Where the Giro d’Italia goes controversy often follows, or so it seems, but with a race still to run the peloton must still mount their bikes for the 153 kilometre journey from Forli to Imola. Join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 11 from 10:30pm (AEST).
If ridden at a high tempo today’s eleventh stage has the potential to cause just as much damage to the peloton as Stage 4 did during the first week of the race.
Climbing over 2000 metres in accumulated elevation gain, Stage 11 features several tough categorised and uncategorised climbs.
Upon leaving Forli the road will begin ascending slowly to the foot of the Category 3 rated Passo del Trebbio (6.3km at 6.3 per cent), which the peloton will reach 17.7 kilometres in to the stage. The initial four kilometres of the ascent will be the toughest at an average grade of 7.2 per cent, with the gradient lessening to a more bearable 4.6 per cent for the remaining 2.3 kilometres to the summit.
Almost immediately after the descent the peloton will begin the ascending up to Monte Casale, an uncategorised climb on today’s parcours. Unofficially 4.3 kilometres in length, the climb to Monte Casale features an average gradient of 2.2 per cent for the first kilometre, 10.1 per cent for the next two kilometres and 5.9 per cent for the final 1.3 kilometres to the summit.
There will be a roughly five kilometre long gap between the conclusion of the descent down from Monte Casale and the next uncategorised climb to La Valletta. Featuring an average gradient of 9.8 per cent over a short distance of 2.7 kilometres with sectors as high as 14 per cent, the ascent up to La Valletta will be painfully difficult.
After cresting the summit of the La Valletta a 3.1 kilometre-long descent follows, leading the peloton right in to the beginning of the ascent to Monte Albano. Another uncategorised climb, the Monte Albano is unofficially 4.6 kilometres in length at an average gradient of 6.1 per cent, with some early sectors reaching a maximum of 9 per cent.
The climbs keep coming thick and fast for the peloton as 6.5 kilometre-long descent, and slight ascent near the end, leads the riders in to the Category 3 rated Valico del Prugno. Also known as the Passo del Prugno, the ascent is officially listed as being 5.6 kilometres in length at an average gradient of 6.2 per cent, with some sectors reaching a maximum grade of 9 per cent.
Another descent beckons for the peloton after cresting the summit of the Valico del Prugno as the race turns in a clockwise direction towards Imola. Upon reaching Imola with 57.9 kilometres of the stage remaining the peloton will begin three laps of a 15.4 kilometre-long circuit which uses parts of the famous Autdromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
Approaching the finishing line for the first time and during the subsequent three laps after the peloton will climb the Category 4 rated Tre Monti. Officially 4.4 kilometres long according to race organisers RCS the climb features an average gradient of 4.1 per cent, however, that figure is deceptive due to the irregular nature of the slope with some sectors averaging 7-8 per cent and reaching a maximum grade of 10 per cent.
Being distanced over the climb could prove costly with just 7.6 kilometres from the summit of the Tre Monti down to the finishing line in the Autdromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Occurring on weaving, winding two-lane country roads the 6.7 kilometre-long descent will be technical, with some of the tougher corners possibly catching out weak descenders.
The final 700 metres of the stage will be on the home straight of the Autdromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, so the riders can expect to be fighting for the stage honours on a eight metre wide, well surfaced, perfectly level tarmac surface. Which could be an important factor due to current weather forecasts predicting a 50 per cent chance of precipitation during the stage, with a poor road surface the last thing the rider will want during rainy weather.
It should prove to be yet another exciting stage full of suspense and drama so remember to join The Roar for live coverage of Stage 11 of the 2015 Giro d’Italia from 10:30pm (AEST).
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
That should be all from me tonight for now, unless the race wants to spring another drama on me post-stage again, and I will be back with you tomorrow for Stage 12 of the 2015 Giro d'Italia. Ciao!...
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Tomorrow's twelfth stage sees the riders ride from Imola to Vicenza, a distance of 190 kilometres. A largely flat stage until the final third or so of the stage as the climbs begin to stack up, finishing with a steep (Vuelta-esque) incline up to the finishing line within the final kilometre.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Rigoberto Uran of Etixx - Quick-Step reportedly crossed the finishing line in the Maglia Rosa group. No news from Etixx - Quick-Step on whether the Colombian sustained any significant injures, he did visibly sustain some scrapes and bruises after that crash though.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
2015 Giro d'Italia - General Classification after Stage 11: (Provisional) 01st. Alberto Contador of Tinkoff - Saxo... 46h 54' 19" 02nd. Fabio Aru of Astana Pro Team... +0'03" 03rd. Mikel Landa of Astana Pro Team... +0'46" 04th. Dario Cataldo of Astana Pro Team... +1'16" 05th. Roman Kreuziger of Tinkoff - Saxo... +1'46" 06th. Rigoberto Uran of Etixx - Quick-Step... +2'10" 07th. Giovanni Visconti of Team Movistar... +2'12" 08th. Damiano Caruso of BMC Racing Team... +2'20" 09th. Andrey Amador of Team Movistar... +2'24" 10th. Leopold Konig of Sky Pro Cycling... +2'30"
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Next up, the provisional Top 10 in the General Classification at the conclusion of Stage 11...
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
2015 Giro d'Italia - Top 10 for Stage 11: (Provisional) 01st. Ilnur Zakarin of Team Katusha... 3h 55' 08" 02nd. Carlos Betancur of AG2R Le Mondiale... +53" 03rd. Franco Pellizotti of Androni Giacattoli - Sidermec... ST 04th. Benat Intxausti of Team Movistar... ST 05th. Diego Rossa of Astana Pro Team... ST 06th. Steven Kruijswijk of LottoBL - Jumbo... ST 07th. Ryder Hesjedal of Cannondale - Garmin... ST 08th. Maciej Paterski of CCC Sprandi Polkowice... +58" 09th. Philippe Gilbert of BMC Racing Team... ST 10th. Juan Jose Lobato of Team Movistar... +1'02"
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Coming up, the results for the stage with the top 10 finishers...
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Ilnur Zakarin of Team Katusha, winner of the recent Tour de Romandie, steps on the podium to accept the accolades for his Stage 11 breakaway victory.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Tomorrow's stage could be interesting if Fabio Aru is feeling the effects of two hard weeks of racing at the 2015 Giro d'Italia. Stage 12 features a very tough incline during the final kilometre of tomorrow's twelfth stage, it is like something out of a Vuelta a Espana stage.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Alberto Contador will have gained a small psychological advantage over some of his rivals after many of them were unable to follow his attack up the final ascent of the categorised climb. Maglia Bianca (White Jersey) wearer and second placed Fabio Aru was visibly unable to follow the acceleration of Contador during the steeper gradients of the climb.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
BMC Racing and Orica - GreenEDGE really bungled that stage by failing to co-operate together to bring back the breakaway. You have to say that Orica - GreenEDGE should have worked with BMC when they had the chance considering Michael Matthews would beat Philippe Gilbert in a sprint, with Simon Gerrans a 60-40 toss up if they were riding for the Victorian.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Carlos Betancur of AG2R Le Mondiale claims second in the sprint in the six-man chase group behind, with Franco Pellizotti rounding out the peloton for Androni Giacattoli - Sidermec.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Here come the breakaway to fight for he minor placings, with Gilbert just behind.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Ilnur Zakarin comes flying down the home straight of the Imola circuit to claim the Stage 11 victory with a Mercedes-like gap back to the rest! Team Katusha will be pleased to have finally bagged a stage victory at the 2015 Giro d'Italia.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Just 1000 metres for Ilnur Zakarin now as he flies under the Flamme Rouge!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Ilnur Zakarin looks primed to take the stage victory with under three kilometres remaining as Philippe Gilbert goes on the attack for BMC Racing. It looks to be a move too little, too late!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
3.5km remaining and Ilnur Zakarin's advantage over the peloton is 1'28" currently, the six-man chase group are still over a minute behind Zakarin.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Michael Rogers is now calming the situation for Tinkoff - Saxo after Alberto Contador's fierce acceleration was reeled in.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Alberto Contador has been reeled in by the peloton, but he has exposed a weakness in Fabio Aru's armour after the Italian was unable to follow the attack of the Spaniard.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Alberto Contador says "Yes". Puts in an attack and Fabio Aru hasn't been able to respond yet.