Picture This: A Mountainous Conclusion?

 

The Giro d'Italia heads back in to the Mountains tomorrow on Stage 19 with three massive climbs of the Passo Del Tonale, The Passo Castrin Hofmahdjoch and the summit finish of Val Martello Martelltal (pictured) and we were all expecting a close fought battle to the end over the next two days but will the race still be decided in the Mountains? Race leader Vincenzo Nibali blew his competitors away today in the mountain time trial, not only winning but extending his lead dramatically over second placed Cadel Evans who after a poor performance (losing 2 minutes 36) now finds himself over 4 minutes back. Unless Vincenzo Nibali completely cracks in the next two days it looks as though the Giro is already won...

Rafal Majka - New Kid On The Block

 

In yesterdays Giro d'Italia rest day round-up I made a point of talking about this years Young Rider Classification and in particular Rafal Majka - Saxobank's new kid on the block. He again finished with the big favourites in today's tough stage from Valloire to Ivrea and finds himself just five seconds off the White Jersey and 8th overall in the General Classification. So who is Rafal Majka? And where has he come from?...

Giro d'Italia: Rest Day Round-Up Pt.2

 

So the second week of the Giro has drawn to a close and riders are currently nipping out for an hours gentle ride to keep the legs ticking over, having an extra massage, a decent meal and some TV downtime - a contrast to the carnage that the last week of racing produced. As far as I can make out 70+ riders have called time on their Giro including of course two major favourites in the shape of Ryder Hesjedal and Bradley Wiggins. Here's a look back at how the week panned out and a look ahead to the final week and conclusion of the 2013 Giro d'Italia...

Picture This: Visconti Tames The Galibier

 

After torrid weather conditions and the removal of mountains from yesterdays Giro d'Italia route things were not looking good for today's stage 15 and the ascent of the Galibier but in the end the route remained largely unchanged apart from shortening the famous mountain pass by 4.5 kilometres. If the route remained in tact it still didn't make for inspiring racing as the GC guys all rolled in together thinking about massages, warm beds and tomorrows rest-day. No, instead they left all the inspiring riding to Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) who jumped away near the top of Mont Cenis with a few others in the search for mountains points with 86 kilometres, the Telegraphe and the Col du Galibier left to ride. He dropped his fellow breakaway companions and soloed to victory on a very wet, cold and snowy mountain top finish producing the victory of his career. Chapeau that man.