Nov 12, 2005
Giro 2006 Presentation
The Giro 2006 route has been announced today in Milan in front of many favorites except for defending champion Paolo Salvodelli. Angelo Zomegnan director of the Giro explained that Il Falco’s absence was due to the power struggle between the ProTour and the Grand Tours. Not the clearest explaination, but it would have to do for now.
The 2006 Giro starts in Belgium with a prologue in Seraing, Belgium. That is followed by three road stages that circle the Walloon region which is a homage to the many Italians living there today. After an early rest day to travel back to Italy, the Giro makes up for the lack of Team Time Trials in the Tour by adding a Team test upon the Giro’s return to Italy. It has been 17 years since the last Team Time Trial, and usually Italian teams aren’t suited for this sort of test, so it will be an interesting. The last Team Time Trial
was way back in 1989 in Catania Sicily. The event ended badly for an American Team as 7-Eleven struck a black cat that was crossing their path. Discovery may not have the same problem as they are a well oiled TTT machine.
The next Time Trial will be after the second rest day and will cover 50km around Pontedera.
The last Time Trial will be of the uphill variety and on the last day of the Giro. The riders wil be asked to run a split stage day which was not too popular with those who heard the rumor beforehand. But relax, it is only 11km and goes up the famous Gisallo where you can stop by the famous Church at the top to pay your respects to cycling legends past. Then they can party on the run to Milan in the afternoon.
The 2006 Giro course features several mountaintop finishes interspersed througout the 3 weeks. The first mountaintop finish is on stage 7 with a finish at Saltara. The big news is the heavy concentration of mountian stages in the final days. The final Saturday will feature the Cima Coppi-the highest climb of the Giro-which is the Gavia Pass (of the Andy Hampsten in a blizzard fame -1988) and the brutal Mortirolo.
Looks like this Giro is balanced much like the Tour, but if a climber can stick with the TT men close enough there could be a last day upset Correction, upon further analysis, this is a Giro that is very mountainous with 8 mountain stages.
Daily Peloton has a very extensive description of the course.
Some are commenting that Floyd Landis might not be a contender for the 2006 Giro, due to the climbs in the last week. I would say Mr. Landis could, if he prioritizes the Giro, do very well. He is a better climber then most people think.
Mags
http://roadrace1.blogspot.com/