2009 Giro d'Italia: Giro Stages 14, 15 & 16 and an Upcoming Announcement

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!