This Giro D’Italia started out in Ireland with three stages
to set the tone of the general classification and now we have three stages in
the Alps to decide the destination of the Magalia Rosa. But before that, we
must look at the amazing queen stage that turned the race upside down and the
controversy that surrounded it.
The was the question of weather the weather – insert
wordmanship of the century award – would take out the explosive stage to Val
Martello and in the end the question was both yes and no; Yes in the fact that
the filthy conditions made all the difference, and no in the fact that the
140km epic went ahead despite the atrocious weather. Special kudos must go to
Dario Cataldo for his attack up the Stelvio that saw him take the Cima Coppi,
but it was from then on when the classification and the race changed. It was
generally accepted – or so the story goes – that the descent would be
neutralised, and motorbikes with red flags, as one can see from the picture,
were very much present at the beginning of the descent for certain. And then
the confusion began to reign. Dario Cataldo, from the lead, pushed at his own
pace. The favourites came as one to the top of the climb although many stopped
to take on food and clothing, and somewhere inbetween the end of the hairpins
and the flatter, wider, more open roads, Quitana, Rolland and crucially Gorka Izagirre and Romain Sicard, got away to
quickly get away from the main contenders to the tune of 2 minutes and pass and
then expel the remnants of the earlier breakway, coming to the foot of Val
Martello with 2 minutes in hand. From then on the three rode to the summit,
Nairo pushing on hard before Pierre Rolland eventually cracked and then Ryder
Hesjedal was distanced, Quintana coming to take the win through the vicious
hairpins and putting more than 4 minutes into most of the main favourites,
taking the pink jersey by one and a half minutes.
Messages about just what happened on the descent have been conflicting
from the moment they passed the finish line. The Inner Ring describes it best
here with another great post although there are all sorts of scenarios and
conflicting quotes; La Gazzetta quoted ex-pro Marco Velo, who was riding in one
of the lead motorcycles down the Stelvio, that Quintana was urging the driver
to go faster through the corners, and eventually led the others past the
motorcycle lower down on the Stelvio while, as Velo claims, the red flag was
still up. However there are differing quotes that Quitana was following Pierre
Rolland, and that he also didn’t’ attack at all, but then see this from
director Mauro Vegini below:
“We never spoke about neutralising those hairpins or that
part of the course. I’m sorry that this misunderstanding came about. It doesn’t
seem to me that race radio spoke about neutralisation. Maybe things could have
been clearer but I'd say that a rider in a jersey should have looked for more
information and not taken the risk of assuming descent was neutralised."
Whatever one thinks, you cannot deny the brilliance of
Quitana’s climbing. It’s worth noting that on an individual basis he climbed
the Martello nearly 2 minutes faster; An impressive stat on it’s own before you
consider that Rolland and Hesjedal did no work through the climb, Nairo himself
pushing onwards from start to finish. Opinions will always differ but to me if
he does take the Magalia Rosa he will be a worthy winner.
The hairpins put Quintana in a league of his own and they
did the same for the favourites, with Wilco Kelderman taking time on everyone
and Domenico Pozzovivo’s accelerations brining back a little time on Fabio Aru,
who took nearly half a minute on Rafal Makja with Rigoberto Uran and Cadel
Evans further back.
The staggered gaps leave with a situation where third to
ninth are separated by just a minute, with three mountain stages still to come;
If you don’t believe that Nairo can be overhauled by Uran and that Rigoberto
won’t lose his podium spot, then there’s a huge amount to play for today.
Today’s stage is more rolling than most we’ve seen but
another brutal alpine test, with the first 55km’s being a gradual uphill,
leading towards Passo San Pellegrino (left), a test of strength and stamina in the
early parts of the stage, a smooth and steady start for 8km before things start
kicking up seriously for the extremely testing 5km stretch that brings the
climb to it’s peak. The favourites are likely to stay together here but in the
fight for the KOM only the very strongest are likely to be able to make it to
the top so expect to see proper mountain climbers get into the breakaway today.
We then have a steep descent – although not likely to be as controversial or
dangerous as Tuesday – and rolling roads until we hit the Passo Del Redbus.
This is listed as a category 2 but it’s a small wall, with the lightest section
before the end being 7% and the climb starting out with 15% sections. 30kms
from the finish, it’s stregtically placed but unlikely to be a launchpad,
although it will make for compelling watching. 
After 30km, we reach Rifugio Panarotta (left). A long, drawn out
climb, this is not the kind of test we’ve seen of Montecapione or Val Martello,
with a crescendo towards a brutal 12% average over 2.5kms before things “drop”
to 8% and then for the last kilometre the run in in is fast compared to these
sections.
Time gaps today may not be as significant as in previous
days before the time trial, although it would seem likely that attacks are
going to come thick and fast in the final 5km. The early nature of the stage
with a category 1 climb after a ttotally uphill start is likely to tempt some
sort of breakaway into going and today’s rolling terrain is not going to be the
easiest for the Peloton to chase, so it makes sense to have riders onside.
Julian Arredondo’s mountain lead is a large one but not secure just yet so it
would be a surprise not to see him in an early move and he’s likely to be the
strongest there; 28/1 with Boylesports’ 4 places seems overly generous. Team
Colombia are yet to get the stage win they prize so dearly but with Robinson
Chapalaud and Jarlinson Pantano, have two men in the mix. Expect both to get
away, with Chapalaud 20 points bigger despite being ahead in the
classification, making him the second breakaway choice.
Should the favourites get the prize then Quitnana is an
obvious favourite but he has 1’40 and while a stage win would be a mental boost
to prove his victory valid, there’s a mountain time trial and Monte Zolocan to
come. Pierre Rolland has served us well and now has a shot at the podium,
although the way he cracked from the leading group was concerning; Still, today
is easier. Wilco Kelderman, slowly but surely, has ridden better and better
through the Giro and has proven about the hardest of anyone to drop but Nairo.
Third on the opening summit finish, he got away from everyone to land fourth on
Val Martello and may have it in mind today to try and take time before
tomorrow, where he is strong against the clock.
Rafal Majka lost time yesterday and the Dutchman, along with
others, may be encouraged to go again at him on the steepest slopes possible as
the climb ramps up to the finish. This also suits Domenico Pozzovivo, who has apparently
been struggling from a cold – notice how AG2R haven’t hauled him into position –
but looked good yesterday in distancing several of his counterparts – and ahead
of the time trial (noticing his good performance up the first climb, and also
in last year’s Vuelta) taking as much time as possible is in his interests. He
looks on the big side at 14/1 with Boylesports.
Advice
1 pt each/way Domeinco Pozzovivo (14/1 Boylesports)
1 pt each/way Julian Arrendonod (28/1 Boylesports)
1 pt each/way Wilco Kelderman (33/1 Boylesports)
1 pt each/way Robinson Chapalaud (66/1 Boylesports)
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