Giro d'Italia 2018 - After a tough spring the MN Peloton rides out! [title edited by MNHQ]

[FelicityLemon]

It's that time of year again

www.giroditalia.it/eng/route/

Giro d’ Italia 2018 stages:
Date Route Length Type
1 Fr 4-5 ITT in Jerusalem (isr) 9.7 km ITT (flat)
2 Sa 5-5 Haifa (isr) – Tel Aviv (isr) 167.0 km flat
3 Su 6-5 Be’er Sheva (isr) – Eilat (isr) 229.0 km flat
Mo 7-5 Rest day
4 Tu 8-5 Catania – Catagirone 198.0 km hills
5 We 9-5 Arigento – Santa Ninfa 153.0 km hills
6 Th 10-5 Caltanissetta – Mount Etna 164.0 km mountain finish
7 Fr 11-5 Pizzo – Praia a Mare 159.0 km flat
8 Sa 12-5 Praia a mare – Montevergine di Mercogliano 209.0 km mountain finish
9 Su 13-5 Pesco Sannita – Gran Sasso 225.0 km mountain finish
Mo 14-5 Rest day
10 Tu 15-5 Penne – Gualdo Tadino 239.0 km hills, flat finish
11 We 16-5 Assisi – Osimo 156.0 km hills
12 Th 17-5 Osimo – Imola 214.0 km flat
13 Fr 18-5 Ferrara – Nervesa della Battaglia 180.0 km flat
14 Sa 19-5 San Vito al Tagliamento – Monte Zoncolan 186.0 km mountains
15 Su 20-5 Tolmezzo – Sappada 176.0 km mountains
Ma 21-5 Rest day
16 Tu 22-5 Trento – Rovereto 34.2 km ITT (flat)
17 We 23-5 Riva del Garda – Iseo 155.0 km hills, flat finish
18 Th 24-5 Abbiategrasso – Prato Nevoso 196.0 km mountain finish
19 Fr 25-5 Turin – Monte Jafferau 184.0 km mountains
20 Sa 26-5 Susa – Cervinia 214.0 km mountains
21 Su 27-5 Criterium in Rome 115.0 km flat

www.giroditalia.it/eng/squadra/

Don't forget to enter a team.

www.velogames.com/giro-ditalia/2018/entryform.php

Dr! I was wondering where you were!

You and MrSlant.

Vuelta in Yorkshire?! I'd be all over that

I'm hoping for Sam Bennett in this stage

For those who don't know the result I won't spoil except to say the Maglia Rosa has changed hands. This could be significant, especially now a favour is owed...

Ooh that sounds interesting Doctor. I'm currently watching on catch up, about 17k to go so just before the climb, and knew the Maglia Rosa was likely to change hands today. Now I'm very curious about what happens!

How's everybody doing in the League??

I am shocked to find my team went from 2nd to 5th or so in the course of one stage.....there will be "discussions" in the team hotel..

Etna was volcanic wasn't it? Froome will not last the tour, one suspects. A crash, an injury..?Sky will see no value in him slogging it out for no benefit prior to Le Tour BUT will need to be seen as to making the effort.

Very exciting developments! My team discussions will be featuring a little champagne I think.

It's stopping here this afternoon, if I can I'll get down and take some photos for you all

Thanks Amalfi would love to see some on the ground pics. Hope the weather stays good for you

Hi all, latecomer to the thread. I'm loving Simon Yates' positioning at the moment but does anyone hold out hope that he can retain his lead? Dumoulin seems to be keeping a low profile today but choosing his moments i'm certain.

Happy with my team at the moment!

Thanks to whoever suggested "Quest" for the highlights as we have no Eurosport atm.

Took the rest day opportunity for the team to do some additional training......

I've just seen what today's stage has I store

At the bottom of the last huge climb they pass under a sign saying "Welcome to Hell'

Ds is a real fan of Simon Yates and thinks he'll give du Moulin a run for his money. Whatever happens in the time trial on Tuesday, he says that Yates' strength in the mountains will carry him through to win the overall Giro.

I think prettybird's ds may have a point!

I don't think Dumoulin will put over two minutes on Yates in just over 34km. If he does Yates will just leave him behind in the mountains again.

I agree: but I couldn't say too much when I posted about Yates' lead, in case people hadn't seen the highlights

I HOPE that Dumoulin doesn't take 2-3 minutes out of him tomorrow but he could and I am not 100% convinced about Yates' stamina over 3 weeks if he did. I would love for him to gain more time in the mountains after the ITT, but i'm not convinced that he could.

That's the reason I waited overnight @prettybird, but I reckoned the next morning was ok.

Wow!!!!!

That about covers it @prettybird.

Just catching up on Quest (freeview), amazing!

Absolutely incredible racing

(Poor Yatesey)

That was amazing, just stunning racing.