earlier EB, AST were still banking on Aru to recover, and may have drawn Contador out more.
There'll be some interesting interviews today I imagine
I think the first thing is that Contador is not super-strong, he did a lot of solo work to bridge across to AST, and then didn't kick along with Landa when he attacked. Showed that Bertie does lose some strength, if tested under hard riding.
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