The 1999 Giro will feature two great climbs that guarantee to provide an epic race with 1998 winner Marco Pantani certain to once again show his climbing prowess. The Italian press said the morning after the release of the route in Milan on Saturday that the "two great climbs took shape in front of Pantani's eyes like two cliff flowers, beautiful and vertical - where the road is raised towards the sky with snake coils and becomes a sacrificial altar. On the Gavia, the Aquila flies and on the Mortirolo it is the hawk. For the faithful of the Giro they are like sacred mountains..."
It is hard to match the enthusiasm. But the inclusion of these two monstrous climbs will give Pantani joy. The Giro always tries to surprise with its route and attempts new and more audacious mountains every now and again. In the first Giro in 1909, the mountains used were Roccaraso, Rionero Sannitico, Macerone, Bracco, San Bartolomeo, and Col di Nava. By 1911, the riders passed beyond 2000m for the first time with the Sestriere being added. In 1937, the Dolomites were added. In 1953, they became more daring and took the peloton up the Stelvio Pass at 2757m, the highest ever. It was the maestro Hugo Koblet who triumphed in these mountains.
From then on there seemed to be an obsession of "higher and higher challenges" and more difficult passes. In 1960, the Gavia Pass was introduced for the first time and then the Tre Cime di Lavaredo which revealed the domination of Gimondi in 1967. In 1990, maintaining the verve for audacity, the Mortirolo was included.
The data does not tell it all: the Passo di Gavia (2621m) is 17.3 kms long (rising 1363 m), with an average gradient of 7.88 per cent, while the Passo del Mortirolo (1852m) is 12.6 kms long (rising 1300m) at a killer average gradient of 10.32 per cent.
The Gavia and Mortirolo are now part of the Giro legend. In June 1960 saw great drama when the race went over the Gavia for the first time. On Stage 8 a young 23-year old rider named Imerio Massignan was ill fated when he attacked with flair. His attack was so devastating that he soon found himself alone as the vertical parts of the climb were encountered. He seemed to be defying the ferocity of the climb and went towards the snow capped summit alone - without his mechanic or support car. He punctured without help and only the Director of the race, Torriani witnessed the tears that were streaming down his cheeks. Massignan held his bike while he tore at the tyre with his teeth. Charly Gaul passed him eventually. Once Massignan had fixed his wheel he caught up to Gaul once more and attacked him again. Gaul was dropped a second time. Then Massignan punctured again. Once back and heading to the finish, he punctured again - for the third time - in sight of the finish. Gaul won with Massignan second at 0.14. But he was first over the Gavia. Jacques Anquetil held onto the Maillot Rose and became the first Frenchman to win the Giro.
Dutchman Johan Van der Velde also was the first to pass over the Gavia but finished some 47 minutes behind for the stage.
And American fans will long remember the crossing of the Gavia in 1988 - the day when the weather closed in on the riders. The snow and wind were brutal. The riders wore several layers of clothes and a memorable photo is of the Polish rider Lech Piasecki who had ice stalactites hanging off his moustache. The tifosi became good samaritans that day and offered the riders gloves and lumps of wool, and wine. But even amidst this torment a "new exotic flower bloomed" - Andy Hampsten became the first American rider to take the leader's jersey and went on to win the Giro.
Gavia is like Mt. Everest to cyclists. Mortirolo is not like that. It is the wire for the acrobat. A vertical face with a summit concealed by clouds. It cannot easily be climbed by foot. It is definitely not a place for the weak. If the peloton arrives at the foot of the climb together only those with wings will be at the top in front. In 1991, Chioccioli was the top man over the climb and in 1994, Marco Pantani showed he was the new hawk in the peloton - with an arrogant display of power.
The Mortirolo promises to make or break the winner of the Giro. In 1996, Tonkov won here but lost in 1997. It was on this mountain that the hopes of Abraham Olano were shattered. Here Ivan Gotti found the strength to take his first big stage win of his career (1996) and then went one better in 1997 to take the overall Giro.
Analysis
The 82nd edition of the Giro d'Italia - from the Temple of Agrigento to the Mortirolo is once again a big adventure. It has 22 stages, 2 individual time trials and 6 days of hard mountain climbing, 4 days of medium difficulty mountains and 10 days of relatively easy riding. It is 3,780 kms in length. From the Agrigento to Milan - over the Appenines and the Alpes and the Gran Sasso of Italy. The inclusion of Gavia and Mortirolo is a bonus for Marco Pantani, but not so good for Mario Cipollini.
The 5 mountain-top finishes have led critics to say it is a "Pantani-Tour". The Italians seem to be disposed to this sort of criticism, although things don't often Giro out the way the critics imagine in advance. In 1979, the Giro was said to be "designed" for Francesco Moser although it was Guiseppe Saronni who triumphed. In 1994, it was "conceived" for Miguel Indurain but Berzin won. This year, the critics said it was on paper designed for Alex Zülle yet Pantani won.
The 1999 Giro is certainly mountainous but the difficulties have to be discounted by the relative ease of the early stages which should suit the sprinting prowess of Mario Cipollini. The 1999 edition takes in most of Italy, only avoiding some small regions. There are two days of rest (like the Tour de France) and a few short transfers. It is a balanced Giro although the ITT are not as exacting as those that are found in the Tour de France. In that respect the pure climber, like Pantani is not as disadvantaged.
The climbing totals 26,200 meters compared to 26,400 in 1998 and 28,300 in 1997. Further, the same difficulties are distributed over more days.
The first ITT is on the 9th day of the race - Ancona-Ancona over 31 kms and has some climbing to Monte Sirino included. Mostly flat though. The second ITT is on the day before the riders face two days of hard climbing around Madonna di Campiglio and Aprica. it is over 45 kilometers and flat. In all 76 kilometers in two stages instead of the three ITTs in 1998 - the Prologue in Nice (7 kms), and the two ITT's at Trieste (40 kms) and Lugano (34 kms).
Reactions
Marco Pantani: "My first reaction is that it is a most beautiful Giro and it will not allow for any mistakes. It is quite hard. The most beautiful stage is Stage 21 from Madonna di Campiglio to Aprica with Mortirolo and Gavia. There is enough for Cipollini to defend the sprinter's category and there are not more than 5 or 6 stages for me."
The Italian press reported that the eyes of the Pirate shone like diamonds whereas the Lion King, instead, covered his face with his hands as the images of the Mortirolo appeared on the large screen in Milan. The public, who were watching the unveiling of the 1999 Giro route applauded.
The Mortirolo after the Gavia. The Mortirolo before the Valico di Santa Cristina, the finish at the Aprica. This was the highlight stage of the Giro. The one that is designed to get the reactions.
At the presentation, the host pushed the microphone in front of Marco Pantani and Mario Cipollini, two of the Italian stars - the climber and the sprinter. Pantani offers his approval. But he knows he has to be diplomatic - "the ITT distance is too long". Perhaps the organisers have not thought about that. Cipollini hopes to still be in the race when it gets to Cesenatico on Stage 11. He was amusing: "More than a presentation of the Giro d'Italia, this seems to be a presentation of the major Italian ski stations. Along with my race number the organisers will have to give me a ski-pass. I am only interested in the sprint category. This Giro does not really give me any chance. I have seen the people applaud the Mortirolo but they will see a small peloton by then."
But Pantani disagrees. He said: "The race is balanced and allows the sprinter, the climber and the time-triallist some chances. It will be my number one objective next season. I have a moral obligation to my tifosi - the residents of Romagna. I have still not decided whether I will race the Tour de France. But the Giro is definitely my priority. There are 5 mountain finishes but the one I want the most is the finish at Aprica on Stage 21 which goes over the Gavia and the Mortirolo. That stage is indeed beautiful. It would be enough to me to take the leader's jersey at that point of the race."
But the ITT 2 days before at Treviso is too long. It will be very hard for me. The first ITT is more balanced and I am not worried about it. But it is clear that just as the time triallists have a chance I also have a chance in the mountains to recover time.
What about the claim that it is "Pantani's Giro"? Pantani replied: "Well I still have to beat the peloton. It is a Giro that suits my characteristics. But that makes it hard. I will have to have maximum concentration in the mountains. There is too much room for error in this Giro."
Mario Cipollini was less expansive: "It is a lean race for the sprinter. Only about 5 or 6 stage finishes will suit us. The Giro has to have tough mountains - no doubt. But at least the first half of the race could be easier to give my strengths a chance. The climbs should be concentrated towards the end. It is clearly a Giro for Pantani. The sprinters will feel excluded."
The fight for the maillot rose could come down to a battle between Pantani, Ivan Gotti (1997 winner) and Pavel Tonkov. Gotti, is to become the captain of Team Polti and commented on the Giro route from his holiday destination in New Calendonia. He said: "It is very spectacular. Pantani and Tonkov are the riders to beat. I hope to be able to benefit from their rivalry. Stage 21 to Aprica, with Mortirolo and Gavia, is both terrible and beautiful for me. I won the stage to Aprica in 1996."
Pavel Tonkov is still on vacation in Spain. "I think it is a hard Giro. I will have to wait for the Vuelta route to be announced before I decide on my program."
Michele Bartoli, just returned from a vacation in the Caribbean, watched the Giro presentation on the TV. He said: "I might do well early. The race is designed to favour the Italians."
Thursday May 27, Stage 13 - Sassuolo-Rapallo, 232 kms
Saturday May 29, Stage 14 - Bra-Borgo San Dalmazzo, 182 kms
Thursday June 3, Stage 19 - Castelfranco Veneto-Alpe Di Pampeago, 164 kms
Friday June 4, Stage 20 - Predazzo-Madonna Campiglio, 207 kms
Saturday June 5, Stage 21 - Madonna di Campiglio-Aprica, 187 kms
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