Daily Dispatch from Italia

5/31/2009

Benvenuto!

The centenary edition of the Giro has come to an end! Once again, this Grand Tour offered 21 Stages of exciting bicycle racing.

Here is the podium for today's Stage 21 - Roma (ITT), 15.5 km:

1. Ignatas Konovalovas
2. Bradley Wiggins
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen

And, here are Final GC standings:

1. Denis Menchov
2. Danilo Di Luca
3. Franco Pellizotti

Congratulations to Denis Menchov for taking the top spot at this year's Giro. Kudos to Mr. Diluca and Mr. Pellizotti for delivering fine finishes too.

Yesterday's Stage 20 offered everyoone a chance to compete in our La Sprinta a Roma Team Distance Competition. Congratulations to all of our participants, and here is the podium for that Competition!

Stage 20 Team Distance Competition Results:

1. HBC Montana
2. Iceman
3. Cloud City SB

We will be sending out the results for the final La Sprinta a Roma Competition Stage 21 TT on Monday.

Ciao!

If you don't get US TV - we'll make the interview available at www.UniversalSports.com/cycling after the stage is over.

Daily Dispatch from Italia

5/29/2009

Benvenuto!

Stage 20 (Saturday) and Stage 21 (Sunday) offer you opportunities to compete in the Distance and Time Trial Competitions of the La Sprinta a Roma.

And remember, if you are planning on entering today's KOM Competition for Stage 19 you still have time to get on your bike.  Just be sure to  enter your ride by midnight tonight.

The Team Distance Competition (Saturday) runs in connection with Stage 20 - a long, flat 230 km slog!  The length of this stage obviously lends itself to a team-based distance competition.  The winning team will be the team that covers the greatest total distance on the day of Stage 20 (sum of all distances rode by team members on Saturday).  Grab some team members, log a long ride, and let us know how that suffer-fest worked out for your team. 

As a reminder the podium prizes for the Team Distance Competition include:

1. Polar CS200cad Cycling Computer and Wrist ID by Road ID
2. VERSUS Team Kit and Wrist ID by Road ID
3. Wrist ID by Road ID

The finale of the La Sprinta a Roma is the Time Trial (Cycling Pros VERSUS Joes) competition set for Sunday, May 31, 2009.  It runs in connection with Stage 21's Individual TT around picturesque Roma!  Naturally, it offers the perfect Stage for another individual contest.  Throw on the aero-bars and go out there and hammer out a 14.4 km TT just like the pros in Roma.  Your ride data will be converted into a virtual time like in the Cycling Pros VERSUS Cycling Joes Challenge.  The Competition winner will be the participant whose virtual time comes in lower than all other Challenge participants.  Let us know how your individual TT works out for you!   

As a reminder the podium prizes for the Time Trial Competition include:

1. Profile Design Volna Aerobar and Wrist ID by Road ID
2. Polar CS200cad Cycling Computer and Wrist ID by Road ID
3. MapMyRide.com Team Kit and Wrist ID by Road ID

Also remember that for each ride you enter into the Challenge you have the opportunity to win great prizes in the Giro Challenge Sweepstakes that will be held at the conclusion of the Giro.

Today's dispatch also offers up a preview of the final two Stages of the Giro! 

Stage 20 - Saturday, May 30: Napoli - Anagni, 203 km

Could Stage 20 be the last chance at glory for Al-Jet and Cavendish?  It just might be - but, don't discount the difficulty of the final climb to the finish!  And, that final climb might just offer a rider like Di Luca a chance for a solo escape and dramatic stage win.

Stage 20's route is relatively flat, leaving from Pozzuoli and heading into the province of Caserta via Castel Volturno, Mondragone and Campo Felice, and then into the region of Lazio and the province of Frosinone.  There is a slight climb up towards the finish of this Stage, but there is high likelihood that everything will probably come back together for a pack sprint finish because the competitors will have to complete a final circuit about the city before crossing the finish line. 

So, who will win Stage 20?  Log in and give us your predictions, or share some memories of Giros past! 

Stage 21 - Sunday, May 31: Roma (ITT), 15.5 km

The Giro concludes with a short yet demanding individual time trial.  This ''Race for Truth'' will prove memorable not only for its potential to shake up the battle for the maglia rosa, but also for its grand showcase of the beauty of Roma.  The time trial begins just below the Palatine hill by the Roman Forum, and ends in the shadows of the Coliseum.

Although the course is relatively flat, it boasts a number of tight turns.  Time trial specialists who can adeptly handle their bikes will therefore likely challenge for the final stage win. 

So, who will win Stage 21?  Log in and give us your predictions, or share some memories of Giros past! 

Here's the podium for Stage 19 - Thursday, May 29, 2009:

1. Carlos Sastre Candil
2. Franco Pellizotti
3. Danilo Di Luca

And, here are the GC standings after Stage 19: 

1. Denis Menchov
2. Danilo Di Luca
3. Franco Pellizotti

Ciao!

Daily Dispatch from Italia

5/28/2009

Benvenuto!

Tomorrow the La Sprinta a Roma begins with the KOM Competition.  Do you consider yourself a scalatore puro (pure climber) who drops everyone in the hills?  If so, on May 29, 2009, pull up MapMyRide.com, plot out a hilly ride that will force you to tackle some serious elevation, log that ride on MapMyRide.com, and challenge for the La Sprinta a Roma KOM! 

To win the La Sprinta a Roma KOM Competition, you will simply need to climb more vertical feet than anyone else over a single ride on Friday May 29^th.  Complete your ride tomorrow and enter your ride data into the Giro Challenge via a MapMyRide.com approved device by midnight tomorrow night (Pacific Time) in order to qualify for the podium prizes.

As a reminder, here is the podium prize list for the Stage 19 KOM competition:

1. Polar CS200cad Cycling Computer and Wrist ID by Road ID
2. Polar Cycling Gear Kit and Wrist ID by Road ID
3. VERSUS Team Kit (Jersey/Shorts) and Wrist ID by Road ID 

In addition we will be giving away 5 Road IDs in a sweepstakes organized for participants of the La Sprinta a Roma Completion.

Also remember that the La Sprinta a Roma continues with the Team Distance and the Time Trial (Cycling Pros VERSUS Joes) competitions on Saturday and Sunday

Finally, don't forget to Log in tomorrow after your ride and share your big climb stories and photos! 

Moving on, here is our preview of tomorrow's stage. 

Stage 19 - Friday, May 29: Avellino - Vesuvio, 164 km

Stage 19 offers the climbers their last chance to put the hurt down on their fellow members of the peloton, and challenge for the KOM. 

Stage 19 opens up along the picturesque Amalfi Coast and ends with a leg-breaking, lung-busting climb up Mount Vesuvio - a world famous volcano steeped in Roman history and mythology.  Even though the final climb up the volcano is not very long, the last and steepest 2 km to the finish could see many members of the peloton crack, and that last kick offers the true climbers a chance to take some time back in the General Classification. 

Stage 19 will likely play heavily in setting the General Classification.  Some climbers may launch an escape early looking for the illustrious stage win, and should that escape go without any of the GC men, the real battle on this Stage will take place back in the pack on the final climb to Vesuvio as the GC men fight to take time out of their rivals and seize the top GC position.  

So, who wins Stage 19?  Log in and give us your predictions, or share some memories of Giros past! 

Here's the podium for Stage 17 - Wednesday, May 27, 2009:

Chieti - Blockhaus, 83km

1. Franco Pellizotti
2. Stefano Garzelli
3. Danilo Di Luca

And, here are the GC standings after Stage 18: 

1. Denis Menchov
2. Danilo Di Luca
3. Franco Pellizotti

Ciao!

5/27/2009

Benvenuto!

Preview of Stage 18 - Thursday, May 28: Sulmona - Benevento, 182 km

Stage 18 offers the sprinters like Marc Cavendish and Al-Jet another shot at glory!

This stage commences in the picturesque town of Sulmona in the Peligna Valley, a location whose elegant structure and historic buildings and monuments offer a glimpse of its illustrious past. Shortly after the start there is a moderate climb at Pian delle Cinque Miglia. Over the remainder of the course, the terrain begins to flatten out, and the Stage ends with a fast and brief circuit around the town of Benevento.

Although this Stage opens with an early climb offering up the chance for a few glory-seeking riders to break away, Stage 18 finishes across the flats, so it is highly likely that any breakaways will get swallowed up by sprinters' teams as they try to set up a pack sprint finish.

So, who wins Stage 18? Log in and give us your predictions, or share some memories of Giros past!

Stage 18 is definitely a stage for the powerhouse sprinters. Speaking of power, let's check in on the latest results of the VERSUS-MapMyRide.com Giro Challenge Cycling Pros VERSUS Cycling Joes Competition for Stage 16:

1. Dangerman.jp (07:19:31)
2. Sprutz (07:46:55)
3. cnavin (08:23:01)

Congratulations to the top three Average Joes, and to all the competitors in our Cycling Pros Versus Average Joes Competition! Look for results of today's Stage 17 tomorrow.

Log in and share your training tips and let us know just how you all are cranking up the power on your training rides! And, don't forget to offer up some predictions on Stage 18.

Some final notes in this Dispatch:

Here is the podium for Stage 17 - Wensday May 27th, 2009:

Chieti - Blockhaus, 79km

1. Franco Pellizotti
2. Stefano Garzelli
3. Danilo Di Luca

And, here are the GC standings after Stage 17:

1. Denis Menchov
2. Danilo Di Luca
3. Franco Pellizotti

Lastly, it's not too late to join in the VERSUS-MapMyRide.com Challenge or our Grande Fine - La Sprinta a Roma! Compete in one, two, or all three of the Challenges slated for Stages 19, 20, and 21 (taking place 5/29-31 2009).

Ciao!

1. scottgif (182 pts)
2. cgarabedian (152 pts)
3. sullivab (120 pts)

Here is the podium for Stage 16 - Monday, May 25: Pergola - Monte Petrano, 237 km:

1. Carlos Sastre
2. Denis Menchov
3. Danilo Di Luca

And, here are the GC standings after Stage 16:

1. Denis Menchov
2. Danilo Di Luca
3. Carlos Sastre

So, who wins Stage 17? Log in and give us your predictions, or share some memories of Giros past!

Benvenuto!

Welcome to today's Daily Dispatch from Italia. Since our stateside friends are heading into a holiday weekend and might be away from their PCs over the next few days, this Dispatch will offer a brief preview of Stages 14, 15, and 16.

Stage 14 - Saturday, May 23: Campi Bisenzio - Bologna (San Luca), 172 km

Stage 14 offers a hilly route that snakes through the Appenino, the mountains that run north-south along the center of Italy's boot, and ends in Bologna. The course's five climbs offer bold riders ideal opportunities to launch breakaways. Alas, any breakaway will likely be swallowed up by the peloton as the General Classification contenders unleash their teams in an effort to guard their respective positions, and perhaps put themselves in a position to take some time on their rivals over the final climb. This final climb takes the riders up to the Santuario della Madonna di San Luca, which lies to the Southwest of the old city center of Bologna and sits high on the Colle della Guardia. The final 2.1 kilometers of climb is insanely steep—an average grade of 9.7%, so there is definitely the potential for GC competitors to try to force gaps and take some time on their rivals! Does anyone have a training route that is this steep? If so, share the route with all of us.

Stage 15 - Sunday, May 24: Forlì - Faenza, 161 km

Stage 15 offers a series of (comparatively) small climbs in Appenino and ends with a descent across a false flat. None of the climbs in this Stage are that daunting, but they are relentless. Again, this Stage offers a tremendous opportunity for enterprising riders to launch a break and battle for a Stage win. Most, if not all, GC contenders will be content to finish with the pack, and rest up for the savage mountains of Stage 16.

Stage 16 - Monday, May 25: Pergola - Monte Petrano, 237 km

Stage 16 offers up a true mountain stage with a leg-breaking summit finish, that could no doubt prove to be a decisive climb in this year's Giro. Atop Monte Petrano, we will learn who the true GC contenders are and who among the members of the peloton are simply just pretenders.

Although the GC boys will figure heavy into this stage, don't be surprised if a sprightly flyweight scalatore puro (pure climber) dances atop his pedals all the way up to the summit of Monte Petrano and seizes a stage victory!

Stage 16 heads into the mountains in the province of Pesaro-Urbino, not far from the Adriatic Coast. The Stage summits four major climbs in rapid succession. The Monte Petrano provides a perfect finale, it is 10.4 kilometers of climbing at an average gradient of 7.9%. The steepest section of the climb comes at the beginning and hits 13%. And, a vicious 10% section comes with 5 kilometers to go! Simply, this is an absolutely brutal final climb that will no doubt crack many members of the peloton.

So, who wins these crucial Stages? Log in and give us your predictions, or share some memories of Giros past!

One final note, Make sure to log into the Giro Community Group on Tuesday, May 26, 2009! VERSUS and MapMyRide.com have a Grande Fine planned for the last week of the Giro that you will not want to miss. We will share the details with all of you on the 26th.

Ciao!

Just quick note to welcome you to the Giro Challenge. We should soon have results for stage 3.  Additionally, we will be sending out Giro Challenge Update emails every so often.  These will provide you with helpful tips and other information about the Giro Challenge.

If you would like to opt out of theses emails you can go to the Giro d'Italia Group and select "Update Membership" where you can opt-out of the emails.

Once again welcome to the VERSUS-MapMyRide.com Challenge.

www.MapMyRide.com/giro