The men in command became four: a good counterattack brought in Gee (Israel) and Baudin (Agdr) together with Warbasse and Stojnic.
Exceeded the first 20 km. Warbasse and Stojnic travel with half a minute ahead, Rex and Cavendish tried behind us, but were soon reabsorbed by the group.
12:11 – First little escape
As usual, first shots. The first mini escape was launched by Warbasse from Ag2r and the usual Stojnic from Corratec. They have about a 25” lead.
Officially set off a few hundred meters behind schedule due to a mechanical problem with one of the runners.
– Geraint Thomas, race leader, 37 (Afp)
11.40 am – First pedal stroke
The transfer of the 19th stage of the Giro d’Italia n. 106.
In Longarone at the moment there are 21 degrees and a slightly veiled sky. On the three peaks of Lavaredo, above 2,300 m, 6.5 degrees and about 8 are expected for the time of arrival, around 5 pm. Along the way, possible downpours and thunderstorms in the early afternoon. Here the weather.
11:09 am – Nibali’s rose is up for auction
And speaking of Nibali, it was auctioned off, with the proceeds destined for the populations of Emilia-Romagna affected by the disastrous flood last week, the pink jersey of ten years from the feat with which Vincenzo Nibali put the seal on his first Giro d’Italia, winning the stage of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The charity auction was held yesterday evening in Auronzo di Cadore (Belluno), during the ceremony for the conferral of honorary citizenship of the municipality in the Dolomites to Nibali, exactly 10 years after the undertaking. The auction will remain open until 4 June on the website www.regalaunsogno.org.
The proceeds of the «3 Epic-Tre Cime Lavaredo Mtb Marathon» will also be donated to the areas affected by the flood, which on 2, 3 and 4 June will allow amateur cyclists to make the tour of the Three Peaks, touching on Cortina d’Ampezzo , the towns of Val Pusteria and Comelico, with two Gpx tracks designed for road bicycles and the off-road world.
10.47 am – That fantastic 2013 (and 2007) on the three peaks of Lavaredo
The last time the Giro reached this finish line was in 2013 and it was snowing. An Italian in a pink jersey, Vincenzo Nibali, a Sicilian from Messina, in gloves and tights, accomplished the feat and the day after, in Brescia, he officially won his first Giro d’Italia. However, today’s stage is more reminiscent of that of 2007 and, even in that case, an Italian, Riccardo Riccò, won with a powerful action on the Giau.
10:32 am – How did it go yesterday
09:34 – The Everest of the Giro d’Italia. The start at 11.50
The departure from Longarone will take place at 11:50. In the Grand Final of this Giro d’Italia n. 106, including the timed ascent of tomorrow’s Lussari, the climb exceeds 10,000 meters in altitude: over a thousand more than Everest.
08.45 am – Campolongo, Valparola, Giau, Tre Croci and Auronzo refuge
Dolomite stage par excellence with five climbs in succession without stretches of breath for 183 km. After the departure and the ascent of the Cordevole valley (passing through Belluno, Agordo and Alleghe) the passes of Campolongo, Valparola, Giau and Tre Croci are climbed before the final ascent to the Auronzo refuge. The streets are all in excellent condition, quite wide, and have a couple of well-lit tunnels in the first part. You face climbs characterized by numerous hairpin bends and moderately fast and demanding descents. The final climb is very tough: the first 1.5km with gradients of up to 18%, a slight slope to Lake Antorno and a fast descent until 4km from the finish (at the end of the descent you cross the toll barrier: bottleneck). Last 4 km around 12% with maximum peaks of 18% in the final. Finish line on a 400 m straight asphalt road 7 m wide with a 12.5% gradient.
