This past weekend the route for the 2007 Giro was announced. As usual it shows more imagination then the Tour. The ’07 Giro will be far less mountains then the ’06 version, and that is good as when you have a route like they did this year if one rider is physically superior like Basso was it can really get boring. Despite fewer mountains they did include the big climb of the Zoncolon. The Zoncolon is a ridiculously steep climb much like the Angliru in the Vuelta. They will doing the Zoncolon from the Ovaro side and that is supposed to be a harder climb then when done from Sutrio side as it was in 2003. It also includes a mountain TT that is uncommon for the Giro. The mountain TT will be up the Oropa climb last done in ’99 when Pantani won the stage. Still to this day it is probably my favorite climb by Pantani as he gave all the other riders an almost 30 second head start to adjust his bike, and then did a terrifying climb up passing lots of riders to win by 21 seconds.
Also of note in the Giro is it opening with a 24 km TTT. The short distance gives us the spectacle of the discipline without having to do silly rules like the Tour has done to prevent the stage from being too decisive. The first mountain top is on Stage 4 giving the race a significant stage early. Overall a better ballanced Giro that I am sure everyone hopes will bring back the drama of 2005.
Returning this next year is the best young rider jersey for the best 25 year old or younger rider, but costing us the Intergiro jersey that I think only a handful of people understood and fewer even caring about.
Next up will be the Vuelta route announcement, and the ongoing battle between the UCI and race organizers.
very interesting, but I don't agree with you
Idetrorce
Posted by: Idetrorce | December 15, 2007 at 06:37 AM