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Tadej Pogačar prolonged his lead on the Giro d’Italia to three:41 on Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and three:56 on Daniel Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) after the time trial however even he remained cautious and respectful of Sunday’s stage to Livigno, such is the issue of the the stage.
Pogačar described the 222 km stage over the Mortirolo after which as much as the two,385 metre skinny air excessive within the Alps because the queen stage of the 2024 race.
“The stage to Livigno can be a monstrous experience,” Pogačar advised Eurosport earlier within the Giro.
“We’re going to see huge variations there. It will probably be one of many hardest rides we have now ever finished, trying on the distance and elevation achieve.”
“It’s the queen stage. We in all probability wish to go for the stage nevertheless it relies on the breakaway and what others wish to do. We ought to give attention to our personal race, and it ought to all be okay,” Pogačar stated on Saturday.
He is correct to be cautious and deal with the stage with respect.
The fifteenth stage has 5,400 metres of elevation achieve, beginning on the fringe of Lake Garda in Manerba del Garda after which climbing into the Alps behind Brecia to succeed in Livigno and the border with Switzerland nicely above two 1000’s metres.
Late route adjustments meant the lack of climbs to Aprica and the Forcola di Livigno however RCS Sport added by including the horrible Mortirolo and Passo di Foscagno earlier than the mountain end at Mottolino, overlooking the valley resort and border city of Livigno.
The change from a big-gear, energy time trial on flat roads to the rarified air and lengthy mountain climbs of the Alps will probably be brutal.
It will probably be a day of survival within the gruppetto but in addition amongst the GC riders and their key teammates. If one of many podium contenders and even Pogačar have a foul day, they might lose minutes and excess of they’ve misplaced thus far in time trials and early mountain end.
A race throughout the race
There will certainly be a race throughout the race, as some courageous souls, a few of the greatest climbers out of the GC battle, attempt to escape to combat for the stage victory.
Trying to break their day of glory will probably be Pogačar, his UAE Team Emirates squad, Ineos Grenadiers and maybe Antonio Tieri’s Bahrain Victorious workforce, as they search for a possibility of one other stage victory for the maglia rosa or an opportunity to enhance their podium positions.
Martinez will certainly attempt to pull black time after his poor time trial, whereas Thymen Arensman, now as much as sixth general, at 6:30, however solely a minute down on Tiberi, will certainly hope to proceed his upwards rise after a troublesome begin to the Giro.
Esteban Chaves (EF Education-EasyPost), Juan Pedro López (Lidl-Trek), Valentin Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R), proficient younger Italian Davide Piganzoli (Polti Kometa) and others will certainly attempt to go within the break and so soar up the GC within the fixed sport of snakes and ladders. Other climbers will probably be in search of the singular objective of victory.
The stage is an actual check of compiling capacity and dedication.
The opening 30 kilometres are nearly flat however then Lodrino climb is an ideal place to make a severe transfer. The 13.9km, 6.6% Colle San Zeno comes quickly after and can certainly see the break set up and reveal who has to chase on the entrance of the peloton.
A protracted valley part affords some respite because the race heads north into the Alps past Brescia however the remaining 100km are horrible.
Immediately after factors have been awarded for the Maglia Ciclamino in Malonno, the intense climbing begins. The Passo del Mortirolo (12.6 km at 7.6%) begins with 80 km to go. It climbs for 9 kilometres at 7.9%, eases briefly after which kicks up once more at 9.6% for the ultimate three kilometres.
This climb has been included within the Tour of Italy route eleven occasions and at all times hurts the riders. In 2022 Jan Hirt gained forward of Thymen Arensman and eventual general winner Jai Hindley.
There is a steep descent off the Mortirolo after which the stage begins a gradual however fixed climb to Livigno.
The Passo di Foscagno (15 km at 6.4%) begins after the second intermediate dash of the day 25 kilometres from the end, however the street climbs 600 metres within the 30km of valley roads.
The Passo di Foscagno climbs to a peak of two,291 metres and is the fourth climb of the day. It is adopted by a quick descent after which Passo di Eira (4.7 km at 7.7%) climbs above Livigno to the Mottolino ski space. The dust monitor has been asphalted for the Giro d’Italia stage end, with one steep part at 19%!
The altitude can at all times trigger issues because it reduces the oxygen out there to the riders. Some deal with the skinny air higher than others and expertise to take care of the struggling above 2,000 is usually very important.
When the Giro d’Italia visited Livigno in 2005, Ivan Basso cracked and crashed out of rivalry as a consequence of a abdomen downside. If anyone went particularly deep within the Lake Garda time trial, then they might pay the same value for it on Sunday.
The 2024 Giro d’Italia could embrace 20% much less climbing than the 2023 race however Sunday’s stage is an actual ‘tappone’ because the Italians say. Fortunately the climate needs to be dry and funky. But solely earlier than rain and chilly arrives in northern Italy for the third week of the Giro.
Anyone in search of some mountain glory is suggested to assault on the street Livigno whereas they’ll.
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Stage 15 Sprints
- Lodrino (cat. 3), km. 37.7
- Intermediate dash, km. 130.3
- Time bonus dash, km. 193.2
- Intergiro bonus dash, km. 197.6
Stage 15 Mountains
- Colle San Zeno (cat. 2), km. 64.7
- Passo del Mortirolo (cat. 1), km. 155.4
- Passo di Foscagno (cat. 1), km. 213.3
- Finish: Livigno (cat. 1), km. 222