2009 Giro d'Italia: MapMyRide Dispatch from Giro d'Italia - La Sprinta a Roma!

Daily Dispatch from Italia

5/26/2009

Benvenuto!

Welcome to today's Daily Dispatch from Italia.

By now you will have no doubt received all the details of the VERSUS-MapMyRide.com Challenge Grande Finale - La Sprinta a Roma! It's not too late to join up and compete in one, two, or all three of the Competitions slated for Stages 19, 20 and 21 (taking place from 5/29-5/31 2009). Check out the full details regarding the La Sprinta a Roma here. And don't forget to check out the prize list here featuring $1000's in prizes.

If you have already signed on for the VERSUS - MapMyRide Giro Challenge, there is no reason to register again, all you need to do is just compete in one or all three of the Competitions slated for Stages 19, 20 and 21.

Now, onto a brief preview of tomorrow's Stage 17.

Stage 17 - Wednesday, May 27: Chieti - Blockhaus, 83 km

Stage 17 rambles along the Adriatic Coast and finishes on the imposing and relentless Blockhaus some 2064 meters above sea level, this is the Giro's Cima Coppi (highest peak)! Simply stated, the Blockhaus is utterly brutal! It lasts 23 kilometers, including a 1630 meter ascent at an average gradient of 6.9%. There is also a brief section of with a 13% gradient between kilometers 2.5 and 3.0, then a stretch at 11% inside 2 kilometers to go. Although the climb actually continues past the finish line, the race organizers have shortened the course because the last few miles of the climb are largely impassible on account of heavy snow.

Stage 17 offers up yet another chance for the climbers to shine and grab a stage win. Don't be surprised if a scalatores puro (pure climber) launches a big effort on the Blockhaus in an effort to take some time back from the GC competitors, or solidify his hold on the King of the Mountains Jersey!

Speaking of great climbers, here are the latest results from the VERSUS-MapMyRide.com Giro Challenge KOM Competition (as of Stage 16):

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

Congratulations to the top three scalatores, and to all the competitors in our KOM challenge! How are you guys and girls doing it? Log in and share your big climb stories and photos now!

Some final notes in this Dispatch:

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!

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

Ciao!