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Stage 19 » Gravellona Toce › Cervinia (236k)
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This is the Queen Stage of the 2015 Giro D'Italia and it's a long old stage with plenty of climbing. There's 4,800m of climbing here - 4 categorised climbs, a Cat 3 early on & 4x big Cat 1s that all come in the final 100km. We start in Gravellona Toce on the shore of Lake Maggiore, round the corner from yesterday's finish town of Verbania. The route heads Southwards at first, before bending West towards Biella and the first climb of the day, the Croce Serra. Other than that one relatively straightforward climb, the first 130km of this stage are pretty flat. We enter the Aosta valley and the road starts to get a little more lumpy. There are a number of uncategorised climbs before we get to Cat 1 St. Barthélemy.
St. Barthélemy is 16.5km at 6.7%. The harshest slopes are on the lower slopes. The gradient barely drops below 7.5% for the first 7km, before easing off a little in the middle. It gets steeper again on the higher slopes before flattening out towards the top. The descent from St. Barthélemy is long and winding, and it goes straight into the second Cat 1 climb, St. Pantaléon.
St. Pantaléon is the hardest climb of the three - 16.5km at 7.2% average. The gradients remain remarkably consistent throughout this climb but the relentless nature of it will really take its toll on the legs. There are a couple of areas where the gradient levels out, but they are nothing more than a brief chance to grab some breath before the gradient ramps up again. The last 2km of this climb are at 9% and should really hurt. There is a much shorter descent off St. Pantaléon before the peloton tackle the 3rd and final Cat 1 climb of the day, Cervinia.
Cervinia is 19km at 5% gradient, although that average is brought down by several flat sections. The middle section of this climb is hard, with 8.5km averaging 7.7%. The route goes up all the way to the line, with the steepest sections up to 12% as it goes through the town of Valtournenche. There are two tunnels in the last 6km. The gradient flattens out with 2,000m to go. The home straight is 450m long on Via G Rey, with a gradient of 4%. Alberto Contador has been by far the best climber in the race but does not yet have a stage to his name. A win in the Queen Stage woudl be a fitting way of putting that right.
Route
Profile
This is the Queen Stage of the 2015 Giro D'Italia and it's a long old stage with plenty of climbing. There's 4,800m of climbing here - 4 categorised climbs, a Cat 3 early on & 4x big Cat 1s that all come in the final 100km. We start in Gravellona Toce on the shore of Lake Maggiore, round the corner from yesterday's finish town of Verbania. The route heads Southwards at first, before bending West towards Biella and the first climb of the day, the Croce Serra. Other than that one relatively straightforward climb, the first 130km of this stage are pretty flat. We enter the Aosta valley and the road starts to get a little more lumpy. There are a number of uncategorised climbs before we get to Cat 1 St. Barthélemy.
St. Barthélemy is 16.5km at 6.7%. The harshest slopes are on the lower slopes. The gradient barely drops below 7.5% for the first 7km, before easing off a little in the middle. It gets steeper again on the higher slopes before flattening out towards the top. The descent from St. Barthélemy is long and winding, and it goes straight into the second Cat 1 climb, St. Pantaléon.
St. Pantaléon is the hardest climb of the three - 16.5km at 7.2% average. The gradients remain remarkably consistent throughout this climb but the relentless nature of it will really take its toll on the legs. There are a couple of areas where the gradient levels out, but they are nothing more than a brief chance to grab some breath before the gradient ramps up again. The last 2km of this climb are at 9% and should really hurt. There is a much shorter descent off St. Pantaléon before the peloton tackle the 3rd and final Cat 1 climb of the day, Cervinia.
Cervinia is 19km at 5% gradient, although that average is brought down by several flat sections. The middle section of this climb is hard, with 8.5km averaging 7.7%. The route goes up all the way to the line, with the steepest sections up to 12% as it goes through the town of Valtournenche. There are two tunnels in the last 6km. The gradient flattens out with 2,000m to go. The home straight is 450m long on Via G Rey, with a gradient of 4%. Alberto Contador has been by far the best climber in the race but does not yet have a stage to his name. A win in the Queen Stage woudl be a fitting way of putting that right.
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Replies: 56
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This should be fun...
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I'm taking a few at big prices who could get in the break. Atapuma 50/1, Niemiec 80/1, Uran 100/1, Bongiorno 150/1 & Herrada 250/1. Also done a bit on Niemiec, Elissonde, Uran and a bigger stake on Ixausti on here to trade.
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Same here. Probably the same scenario than yesterday, even though this stage is a lot harder. I took Niemiec@100 Bongiorno @120 Polanc @150 Herrada @260, Uran @120 and Elissonde.
The difference here is the mountains classification. Intxausti (has been quiet for a while) and Betancur may be in the mix, and Kruisjwick is the lead but has a GC position that dont allow him to go to the break. Hesjedal may want something from the stage, has he looks very strong in this final week. Tinkoff and Astana will be happy to a allow a breakaway and cant see anybody chasing such a long stage. And the first climb is 150km in the stage, where the breakaway can already have a big gap. Good luck all. |
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And i went (again) with my "mate" Andre Cardoso. He's in good form but didnt go for a stage yet... maybe today.
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Breakaway, but Intxausti not there, and Visconti is a threat to TOP 10...
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Doesn't look like this breakaway is going to work out with the pace the peloton are setting. Contador is bound to trade much shorter than 3.0-3.5
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Well, it really depends if Astana can maintain this for the next climb, because they are down to 4 riders, and 2 of them wont work (Aru-Landa) and the 4 upfront are keeping a good rithym and can risk in the descent. Lets see what happens in the next climb, wich is the harder one. Landa shoukd try to attack from long range to test Contador
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i took Trofimov @32, is a fast descender and he can hold on on the last climb for sure and i also like Hesjedal.
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Wrong about Astana, they still have there 3 more in the back
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Kuijswick goes on the attack, with Inxausti on his wheels
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2 mniutes is nothing, will dissolve quickly on the steep slopes of this penultimate climb
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Contador is too short @2.6 for that last climb. The last 2km are almost flat.
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Contador has come out with strong intentions for the stage win prior to the start, and I think what yesterday was all about was him testing himself for today. It's the queen stage as MC states, and he'll want to raise his arms on a mountaintop finish to confirm his win on GC. Winning on GC without winning a stage is not a prestigious win, and top class riders like Bertie are aware of such things, and I think he'll want to put to put himself into some hurt for stage glory.
Amador won this stage in 2012, so he will know it well and may show something, but I'm looking for Contador to win this, and certainly trade odds on. Good luck to all, SP |
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Visconti goes solo and puts 40sec in the peloton. Kochetkov chasing
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Pace no more than steady from the bunch so far, hope we get the chance to lay Visconti cheap
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And Visconti is cooked. Astana wont have many mens to final, could be an interesting final for mens like Hesjedal, Trofimov, Kruijswijk,etc
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Visconti won on the Galibier in 2013 edition of the Giro, won it well, but this headwind is not helping him much. If he can get it to 3 mins by the final climb there may be some interest in his price and cheap lay opportunities may become available as AST drive the pace and pull the armchair for Contador.
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Mens like riders!
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Mens like riders!
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I better get the fred up for Stage 20
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Your hard work for this forum is not going unobserved and unappreciated, MC. Thanks heaps mate.
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yap, good work marychain ;)
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AST increasing the speed from tempo riding.
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Zeits and Cataldo putting the pace. Then Tiralongo and Kangert for the last climb
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Gap has come down dramatically against Visconti. Looked to be labouring initially, but then rode quite hard toward the top.
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...And the Aru and Landa dynamic?
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I think we will see each one making their own race. Landa for the stage and Aru to keep top3
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Visconti descended quite well, but I still think he'll need 3 mins at a minimum at the base of the final climb to have a chance.
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I agree with that!
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What is Hesjedal doing so back in the group? :S
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Visconti didn't get it, more like less than 2 mins, and suddenly about 1.30 -- race going against him now.
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The steepest part of the climb is at 9-10km to the finish.
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I think AST may still have a good compliment so probably not the part for Bertie to attack. Looks like they'll have Visconti by then, though.
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Felinne still there, what a great ride
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Visconti has blown up -- game over -- lowest looked like 6s.
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Open finish to everyone, climb is not hard enough to make a selection
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Bertie in the AST armchair now, forgoing his two trusted teammates, who are sticking on behind him.
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Boom!
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Hesjedal, thats my boy
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