Cycling News Special for November 13, 2005

Edited by John Stevenson

89th Giro d'Italia

After Belgian antipasto, 2006 Giro has molto mountains for a tough climbers tour

By Tim Maloney, European Editor In Milano

The map of the Giro 2006
Photo ©: AFP

With a four-stage start in Belgium, then five mountaintop stage finishes, including an uphill time trial up the 11km climb to the Madonna del Ghisallo, and the return of the team time trial, the 89th edition of Giro d'Italia is the hardest edition of Italy's Grand Tour since 1999. The 2006 Giro starts in the Wallone region of eastern Belgium, the eighth time the race known as the Corsa Rosa for its distinctive pink leaders jersey, has started outside Italy.

This year's Giro start, with four stages in the "black" coal mining country of Wallonia has a special connection with Italy. After WW2, many Italians emigrated north to eastern Belgium to find work in the coal mines and this year's Giro will commemorate the 136 Italian miners killed in a tragic fire fifty years ago at the Bois du Cazier mine on August 8, 1956. Today, almost 300 thousand Belgians of Italian origin live in the region and thus, the organization of the Giro d'Italia decided to reach out to their people. Mr. Gerard Gaston who represented the Region Wallon at the Giro d'Italia presentation explained, "We're delighted to host the start of the Giro d'Italia in 2006; it's a major international event. We have many major cycling events in Wallonia like Liege-Bastogne-Liege and many Italians have perfectly integrated in our region, including our Prime Minister Elio DiRupo."

Damiano Cunego (L), Danilo Di Luca and Paride Grillo
Photo ©: AFP

With a decidedly happier and more fun vibe than last months Tour de France presentation in Paris, Paolo Belli and his Big Band opened the festivities with his swingin' "Il grand bell'Giro" theme at Milano's Mazda Palace auditorium, then madrina Elena Seridova introduced RAI-TV's Giro d' Italia broadcast team Auro Bulbarelli, Davide Cassani, Alesandra DiStefano, while up in the mountains were Alessandro Fabretti and Moreno Argentin, with Silvio Martinelli in the broadcast booth. Icons of cycling Felice Gimondi and Eddy Merckx were briefly interviewed, then after a strange intermezzo from a Chinese acrobatic troupe, the Belgian antipasti of the first four stages of the 2006 Giro were revealed. On stage were Gibo Simoni, Damiano Cunego, Ale-Jet Petacchi, and ProTour Champ Danilo DiLuca but defending champion Paolo Savoldelli wasn't on hand as he was still on vacation.

Gilberto Simoni
Photo ©: AFP

After RCS Sport chief Angelo Zomegnan paid homage to the Italians in Belgium and explained that, "this is a modern Giro d'Italia, a Giro we have worked hard to make the best possible race", the challenging 2006 edition of the Giro d'Italia was revealed.

The 21-stage race is 3.553,2km long, with an average daily stage length of 169.2km. The 2006 Giro consists of ten flat or rolling stages, four stages of medium mountains, four mountain stages, three individual time trials and one team trial, with two rest days.

After four days in Belgium, the Giro d'Italia returns to the Italian boot for a dead flat team time trial between Piacenza-Cremona, then heads south through Emilia Romagna to the Giro's first mountaintop finish on the Maieletta in Abruzzo. The Giro goes as far south as Peschici, then after a transfer back north and a rest day, it's the first individual time trial over 50km in Pontedera. On the Giro's second weekend, it's time for Tuscany, then up to Piemonte with the second mountaintop finish awaiting on Stage 13 to La Thuile.

An artist performs
Photo ©: AFP

The 89th Giro d'Italia's final week gets serious on Tuesday May 23's stage 16 that finishes atop the mythical Monte Bondone, where Charly Gaul won fifty years ago and sewed up his Giro win. The next day is another mountaintop finish at Plan de Corones after a steep unpaved climb. After a transitional stage east through Friuli, the Giro's brutal final weekend finale has yet another mountaintop finish atop Passo San Pellegrino after Forcella Staulanza, Marmolada and Pordoi. Saturday's queen stage is Trento-Aprica including Passo Tonale, the legendary Gavia (Cima Coppi) and super-steep Mortirolo.

The final day of the Giro d'Italia has two stages; a 11km uphill ITT up the mythical climb of the Ghisallo, then the last gasp for the sprinters from Lecco to Milano.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by AFP Photo

• The map of the Giro 2006 as presented at the official launch of the 89th Giro d'Italia in Milan, November 12 2005. The Giro will start in Seraing (Belgium) on May 6 and will finish in Milan on May 28 2006.
• The map of the Giro 2006 is seen during the official presentation of the 89th Italian Cycling Tour in Milan 12 November 2005.
• Gilberto Simoni poses in front of the map of the Giro 2006 during the official presentation of the 89th Italian cycling tour in Milan 12 November 2005
• An artist performs in front of the Logo of the Giro 2006 during the official presentation of the 89th Italian cycling tour in Milan 12 November 2005.
• Damiano Cunego (L), Danilo Di Luca and Paride Grillo pose in front of the map of the Giro 2006 during the official presentation of the 89th Italian cycling tour in Milan 12 November 2005.

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

• Francesco Moser and Felice Gimondi made an appearance at the Giro presentation
• A few likely-looking lads in Maurizio Fondriest, Francesco Moser, Giuseppe Saronni and Felice Gimondi
• A who's who of the Giro Maurizio Fondriest, Francesco Moser Giuseppe Saronni, Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx and Ercole Baldini
• Danilo Di Luca and Franco Ballerini pose together during the presentation
• Danilo Di Luca and Franco Ballerini have a chat
• Damiano Cunego and partner Margherita enjoy the Giro presentation
• Plenty of mountains in 2006 at the Giro d'Italia
• Italy's hopes rest on their shoulders. Damiano Cunego, Danilo Di Luca, Gilberto Simoni, Paride Grillo and Alessandro Petacchi
• That's where I'm gonna win next year Gilberto Simoni looks forward to finishing in Milan next year
• I found Milan on the map again... (l-r): Cunego, Di Luca, Simoni, Grillo and Petacchi witness a genius at work
• On stage entertainment - Felice Gimondi, RAI commentator Auro Bulbarelli and Eddy Merckx live on stage
• Cycling takes balance and strength...
• Just like gymnastics. But I can't see any other connection...
• Alessandro Petacchi looks ahead to what may be a tough Giro
• Gilberto Simoni and friends... Auro Bulbarelli, Damiano Cunego and Alessandro Petacchi
• A route around Italy
• Ercole Baldini and Giro boss Angelo Zomegnan pose reluctantly for the camera
• Fiorenzo Magni and Ercole Baldini swap some memories
• Eddy Merckx and Amedeo Colombo, head of the Italian Professional Riders' Association
• Former Giro winners Felice Gimondi, Eddy Merckx and Ercole Baldini enjoy the Giro presentation
• Somebody say something funny, Felice? Gimondi laughs as Ballerini and Merckx share obligatories
• And more famous faces (l-r):Franco Ballerini, Felice Gimondi and Eddy Merckx
• Eddy Merckx and Vuelta boss Victor Cordero having a good ol' chinwag
• Wonder what they're talking about... Eddy Merckx and Christian Prudhomme in Milan
• Hey Paride, that's Dario Cioni's seat! Paride Grillo looks pretty happy to be in Milan for the presentation
• Italian Cycling Fedration boss Renato Di Rocco (l) has a laugh during the presentation
• Mr Mondonico and Michele Bartoli (r) look pretty relaxed at the presentation
• I'm diggin' the white shoes from the band dudes
• There was plenty of interest in what should be a killer 2006 Giro
• Paolo Savoldelli's maglia rosa from this year's Giro is displayed at the Giro presentation
• Ah, it's the boys... Damiano Cunego, Danilo Di Luca, Gilberto Simoni, Paride Grillo and Alessandro Petacchi pose together in front of the route map
• Look mum, I found Milan!
• The Mazda Palace hosted the Giro presentation
• It was a full house for the Giro presentation

The map
Photo ©: AFP

The 2006 Giro parcours in depth

Stage 1 - Saturday May 6: Seraing, 6.2km - A tricky start in Seraing with a 2km climb and technical descent that is perfect for defending champion Paolo Savodelli.

Stage 2 - Sunday May 7: Mons/Charleroi-Marcinelle, 203km - A fast, flat stage for the sprinters

Stage 3 - Monday, May 8: Perwez-Namur, 202km - last 2km climb to famous Fortress

Stage 4 - Tuesday, May 9: Wanze-Hotton, 182km - Hilly day with two climbs from the Ardennes classics, Cote de Wanne and Stavelot-La Haute Levèè.

Wednesday, 10 May: Rest Day (air transfer to Italy)

Stage 5 - Thursday, May 11: Piacenza-Cremona Team Time Trial, 38km - First Giro TTT since '89 will be fast with tailwind.

Stage 6 - Friday, May 12: Busseto-Forlì, 223km - A flat sprinters stage to the hometown of Italian champ of yore Ercole Baldini

Stage 7 - Saturday, May 13: Cesena-Saltare, 230km - A long, tough day through the hinterlands of the Marche region over the climbs of S. Marino, Monte Catria and Monte delle Cesane.

Stage 8 - Sunday, May 14: Civitanova Marche-Maieletta (Passo Lanciano), 171km - The first mountaintop finish to Passo Lanciano, a tough climb in the mountains of Abruzzo with a steep final 12km to 1306m.

Stage 9 - Monday, May 15: Francavilla Al Mare-Termoli, 147km - A sprinters stage along the Adriatic coast to Termoli

Stage 10 - Tuesday, May 16: Termoli-Peschici, 190km - Tricky, technical uphill finish in Peschici could cause time gaps

Wednesday, 17 May: Transfer & Rest Day

Stage 11 - Thursday, May 18: Pontedera ITT, 50km - A flat, fast individual time test in the birthplace of the Vespa scooter

Stage 12 - Friday, May 19: Livorno-Sestri Levante, 165km - With the steep Passo del Bracco near the finish, sprinters may not make it to Sestri Levante together

Stage 13 - Saturday, May 20: Alessandria-La Thuile, 216km - This first real mountain stage of the '06 Giro heads across Piemonte to Val d'Aosta, first passing the Colle S. Carlo at 1951m, before a tough mountaintop finish near the Passo Piccolo San Bernardo in La Thuile ski station.

Stage 14 - Sunday, May 21: Aosta-Domodossola, 224km - This is a transitional mountain stage that starts in Aosta, climbs up the Gran San Bernardo, descends to Switzerland, climbs up Passo Sempione and descends back to Italy for the finish in Domodossola.

Stage 15 - Monday, May 22: Mergozzo-Brescia, 182km - This dead flat sprinters stage to Brescia is probably the easiest stage of the 2005 Giro.

Stage 16 - Tuesday, May 23: Rovato-Trento (Monte Bondone), 180km - The Dolomiti begin with a hard stage via Passo Maniva to another uphill finish on the legendary Giro climb of Monte Bondone, 1650m. above Trento.

Stage 17 - Wednesday, May 24: Termeno-Plan de Corones, 158km - A brutal stage with 50km of climbing that has another mountaintop finish. Starting in Termeno, Stage 17 goes via Passo di Pinei, over Passo delle Erbe to finish atop Plan de Corones at 2273m., with the last 5.5km up an unpaved gravel road next to a ski slope with sections that have a 24% grade!

Stage 18 - Thursday, May 25: Sillian-Gemona del Friuli, 227km - The Giro heads east through the Julian Alps, passed through the area shaken by a major earthquake in 1976, then heads into Austria for 30km before moving back to Italy. First climb is Monte Croce Carnico, with the steep 7km Cuel di Forcia waiting with 55km to go to Gemona.

Stage 19 - Friday, May 26: Pordenone-Passo di San Pellegrino, 220km - This is the hardest stage of '06 Giro, with 7 hours of racing and 4000m of climbing. First on the menu for Friday is the Forcella Staulanza, the steep back to back Passo Fedaia and Passo Pordoi, then the difficult ascent to finish atop Passo di San Pellegrino, where the steep last 7km will break things up.

Stage 20 - Saturday, May 27: Trento-Aprica, 212km - After Friday's ugly stage, Saturday's penultimate stage of the Giro isn't much better, with another 4000m of climbing and seven hours in the saddle. After a second stage start in Trento, Stage 20 climbs the Passo Tonale, then up the steep PassoGavia to the Giro's high point of Cima Coppi (2618m), the brutally steep Mortirolo where the Memorial Pantani awaits before the descent to Aprica.

Stage 21a - Sunday May 28: Canzo-Ghisallo Uphill TT, 11km; Stage 21b - Sunday May 28: Lecco-Milano, 116km - A morning individual TT up the less steep climb from Canzo to the Madonna del Ghisallo Museum is followed by the traditional criterium in Milano that starts at the base of Lake Como in Lecco.

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