Tag: Giro d’Italia 2014

Categories
Featured Features

The Art of the Giro d’Italia 2014

The Giro d’Italia may be done and dusted for another year – but here at Cyclo we rather wanted to revisit some of the highlights thanks to the wonderful artwork of Greig Leach. Greig, a one-time amateur club bike racer, participating in the DC and Richmond, Virginia areas of the US is a prolific painter of sporting action and we have been delighted to feature much of his work over the years – here then is the Giro d’Italia one last time…

 

Stage 1 – ‘Poetry in Motion’ – The Giro d’Italia started with their wheels rolling across the Emerald Isle in Belfast racing the most specialized discipline of the Team Time Trial.

stage1

 

Stage 4 – ‘What’s the Plan’ – Luca Paolini (Katusha), either self-nominated or by the peloton, was the rider that went up to the race director to try and find out just what the plan was for the finish of the stage.

stage 4

 

Stage 6 – ‘Rolling Along’ – Bernhard Eisel (Team Sky) and the domestiques of Trek Factory Racing were the ones on the front of the peloton chewing up the gap between them and the four man break up the road.

stage 6

 

Stage 16 – ‘Into the Snow Line’ – With three big mountains to climb from Ponte di Legno 139km to Val Martello/Martellal, you knew some Colombian climbers would figure into the day’s drama, but the weather wasn’t in the mood to play second fiddle.  True to form, Robinson Chalapud from Team Colombia was the first to head out from the peloton on the first climb up the Gavia Pass…

stage 16

 

Stage 19 – ‘A Sprinter’s Surprise’ – Another time trail, but this one was basically all up hill for 26.8 kilometers, not a stage you would  expect a sprinter to do well in.  But Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani CSF) must have caught the winning spirit of the team…

stage 19

 

Stage 20 – ‘Flying Down the Other Side’ – After taking second over the summit of the Sella Razzo, Brent Bookwalter (BMC) was joined on the speedy descent by Jonathan Monsalve (Neri Sottoli).

stage 20

 

Stage 21 – ‘Now We Can Rejoice’ – The perfect end to another incredible Giro, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) the winner…

stage 21

 

To learn more about the work of Greig Leach and for details of his substantial output from this year’s races see greigleach.com and also theartofcycling.blogspot.com – he is sponsored by Richeson Art, and for an overview of all the work we have featured on Cyclo (including this year’s Tour de France and USA Pro Challenge) click here.

 

Categories
News

Nairo Quintana Clinches Giro Victory

Nairo Quintana

Nairo QuintanaMovistar’s Nairo Quintana has won his first Grand Tour with victory at the 2014 Giro d’Italia, finishing two minutes 58 seconds ahead of Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) in the general classifications. Astana’s Fabio took third overall on +4:04″. Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano) was the winner of the final stage of the Giro – 169km, Gemona del Friulli to Trieste – with a time of 4:23:58, holding off Trek’s Giacomo Nizzolo into second (on the same time) and Garmin’s Tyler Farrar into third.

 

Commenting on his momentous victory Quintana said: ‘It’s one of the happiest days in my life. I always dreamt of winning a Grand Tour and now it’s become real. Thanks to my team, my family and all the people that supported me, this is now achieved. I wasn’t expecting at all to see so many Colombians in Trieste today. It was amazing to see so many flags through the circuit and around the podium. I’m super proud of my country.’ Reemphasising his patriotism he added: ‘This generation of Colombian riders like me – we’re showing the world, since some of us came to Europe in 2012, we can win stages, important races, we show our quality – yet today’s win is a huge reality, another big success…’

 

Quintana had not been expected to compete in this year’s Tour de France, despite finishing second to Chris Froome in 2013, although victory at the Giro may now change Movistar’s plans.

Categories
News

Kittel Out of the Giro d’Italia

Giant-Shimano

Giant-ShimanoIn a major blow to Team Giant Shimano’s tour ambitions Marcel Kittel has been forced to withdraw from the Giro d’Italia before the start of today’s fourth stage, 121km Giovinazzo – Bari, due to a fever.

 

The Team Giant-Shimano medical staff, along with Kittel decided this morning that the double Giro stage winner would not start today’s stage with coach, Marc Reef saying: ‘We made the decision here before the start of the fourth stage that Marcel would not continue the race. Two days ago, after the third stage he already indicated that he did not feel 100%. Yesterday morning he said that he felt better, but this morning at breakfast he had the same complaints and after a few check-ups with our team physician we saw that the fever had deteriorated and so we made the decision together that he should not continue.’
‘It is a hard decision and a big loss for the team and a pity for Marcel,’ continued Reef, ‘But we have to move on and with Luka (Mezgec) we have another strong sprinter on board. We will rebuild our positioning in the sprint train and keep challenging with Luka on the flats now.’

For his part Kittel added: ‘I am very disappointed about leaving the Giro after such a strong start in good condition, but I do not feel healthy and I am not in the position to start the race in this condition. I want to thank my team for their support these past few days and wish them the best of luck for the rest of the race.’

 

Categories
News

Kittel Wins in Belfast

giro_italia_largeGermany’s Marcel Kittel has won the first road stage of the 97th Giro d’Italia for Team Giant-Shimano, a stage they team say they had set their sites on since the route was announced. Kittel took the final bend at the end of the 219km stage that started and ended in Belfast and outstripped Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) and Trek Factory Racing’s Giacomo Nizzolo to win in 5:13:12″.

 

Kittel commented on his victory: ‘I am so happy with how it worked out today, and to get the Giro off to a great start for not only me but the whole team. The finish went quite well considering it was pretty hard to get a lead-out going on the technical run-in. The guys set me up in position and even though I was a bit isolated I managed to come round the others in the last few hundred metres… This was our target, getting the Giro off to the best start possible on the flat sprint stages here in Ireland and to re-pay the team here for their confidence and hard work is a great feeling.’

 

Team Sky’s Ben Swift, Britain’s only rider taking place in this year’s Giro d’Italia, finished seventh, placing him at 30th on General Classification. The Orica-GreenEDGE trio of Michael Matthews, Luke Durbridge and Ivan Santaromita currently head the GC going into tomorrow’s 187km Stage 3 Armagh – Dublin.

 

Following a rest day on Monday the Giro d’Italia continues back on Italian soil on Tuesday, May 13.

 

Categories
News

Giant-Shimano Confirm Giro d’Italia Line-Up

Giant-Shimano

Giant-ShimanoTeam Giant-Shimano have announced their final nine-rider line-up for the first Grand Tour of the 2014 season, the Giro d’Italia, which starts in Belfast on May 9. Having already detailed Germany’s Marcel Kittel’s participation earlier in April, the team have now targeted the sprints with young Slovenian, Luka Mezgec, who already has four victories secured this season, and confirmed both Simon Geschke (Germany) and Tobias Ludvigsson (Sweden).  For his part in the Giro Kittel comments: ‘Our first goal for the Giro d’Italia is to go for a stage and there are plenty of early opportunities for this with several flat days… I got the Tour de Romandie off to a strong start yesterday in the prologue and hope to have a good week of preparation here with some hard racing kilometres to get me ready for the start of the Giro next week.’

 

Team Giant-Shimano’s full team for the Giro d’Italia is: Bert de Backer (BEL), Simon Geschke (GER), Marcel Kittel (GER), Tobias Ludvigsson (SWE), Luka Mezgec (SLO), Georg Preidler (AUT), Tom Stamsnijder (NED), Albert Timmer (NED), Tom Veelers (NED).

 

Speaking about the line up for the Giro, Team Giant-Shimano coach, Addy Engels said: ‘The first goal for the Giro with Marcel in the team will obviously be for the sprints, and for the stages that are slightly too hilly for him we can ride for Luka too. We have a strong line-up of riders who will be able to support this in terms of chasing down the breaks and also for the lead-outs. Then there’s a part of the team that will be looking for results from the other stages and taking their chances when they can – guys like Tobias, Simon and Georg. Opportunities like these are great for learning and development, as being out front in the final stages of a Grand Tour stage is no easy feat…’

 

This year’s Giro d’Italia starts with three stages outside Italy, taking in Northern Ireland and Ireland. Starting with a time trial in Belfast on Friday May 9, the race will move on to Italy from Tuesday May 13 and end in Trieste on Sunday June 1.

 

Take a look at the Cyclo feature on this year’s Giro d’Italia here - Further details on Team Giant-Shimano at teamgiantshimano.com

 

Categories
News

Team Sky Announces Giro d’Italia Line-Up

sky_giro_2014_squadTeam Sky has announced its line-up for the 2014 Giro d’Italia, which starts in Belfast and Dublin next month, it will include Irish rider Philip Deignan in his first Grand Tour for the team.The nine-strong team for the first Grand Tour of the season will also feature Italian riders Dario Cataldo and Salvatore Puccio alongside Pete Kennaugh, Ben Swift, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Bernhard Eisel, Sebastian Henao and Kanstantsin Siutsou. Confirming the squad Sky Team Principal, Dave Brailsford, said: ‘The Giro d’Italia is a fantastic race and this year provides a great opportunity for the team to go out and really express themselves on the bike. We’ve brought together an exciting squad and we can’t wait, not only for the start in Northern Ireland, but to perform in front of our Italian fans.’

 

Philip Deignan, added: ‘As soon as I heard that the Giro d’Italia was starting in Northern Ireland it was a goal of mine to be there, and racing there with Team Sky is a real honour for me. We’re going with a good balance of youth and experience; we’re all looking forward to it. Growing up in County Donegal I never dreamt of riding a Grand Tour here in Ireland and this is my chance. I’m going to relish every minute of it racing in front of my friends and family.’

 

This year’s Giro d’Italia starts with three stages outside Italy, taking in Northern Ireland and Ireland. Starting with a time trial in Belfast on Friday May 9, the race will move on to Italy from Tuesday May 13 and end in Trieste on Sunday June 1.

 

Take a look at the Cyclo feature on this year’s Giro d’Italia here

 

Categories
Featured Features

Giro d’Italia 2014

giro_ditalia_2014The Giro d’Italia 2014 will begin on Friday, May 9 in Northern Ireland at the Titanic Belfast visitor centre with a 21.7km Team Time Trial, the start of three day’s action outside of Italy before the action restarts on mainland Europe on May 13 with the 121km race from Giovinazzo to Sari. In total the 2014 Giro d’Italia will cover some 3,449.9km, averaging 164.3km stages which will be made up of two individual time trials, one team time trial, eight stages for sprinters, one medium mountain, four medium mountains with summit finishes and five high mountains with summit finishes

 

The Northern Ireland start marks the eleventh time that the event has started outside of Italy since the very first 127 riders set off from Loreto Place in Milan in 1909. San Marino was the first, not-too-distant, foreign host in 1965, followed by Monaco (1966), Belgium (1973), Vatican City (1974), Greece (1996), France (1998), The Netherlands (2002), Belgium and The Netherlands again in 2006 and 2010 respectively, and finally Denmark in 2012.

 

As always the Giro jerseys up for grabs are: Maglia Rosa (pink jersey) for overall classification leader, Maglia Azzurra (blue jersey) for king of the mountains, Maglia Ciclamino (mauve jersey) awarded to points classification leader, and the Maglia Bianca (white jersey) for best young rider.

 

The full route for the Giro d’Italia 2014 Route is:

 

Stage 1 May 9, Belfast – Belfast 21.7km (TTT)

Stage 2 May 10 Belfast – Belfast 218km

Stage 3 May 11 Armagh – Dublin 187km

Rest Day

Stage 4 May 13 Giovinazzo – Sari 121km

Stage 5 May 14 Taranto – Viggiano 200km

Stage 6 May 15 Sassano – Montecassino 247km

Stage 7 May 16 Frosinone – Foligno 214km

Stage 8 May 17 Foligno – Montecopiolo 174km

Stage 9 May 18 Lugo – Sestola 174km

Rest Day

Stage 10 May 20 Modena – Salsomaggiore Terme 184km

Stage 11 May 21 Collecchio – Savona 249km

Stage 12 May 22 Barbaresco – Barolo 41.9km (ITT)

Stage 13 May 23 Fossano – Rivarolo Canavese 158km

Stage 14 May 24 Agliè – Oropa 162km

Stage 15 May 25 Valdengo – Montecampione 217km

Rest Day

Stage 16 May 27 Ponte di Legno – Val Martello 139km

Stage 17 May 28 Sarnonico – Vittorio Veneto 204km

Stage 18 May 29 Belluno – Rif. Panarotta 171km

Stage 19 May 30 Bassano del Grappa – Cima Grappa 26.8km (ITT)

Stage 20 May 31 Maniago – Monte Zoncolan 167km

Stage 21 June 1 Gemona del Friulli – Trieste 169km

 

For further details on the Giro d’Italia 2014 see gazzetta.it

 

 

Categories
News

Giro d’Italia 2014 Route

giro_italia_largeFull details of the route for the Giro d’Italia 2014 have been unveiled. It will begin on Friday, May 9 in Northern Ireland at the Titanic Belfast visitor centre with a 21.7km Team Time Trial, with the second day (218km) beginning in Belfast and taking in Antrim, Bushmills and the Giant’s Causeway. Day three of the non-Italian action is a 187km cross-border route from Armagh to Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. The day-early start, accepted and ratified by the UCI for 2014, has been introduced to facilitate an extra rest day for the transfer of the race to the Italian in Giovinazzo on May 13. 2014 marks the 11th time that the Giro has started outside of Italy.

 

Saxo-Tinkoff’s Nicolas Roche, who participated in the presentation launch for the Giro d’Italia 2014, commented on the inclusion of both Northern Ireland and the Republic: ‘I think it’s great. I know that people have been working very hard for many years to get the Giro to the two countries so I think it’s really exciting and it’s a huge achievement for the people involved and for both countries to host this fantastic cycling event. For the cycling fans in both countries, it’s going to be a unique experience…’

 

The full route for the Giro d’Italia 2014 Route is:

 

Stage 1 May 9, Belfast – Belfast 21.7km (TTT)

Stage 2 May 10 Belfast – Belfast 218km

Stage 3 May 11 Armagh – Dublin 187km

Rest Day

Stage 4 May 13 Giovinazzo – Sari 121km

Stage 5 May 14 Taranto – Viggiano 200km

Stage 6 May 15 Sassano – Montecassino 247km

Stage 7 May 16 Frosinone – Foligno 214km

Stage 8 May 17 Foligno – Montecopiolo 174km

Stage 9 May 18 Lugo – Sestola 174km

Rest Day

Stage 10 May 20 Modena – Salsomaggiore Terme 184km

Stage 11 May 21 Collecchio – Savona 249km

Stage 12 May 22 Barbaresco – Barolo 46.4km (ITT)

Stage 13 May 23 Fossano – Rivarolo Canavese 158km

Stage 14 May 24 Agliè – Oropa 162km

Stage 15 May 25 Valdengo – Montecampione 217km

Rest Day

Stage 16 May 27 Ponte di Legno – Val Martello 139km

Stage 17 May 28 Sarnonico – Vittorio Veneto 204km

Stage 18 May 29 Belluno – Rif. Panarotta 171km

Stage 19 May 30 Bassano del Grappa – Cima Grappa 26.8km (ITT)

Stage 20 May 31 Maniago – Monte Zoncolan 167km

Stage 21 June 1 Gemona del Friulli – Trieste 169km

 

For further details on the Giro d’Italia 2014 see gazzetta.it