Giro 2018 stage18: Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196 km

Inquitus

STAGE 18: Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196 km

May 24th




Technical Overview:
The final mountain block opens with quite a disappointing stage, although probably it's justifiable due to what's coming next. The first 160 km of this stage have very little to offer: only the climb of Novello (GPM4, 5.4 km at 4.6%) stands out. After this long stroll in the Po Valley, however, the road will begin to head uphill into the Alps. The mountain top finish of Prato Nevoso (GPM1, 13.9 km at 6.9%) it's quite a good climb, consistently tough and regular, without particularly steep ramps.

Final km


The Climbs:
Novello (GPM4, 5.4 km at 4.6%)
No profile. Just your typical GPM4.

Prato Nevoso (GPM1, 13.9 km at 6.9%)
Very consistent, tough but without going crazy. Last time a GT finished here, it was actually the Tour, in 2008. For some reason the profile is not on the website. I had to take it from the Garibaldi, which has an abysmal resolution.


What to Expect:
Well, this is a one-climb MTF, so just expect the favourites to attack within 5 km to go. If we are lucky, that is.


Prato Nevoso

Bookies Odds

Simon Yates 5
Chris Froome 13/2
Fabio Aru 9
Miguel Angel Lopez 9
Thibaut Pinot 14
Tom Dumoulin 16
Domenico Pozzovivo 18
Giulio Ciccone 18
Michael Woods 20
Wouter Poels 20
Robert Gesink 28
Davide Formolo 40
Diego Ulissi 28
Ben Hermans 40
Alessandro De Marchi 50
Davide Atapuma 50
Fausto Masnada 50
George Bennett 40
Richard Carapaz 40
Giovanni Visconti 40
Jarlinson Pantano 40
Koen Bouwman 66
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil 50
Valerio Conti 50
Alexandre Geniez 80
Hugh Carthy 50
Jan Polanc 66
Jose Goncalves 50
Sebastien Reichenbach 33
Sergio Luis Henao 66
Alexey Lutsenko 80
David de la Cruz 50
Gianluca Brambilla 66
Jan Hirt 66
Krists Neilands 100
Nico Denz 50
Pello Bilbao 66
Carlos Betancur 100
George Priedler 125
Elia Viviani 150
Enrico Battaglin 150
Joseph Lloyd Dombrowski 100
Manuele Boaro 150
Markel Irizar 150
Matej Mohoric 100
Matteo Montaguti 100
Mattia Cattaneo 80
Maximilian Schachmann 100
Mikael Cherel 80
Sam Bennett 150
Steve Morabito 150
Vasil Kiryienka 150
Vegard Stake Laengen 150
Zdenek Stybar 150
Davide Villella 125
Johan Esteban Chaves 100
Kenny Elissonde 125
Patrick Konrad 100
Ben OConnor 125
Mikel Nieve 125
Rodolfo Torres 100
Rohan Dennis 125
Niklas Eg 150
Ruben Fernandez 150
Sam Oomen 125
Felix Grossschartner 150
Hubert Dupont 100
Mads Pedersen 150
Tony Martin 125
Davide Ballerini 150
Adam Hansen 150
Dayer Quintana 150
Enrico Barbin 150
Jack Haig 125
Eduardo Sepulveda 150
Eros Capecchi 150
Roman Kreuziger 150

Inquitus

Not the most exciting stage design being a _________/ so unlikely much will happen GC wise until the final climb unless we are blessed with bad weather or crosswinds. The breaks have had a bad run this Giro and with the harder days to come tomorrow and Saturday maybe this is their chance.

LCD

Wonder if Froome fancies his chances of winning the Giro outright? Seems a long shot but not completely out of the question. Yates' form has been outstanding but 3mins on a bad day is nothing. If Froome & his team all hit form these next 3 stages it could happen.

Also will Dumoulin ride to 2nd or risk a podium place with an attack? If he got a gap could he TT his way to victory. While going well he doesn't seem as good as last year

Inquitus

LCD wrote: »

Wonder if Froome fancies his chances of winning the Giro outright? Seems a long shot but not completely out of the question. Yates' form has been outstanding but 3mins on a bad day is nothing. If Froome & his team all hit form these next 3 stages it could happen.

Also will Dumoulin ride to 2nd or risk a podium place with an attack? If he got a gap could he TT his way to victory. While going well he doesn't seem as good as last year

This stage isn't one where you could get 3 minutes back, but Friday and Saturday if Yates got caught out or had a bad day could turn things upside down. The Colle Della Finestre is a monster climb with the last KM's on gravel. Perhaps Froome can take a handful of seconds today, but he doesn't want to go too deep again and be found wanting on tomorrow's stage which is really one you need to be at your best for.

Friday



Saturday

neris

Froome has nothing to loose and alot to gain by trying an attack before sunday but today isnt the day, he may not get the jersey but a podium place and a bit of kudos for lighting things up will look better for sky going into the tdf.

MPFGLB

Expect the unexpected ....that is this giro

dastardly00

Will be interesting to see what team tries to control the pace on the lower slopes of the Prato Nevoso... MS, Sunweb, Sky?

dastardly00

The breakaway have a lead of 12' 36" with 123 km to go

Michael Morkov, Maximilian Schachmann (Quick-Step Floors), Davide Ballerini, Mattia Cattaneo (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec), Christoph Pfingsten (Bora-Hansgrohe), Ruben Plaza (Israel Cycling Academy), Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (Katusha-Alpecin), Jos van Emden, Boy van Poppel (Trek-Segafredo), Marco Marcato (UAE Emirates), Giuseppe Fonzi and Alex Turrin (Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia).

Macy0161

I think this climb could suit Tommy D or Froome to go on the attack. Consistentish gradient, just time trial up it and see can they put Yates under pressure. Even if it is just a softening up exercise. But I'd more be expecting the GC group to come in together.

I was surprised to see sky mountain domestiques so active yesterday though - it didn't really seem to make sense if Froome is feeling good, unless it was a bluff.

RIGOLO

Before I put a few quid on Froomey to make a move in the last few days of the Giro does anyone here work for DHL and know if any jiffy packages have made their way from the UK to Abbiategrasso.... or maybe the pollen count is unseasonably low ...Viva la dolce vita... 

If Yates goes on to win this Giro, it will mean the Wicklow boy Chris JJ been on 2 Giro winning squads (2015 with Alberto) , thats some achievement .

neris

Breakaway may do this

dastardly00

14'39" gap with 33 km remaining.
The winner will be from the breakaway.

neris

2 irish lads by the side of the road with silly wigs

irishrover99

The speed that the breakaway are going up this climb, i'd be suprised if their is any GC action.
Scott should control the pace, with it been very high.

neris

this is getting interesting 1km to go 3 breakaways left

neris

was kinda hoping the QS rider wouldnt win that

11214

I was full sure Froome would attack.

neris

dumoulin looks like hes breaking his nuts as yates cruises along behind him

neris

yates been gapped n froomes pissed off

irishrover99

Yates in trouble. Go on TD

irishrover99

Jesus, i wasn't expecting this

retalivity

Well well well...

irishrover99

Can't wait for tomorrow

neris

about 20-30 seconds lost

neris

lucky for froome he watches his stem and not his team mates wheels

Kaisr Sose

That’s a surprise. About 24/25 secs gap.

lissard

He properly cracked there - 25 seconds lost in 800m. Tomorrow could be very interesting!

Inquitus

If Yates cracks tomorrow on one of the earlier mountains he could lose bucket loads of time, any of Froome, Dumoulin or Pozzivivo could potentially win this race.

RIGOLO

Interesting conversation on the Mitchelton Scott bus this evening between Yates and Chavez.. can I have my bonus seconds back.
Stage 6 Yeats gifted teh victory on Mount Etna and the time bonuses to his team mate Chavez. 
I bet he is regretting that.. imagine if he loses the Giro by 4 secs , 4 secs he gave to his team mate...

dastardly00

RIGOLO wrote: »

Interesting conversation on the Mitchelton Scott bus this evening between Yates and Chavez.. can I have my bonus seconds back.
Stage 6 Yeats gifted teh victory on Mount Etna and the time bonuses to his team mate Chavez. 
I bet he is regretting that.. imagine if he loses the Giro by 8 secs , 8 secs he gave to his team mate...

4 seconds

Inquitus

RIGOLO wrote: »

Interesting conversation on the Mitchelton Scott bus this evening between Yates and Chavez.. can I have my bonus seconds back.
Stage 6 Yeats gifted teh victory on Mount Etna and the time bonuses to his team mate Chavez. 
I bet he is regretting that.. imagine if he loses the Giro by 8 secs , 8 secs he gave to his team mate...

It was 10,6,4 so only 4 seconds lost not 8.