Tomorrow unveiled. But here the unbelievable official route anticipation!!

.5 Seraing (TT) km 6
7.5 Mons - Charleroy/Marcinelle, km 203
8.5 Perwez - Namur, km 202
9.5 Wanze - Hotton, km 182
10.5 Riposo
11.5 Piacenza - Cremona, km 38 (TTT team time trial)
12.5 Busseto - Forlì km 160
13.5 Cesena - Saltara, km 230 (with Mount Catria)
14.5 Civitanova Marche - BlockHaus(1300mt), km 150 (14Km at 8% like alp Huez but in first week!!)
15.5 Francavilla a Mare - Termoli km 170
16.5 Termoli- Peschici, km 165
17.5 Riposo
18.5 Pontedera - Pontedera (TT) km 36
19.5 Livorno - Sestri Levante, km 181
20.5 Alessandria - La Thuile, km 210 (with Colle san Carlo 10Km at 10% in the final)
21.5 Aosta - Domodossola, km 226 (with GSBernardo and passo Sempione over 2000mt)
22.5 Mergozzo-Brescia km 205
23.5 Rovato - Monte Bondone, km 206 (with Maniva pass and final at legendary Monte Bondone)
24.5 Termeno - Plan de Corones, km 158 (great stage with passo Erbe and the final hard climb with the last 7Km over unpaved route like finestre)
25.5 Dobbiaco (Sillian) - Gemona, km 256 (with some short but steep climbs)
26.5 Pordenone - Passo San Pellegrino, km 224 (with Staulanza, Fedaia\Marmolada and its central 4Km at 12%, Pordoi and final climb at Passo San pellegrino with sections at 18%)
27.5 Trento - Aprica, km 221 (with Gavia 2621mt and the vertical Mortirolo 12Km at 10,5% with the first 8Km at 12%)
28.5 1^ semitappa: Canzo - Ghisallo (TT), km 10
2^ semitappa: Cambiago - Milano, km 127

Wooooooooooonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

love that final split stage - now there's using tradition to do something interesting in the context of a modern GT.

pardon me if this has already been posted elsewhere, but the italian riders union is hellbent on ditching those semitappes on the final day. in fact, it seems to be against uci rules. i got a press release from the union yesterday. text follows (awkward translation):

Half-stages at the end of the Giro? Riders say "absolutely not"

ACCPI comments anticipations of the next pink race's routes.
The appeal to the respect of UCI rules.
Colombo: «We expect a change of mind».
Bugno: «This would be a Giro for supermen».

10th November – The Italian Professional Riders' Association takes up a definite position about anticipations made by the press talking about RCS Sport's intention of including two half-stages at the end of the 2006 Giro d'Italia: a climb time trial and a last road half-stage.

ACCPI, with President Amedeo Colombo, clarifies its absolute aversion to this hypothesis: "We perfectly agree with the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale forbidding half-stages in great tours, all the more reason for the last days of a race like the Giro d'Italia, at the end of a tough week. It is a serious matter that such a hypothesis hasn't been submitted to the opinion of the different exponents of cycling, first of all the riders. For the nth time we have to claim more consideration. In any case we believe they could change their mind, considering the negative judgement already expressed by UCI and this taking up of our position."

pardon me if this has already been posted elsewhere, but the italian riders union is hellbent on ditching those semitappes on the final day. in fact, it seems to be against uci rules. i got a press release from the union yesterday. text follows (awkward translation):

Half-stages at the end of the Giro? Riders say "absolutely not"

ACCPI comments anticipations of the next pink race's routes.
The appeal to the respect of UCI rules.
Colombo: «We expect a change of mind».
Bugno: «This would be a Giro for supermen».

10th November – The Italian Professional Riders' Association takes up a definite position about anticipations made by the press talking about RCS Sport's intention of including two half-stages at the end of the 2006 Giro d'Italia: a climb time trial and a last road half-stage.

ACCPI, with President Amedeo Colombo, clarifies its absolute aversion to this hypothesis: "We perfectly agree with the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale forbidding half-stages in great tours, all the more reason for the last days of a race like the Giro d'Italia, at the end of a tough week. It is a serious matter that such a hypothesis hasn't been submitted to the opinion of the different exponents of cycling, first of all the riders. For the nth time we have to claim more consideration. In any case we believe they could change their mind, considering the negative judgement already expressed by UCI and this taking up of our position."

it is true!!
and the Gt director Zomegnan probably has inverted the Ghisallo climb (from Canzo and not Bellagio -much much easy-) for reduce the last day difficulties.
But the two stages in the last day is genial!! (Remember that last day is Sunday i.e. gratest attendance and gratest Tv share for stages open for final classification)

But the two stages in the last day is genial!! (Remember that last day is Sunday i.e. gratest attendance and gratest Tv share for stages open for final classification)

I feel like a split-stage would be awesome. They way they've got it set up is the easiest possible situation, I feel like. Short AM effort with a generous time cut, and an easy ride into Milan, followed by 30 or so K of sprint leadout. Plus no stage to recover for the next day. I'm really wish someone out there had the power to tell the riders to stop whining, and reassure them that this isn't going to become a regular occurence in Grand Tours.

28.5 1^ semitappa: Canzo - Ghisallo (TT), km 10
2^ semitappa: Cambiago - Milano, km 127



10km??? a postlogue?

10km??? a postlogue?

It's uphill. Ghisallo is a famous climb in the Tour of Lombardy one-day. It took Bettini about 15 minutes to ascend it in Lombardy, so as a split stage, I think it works well.

The final TT
http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2006/upload/alt/alt21CronoGhisallo.jpg

and.... the new mutha Plan de Corones (final, brutal 5,3Km unpaved!!!!)
http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2006/upload/alt/alt17-Termeno-Plan-de-Coron.jpg

and the Mortirolo stage
http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2006/upload/alt/alt20-Trento-Aprica.jpg

This is a epic cycling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's uphill. Ghisallo is a famous climb in the Tour of Lombardy one-day. It took Bettini about 15 minutes to ascend it in Lombardy, so as a split stage, I think it works well.

I know that, I've been there. The point is, 10km ain't jack in a protour race.

I know that, I've been there. The point is, 10km ain't jack in a protour race.
...and the second part of the day is only as hard as the riders make it. It's the last day and I seriously doubt they are going to do squat until it's time to wind it up for the sprint.

Glad to see they are doing another unpaved stretch this year. Plan de Corones stage looks incredible.

As did Elena what's her name on stage at the presentation. In the spike heels she was a foot taller than all the guys and they were all having trouble making eye contact.

The sad thing is Paolo Belli, the fat guy that sings the theme song, can ride a bike better than most people in the US. But he can sure fill out a pair of Assos shorts.

I know that, I've been there. The point is, 10km ain't jack in a protour race.!0km in a TT on TV, and in front of Tifosi at the side of the road is not jack. You think they'll just soft pedal? I think not.
It's uphill. Ghisallo is a famous climb in the Tour of Lombardy one-day. It took Bettini about 15 minutes to ascend it in Lombardy, so as a split stage, I think it works well.Wrong side this is the less severe side that he descended.

!0km in a TT on TV, and in front of Tifosi at the side of the road is not jack. You think they'll just soft pedal? I think not.



Where did I say they would soft-pedal?

Where did I say they would soft-pedal?
You didn't. I was merely making the point that in a TT, however short, it will be hard for the riders to not put in a big effort. Especially if the time gaps are tight. It's just a pity it's the "wrong" side of the Ghisallo, as the Bellagio side would be more spectacular I think.

So, the TdF dropped it and the Giro brings it back.