some info on giro 10-04-14

1. Time bonuses

Time bonuses are available on every road stage (not time trials) of this year’s race, which could make a big difference to the tactics of Vincenzo Nibali. The Italian favourite will be looking to snatch every second he can from Bradley Wiggins and could do so on any uphill finish. The time bonuses on each stage are:

1st place – 20 seconds

2nd place – 12 seconds

3rd place – 8 seconds

Time bonuses will also be awarded to the first and second riders over the line at each intermediate sprint. There are two intermediate sprints each day, six seconds will be awarded to the first rider and four to the second rider.

2. Mountain top finishes

 

There are seven mountain-top finishes in this year’s race:

Stage 10 finishes at the top of the Altopiano del Montasio (1,519m). The climb is 22km in length, although the first 11km is more of a drag than a climb. The steepest section is 20% at approximately four kilometres to go

Stage 11 sees a less severe climb to the finish with the 7.5km climb to Vajont (809m) at the end of the 182km stage. The steepest section is just 9%

Stage 14 is the first of three tough stages in the Alps finishing in Bardonecchia (1,908m). The final climb is only 7.25km long but is consistently steep. It also comes immediately ate the long climb up to Sestriere

Stage 15 boasts the highest finish line in the race at the top of the Col du Galibier at 2,642m above sea level. The Tour de France finished here in 2011 (when Andy Schleck won) but this year’s Giro is coming from the opposite side. The riders tackle the 16km Col du Télégraphe first then start the Galibier from Valloire giving a final climb of 18.1km in length with a maximum gradient of 11%

Stage 18 is the mountain time trial that takes the riders from Mori at 187m to Polsa at 1,205m. It’s a 20.6km climb with a maximum gradient of 10%. There are two very brief flat sections around halfway.

Stage 19 takes the riders up three big climbs, finishing at Val Martello Martelltal (2,059m). This 22.35km climb has two sections of 14% as its steepest points. Before this climb the riders will have taken in the Passo Dello Stelvio, the highest point on the race at 2,758m, and always a focal point of the Giro.

Stage 20 is the final, and perhaps the hardest, mountain stage of the 2013 Giro. THere are five categorised climbs on this stage, the last one being the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (2,304m). It’s only short at 4.75km (it comes hot on the heals of two smaller peaks) but it has a cruel 18% gradient for most of the climb.

Stage 4 could almost be considered a summit finish, but not quite. The summit of the category 2 climb Croce Ferrata (907m) comes 6.7km before the finish line from where there is some descending and a false flat to the line. Strictly speaking it may not be a hilltop finish but it should force and early shake up of the GC.

3. Prize money

 

The prize pot for the Giro d’Italia is a lot smaller than that of the Tour with a total prize fund of €1,383,110. €90,000 goes to the overall winner while second place takes €50,000 and third place €20,000. The winner of each stage pockets €11,010 with money going down to 20th place (€276 for 10th – 20th positions). Winner of the points jersey gets €71,500 with €45,800 going to the King of the Mountains.