If you didn’t know it had started, the bad news is you’ve already missed the first 5 stages which started last Saturday 11th May.
But so far only relatively sporting courses that have produced bunch sprint finishes, 21 states in all so the good news is lots of fun to come still, finishing at Verona on Sunday 2nd June.
A few brief catch up bullets to bring the news up to date:
Last year’s winner, Chris Froome is not competing in the Giro this year. He’s saving it for the TdF.
2017 winner, Tom Dumoulin has injured a knee after a crash on stage 4, he quid 1.5 km into stage 5.
The first 5 stages have been mired by crashes, but luckily only a few retirees so far.
Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, is the sprinter to beat in this years Giro, he’s won two so far
General classification after stage five
Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, in 19-35-04
Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott, at 25 seconds
Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 39s
Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 44s
Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at same time
Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 49s
Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 55s
Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 56s
Bob Jungels (Lux) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 1-02
Davide Formolo (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 1-06
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UK telly Freeview: Giro d’Italia Highlights
Channel 37 QUEST 19:00hr
& one hour later repeat: Channel 76 QUEST+1 20:00hr
Channel 37 QUEST 01:00hr
& one hour later repeat: Channel 76 QUEST+1 02:00hr
As an aside I wonder if Tom DuMoulin now becomes a much bigger TdF threat if his injury is not too bad.
As for the Giro I hope Yates keeps his powder dry for a brutal final week. There are quite a lot of TT miles to go though if Roglicz can limit losses on the steep stuff.
I agree about Yates. Last year the pressure of wearing the maglia rosa for so long got to him imo, but what a ride for two weeks.
Not seen much of this year’s giro yet unfortunately.
My money’s on Nibali though…heart ruling head perhaps
Vincenzo Nibali seems to be very competitive this season so Simon Yates has a tough mad right behind him in the GC. Hopefully he can make up some time on Primoz Roglic circa 35 seconds seems doable, perhaps?
It has been an interesting race so far, as you say Ackermann winning 2 is a possible star in the making as long as he has not been on the lucozade. I just hope the sun starts shining soon !
Yesterday was an absolute stinker with torrential rain during all of the ‘highlights’ programme I watched. There was an incredible stat provided on facebook y’day with Ackermann allegedly putting out 1,500+ watts on the final sprint. I didn’t think that was possible!
Certainly looks at the moment like a three way struggle between Roglic, Yates and Nibali - the first major mountain challenge may well shake the order up!
As to sprinter power, it is truly incredible. Cavendish was measured over 1800 watts more than 10 years ago. Sagan reckons he is well over 2kw…well he would wouldn’t he The Man !!!
Thursday 16th May:
Todays Stage six and seven are both days featuring tough hills. The former, from Cassino to San Giovanni Rotondo, covers 238km with a steep climb less than 40km from the finish.
Giro leading Jersey colours explained:
The leader’s jersey at the Giro d’Italia is the maglia rosa ( pink )
The sprinter’s jersey – the maglia ciclamino – ( purple )
Leading climber - maglia azzurra ( blue )
The best young rider wears the maglia bianca. ( white )
An amazing stage 6, a breakaway finishing over seven minutes up, such a gap the general classification is now totally made up with members of todays breakaway!
Who was expecting that?
A lot of stages to come though, the mountain stages should cause the main contenders to float back up the leader board again, but they have their work cut out : )
Giro d’Italia 2019 stage six: Cassino to San Giovanni Rotondo (238km)
Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, in 5-45-01
Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at 5 seconds
José Joaquín Rojas (Esp) Movistar, at 38s
General classification after stage six
Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, in 25-22-00
Giovanni Carboni (Ita) Bardiani-CSF, at 1-41
Nans Peters (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2-09
José Joaquín Rojas (Esp) Movistar, at 2-12
Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 219
Amaro Antunes (Por) CCC Team, at 2-45
Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, at 3-14
Pieter Serry (Bel) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 3-25
Giro d’Italia 2019, stage eight: Tortoreto to Pesaro (239km)
Caleb Ewan (Aus) Lotto-Soudal, in 5-43-32
Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck – Quick-Step
Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
General classification after stage eight
Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, in 35-13-06
José Joaquín Rojas (Esp) Movistar, at 1-32
Giovanni Carboni (Ita) Bardiani-CSF, at 1-41
Nans Peters (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2-09
Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ, at 2-17
Amaro Antunes (Por) CCC Team, at 2-45
Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, at 3-14
Pieter Serry (Bel) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 3-25
Andrey Amador (CRC) Movistar, at 3-27
Sam Oomen (Ned) Sunweb, at 4-57
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Sunday 19th May - Stage 9
On stage nine we see the second ITT, and the only occasion the Giro leaves Italy. The tricky course comes in two parts – undulating before an uphill run to the line over the 34.7km from Riccione to San Marino.
Todays individual time trial will be well worth watching, will be interesting to see what kind of bikes they’ll be using for the uphill course.
The results should bring in changes to the top ten leader board : )
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Monday 20th May is a rest day, Tuesday and Wednesday both flat as a pancake course to very hilly on Thursday to lead us up to the serious mountain stages later in the week!
A few changes to the general classification after Sundays time trial stage.
Fantastic win for Roglič despite very wet conditions.
Very disappointing ride from Yates, clearly not his day, down to 24th position on GC.
Superb performances from Mollema and Nibali - both back up the leader board but not quite top ten : )
(Apparently Mollema set the fastest time going up the climb part of the stage)
Individual Time Trial, stage nine: Riccione to San Marino (34.8km)
Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, in 51-52
Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 11 seconds
Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 1-00
Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 1-05
Tanel Kangert (Est) EF Education First, at 1-10
Chad Haga (USA) Sunweb, at 1-14
Bob Jungels (Lux) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 1-16
Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education First, at 1-30
Pello Bilbao (Esp) Astana, at 1-43
Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermic, at 1-52
General classification after stage nine
Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, in 36-08-32
Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, at 1-50
Nans Peters (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2-21
José Joaquín Rojas (Esp) Movistar, at 2-33
Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, at 2-36
Since Monday’s rest day, there has been two days of very flat stages, bunch sprint finishes and with Groupama’s team sprinter Arnaud Demare wining Stage 10, and Lotto Soudal sprinter Caleb Ewan winning Stage 11.
Today’s 159 km stage 12 heads towards the mountains with just one serious looking 1st category climb today which starts approx’ 40 km before the finish. The climb is mainly around 10% with some steeper parts of 14%. This will split the field up and will present an opportunity for a climber stage win at Pinerolo : )
An exciting finish to Thursdays Stage 12, after a week and a half of watching the heavier and more muscular bodied sprinters decide the winner, it’s now the turn of the petit and lightweight climbers to show their metal.
Gianluca Brambilla [ Trek - Segafredo ] looked the favourite on the closing kilometres but things didn’t go his way on the final 200 meters. The Trek team have been keeping their powder dry for the mountains, and have many good climbers in the team and are hungry for a stage win.
We also have a new leader in the malia rose, and a big shake-up in the top ten : )
Giro d’Italia 2019, stage 12: Cuneo to Pinerolo (158km)
Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 3-41-49
Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain-Merida
Edward Dunbar (Irl) Team Ineos, all at same time
Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 2 seconds
Eros Capecchi (Ita) Deceuninck-Quick-Step, at 6s
Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 25s
Matteo Montaguti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, at 34s
Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 2-36
Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, at same time
Manuel Senni (Ita) Bardiani-CSF, at 2-38
General classification after stage 12
Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, 48-49-40
Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, at 4-07
Valerio Conti (Ita) UAE Team Emirates, at 4-51
Eros Capecchi (Ita) Deceuninck-Quick-Step, at 5-02
Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida, at 5-51
Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo, at 6-02
Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 7-00
Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Movistar, at 7-23
Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar, at 7-30
Hugh John Carthy (GBr) EF Education First, at 7-33