Giro d'Italia 2006
6 - 28 May |
The 89nth Giro d'Italia 2006 is pretty heavy! With five climb finishes and 105,2 kilometers race against time,
the Giro seems much more difficult than the Tour 2006. The Giro starts on the 6th of May in Seraing, Belgium, and stays in Belgium for four days.
Three weeks and 3553 km later, after an incredibly hard final week in both the Alps and the Dolomites, the Giro finishes in Milano. Discover all the stages and climbs underneath!
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The "Corsa Rosa" stays in Wallonia (Belgium) for the first 4 stages : after the chronometer race, there is the first stage in line, on Sunday from Mons to Marcinelle without real difficulties
except for the Col de Silenrieux.
On Monday however, from Perwez to Namur, on the hills of the Ardennes, and with a finish on the Citadel of Namur, one can expect the first time differences and the real "finisseurs" to show up.
Climbs: Côte de Evrehailles, Côte d'Ahin.
The third appointment in Wallonia, from Wanze to Hotton will probably be dominated by the sprinters. This stage includes a the transit through the Auto circuit of Spa Francorchamps, but also climbs
of the Côte de Wanne and the
Col de la Haute Lévée.
After a day of rest on Wednesday the 10th of May, to make the transfer to Italy, Thursday May 11 brings the Team Chronorace over a distance of 38 km.
An harmonical and musical stage from Busseto to Forlì will probably bring a new final for sprinters on Friday.
The second week: from Adriatico to Tirreno
The second week, starting on Saturday 13th, opens with a climb stage from Cesena to Saltara, where the Monte Catria and the Monte delle Cesane, alias "Piccolo Mortirolo" (small Mortirolo) need to be climbed.
Given the fact that two weeks later, we will affront the real Mortirolo, this is only a sort of try out.
Sunday brings a second very hard stage with the first climb finish on the Passo Lanciano, 25 climbing chilometers of which the final 18 are very selective.
Monday May 15, from Francavilla to Termoli is again for the "velocisti". Next, we ride to the Adriatica to affront, in the final, the San Giovanni Rotondo, Manfredoniae la Foresta Umbra.
After a second rest day on Wednesday 17 on which we cross Italy to go up to Tuscany, for the second individual chonorace over a distance of 50 Km in the surroundings of Pisa. Up it goes to the
Tirreno area, from Livormo to Sestri Levante, one of the splendid Cinque Terre, with, short before the finish, the Passo del Bracco.
The last week: most difficult week in the history of the Giro?
On Saturday, it goes from Alessandria to La Thuile, whereby we cross the San Carlo pass, to arrive in La Thuile.
From the Aosta region, the Giro corsses the border on Sunday to go to Switzerland and the Passo del Sempione before arriving back in Italy, in Domossola.
On Monday 22 from Mergozzo, it goes over the flat Milano hinterland via Brianza to Brescia.
Tuesday 23 brings the second arrival uphill; a short one from Rovato to Trento with a final climb of the Bondone.
From Termeno we go to the Plan de Corones. A day that is announced to be memorial due to the incredible height difference to overwin.
From Ponte Gardena, we ride to Castelrotto and the Passo Pinei to go down to Ortisei, to affront, from Chiusa,
the provincial way to Bressanone, Eores, the Passo delle Erbe.
Next, back down to Longeva and San Vigilio di Marebbe from which we climb the Furcia. 7 chilometri of "sterrato" are following to reach the Plan de Corones, third arrival uphill.
Thursday 25 May, we start from Austria (Sillan), to touch Lienz and finish in Gemona. Over the Croce Carnico, Tolmezzo, it is a fascinating tour in the forest over the col di Cuel di Forchia to land in Gemona del Friuli.
Friday 26 with the Pordenone-Passo San Pellegrino brings the fourth arrival uphill. The menu makes many shiver: first the Forcella Staulanza, next the Passo Fedaia (by many identified, with reason, to be one of the most difficult climbs from its most difficult site, from Malga Ciapela), next the Passo Pordoi to arrive.
Saturday is just a prologation of the previous day. From Trento-Aprica, it's just a succession of : after 85 km, the Tonale, next, il Gavia (with the Cima Coppi price, on 2.621 metri above sea level) after 112 km, the Mortirolo after 180 km and to Aprica, after 212 km.
The last day, Sunday May 28, the Giro opens with a surprising matinal chronorace of 11 Km in Ghisallo, before starting from Lecco in the afternoon to arrive in Milano.
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The Giro d'Italia 2006
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To celebrate the
coming of the Giro to Wallonia (Belgium), the Belgian Post launched the first post stamp of the Giro 2006.
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Passo Fedaia - stage 19
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Passo Mortirolo - stage 20
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Passo de Sempione - stage 14
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Côte de Wanne - Ardennes Belgium - stage 4.
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Passo Pordoi - stage 19
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The Gavia - stage 20
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Gilberto Simoni, two time winner of the Giro.
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