Monte Zoncolan Open Thread

by Chris Fontecchio on May 29, 2007 3:43 PM EDT in News

After (by my estimate) 120 posts on the Giro d'Italia, I think I might be all talked out. It pretty much comes down to whether or not anyone can overcome DiLuca on tomorrow's climb, at least to the extent that Saturday's time trial comes back into relevance. At times like this, there seems little left to do but set the alarm for 5am... and wait.

The graphic above tells you just about all you need to know about the decisive stage, except for the previous 130km not shown, which won't exactly be relaxing. But one thing I've noted is that the peloton is capable of piano stages, and that the time gaps in the big stages have been pretty down-to-Earth... which optimists like me will interpret as meaning there are no "extra terrestrials" blowing open the race. And which means, nobody in their right mind will be trying anything before the final climb.

Predictions? Impressions?

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First impression

It looks like a Dutch staircase - straight up.

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on May 29, 2007 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

14.9% for 5.9 km!

I am glad I don't have to make a living racing a bike.

Current time gaps mean nothing, it's still anyone's race.

-K-

by KevinK on May 29, 2007 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

Ranks as #15

on the Climb By Bike website. Pretty cool reference for the best climbs around.

The Gravity Assisted Flyers

by Clydesdale on May 29, 2007 3:50 PM EDT reply actions

#1 on that list

is about the dumbest thing I've ever seen. Unless I lived within on hours drive of it, I can't see going out of my way to do it.

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on May 29, 2007 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

17.6% avg!

I wouldn't climb that beast if Elisa Basso were waiting for me with a 1988 Barolo.

Got a problem? Va fa Napoli!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 29, 2007 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

hmmmm...?

Yes you would!!!

by CCB VW on May 29, 2007 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

#3 Looks like the best

one of the top 5 to me.

The Gravity Assisted Flyers

by Clydesdale on May 29, 2007 4:29 PM EDT reply actions

That's a really nice one

so to speak :-)

Broken up into manageable chunks, and cars are banned from the last upper stretch. What more could one want.

I prefer stair step climbs (like that one) that give me a chance to recover.

"I don't know too many monkeys who could take apart a fuel injector."

by Drew on May 29, 2007 4:48 PM EDT reply actions

Here's hoping

that Julio Perez Cuapio unleashes his fury on the Zoncolan . . .

by R Mc on May 29, 2007 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

Attacks all the way.

I don't think it will be piano at all. I think some people are going to go off right away at stage start, try to have some time at the bottom of the Zoncolan and just hope they make it to the top. This is so hard that I think it is almost like a time trial - everyone is just going to go their own pace up. I think DiLuca could easily lose the lead here by 5 minutes or more. He better have saved enough.

by Markk on May 29, 2007 7:42 PM EDT reply actions