the race finally started, Alaphilippe and Maestri escaped together again

Winner on the 12th stage, escape on the 16th and in general, very restless on this Giro. Is this the return of the great Julian Alaphilippe or just a last stand? We discuss it in the latest episode of our Grand plateau podcast.

The stage will be short, but there will be no shortage of difficulties, with two passes on the menu. A category 1, the Passo Pinei, which should be a first sort, not so much by its steep slopes but more by its length: 23.4km at 4.8% on average.

After this, the peloton will have to face a very different difficulty, classified in category 2: Monte Pana. If it is not very long (6.5km), it will offer peaks of more than 13% over its last two kilometers. Enough to offer a spectacular finale.

…and then we will attack the mountain.

The gap stabilizes for the four escapees, around 1’40. Behind, it is the Movistar which is driving to make up for the delay. But for the moment, things aren’t moving.

We still have the impression that the outcome of this stage depends on the goodwill of the Slovenian cannibal Tadej Pogacar. If he wants to win, he will win. But with 6’41 ahead of his runner-up Geraint Thomas, does he really need to give it his all?

The profile of this 16th stage is very different from that of the 12th stage, won by the Frenchman. Here, we are on real high mountains, with long passes for pure climbers, whereas last Thursday, it was short and violent climbs, ideal for punchers like Julian Alaphilippe.

But if the breakaway takes a big lead and the weather conditions get involved, who knows?

We have averaged more than 56 km/h since the start, enough to warm up cold bodies.

Julian Alaphilippe and his three Italian friends are now 1’22 ahead of the peloton. We hold today’s breakaway, but we will need a bigger gap at the foot of the first pass to hope to win.

Already escaped together on the 12th stage, which saw the Frenchman win after an incredible raid, Mirco Maestri and Julian Alaphilippe once again try to escape from the peloton, this time in the company of two other men, Davide Ballerini and Andrea Piccolo.

Same recipe, same result? We would sign for that…

We advise them to take advantage of this rare moment of dryness…

Winner of the 5th stage of this Giro 2024, the Frenchman from Cofidis Benjamin Thomas has just given up. He spoke to Eurosport before the start, explaining that his only objective was to “survive” this stage. Willpower will not have been enough…

However, the weather forecasts were quite unanimous on the risk of heavy rain and snow on this 16th stage, and have been for five days. The organizers will have to explain their lack of anticipation.

Watch out for falls at the start of this very fast stage, but on a completely wet road…

Obviously, such a short stage whets the appetite: many runners want to be part of the breakaway.

This time it’s good: the riders finally set off for this 16th stage in heavy rain and in very cool conditions.

And the first to attack on this freezing day is… Marco Frigo of course (you can’t make this up)!

Unusual image on the new starting line: to shelter from the rain, the runners wait for the start under the awning of a gas station…

The Giro has published a new press release to announce a further postponement of the start:

“A few minutes before the start, the weather conditions deteriorated further and the Commission therefore decided to fall back on option 3 – In the event of extreme weather conditions, the stage will be neutralized until a place where the conditions of safety are met. The actual departure will take place in Lasa/Laas, at 2:25 p.m., according to the timetable.”

The runners will therefore start from Prato allo Stelvio after having gone around the pass by car. The actual departure is therefore planned around 2 p.m.

Giro director Mauro Vegni spoke about this chaotic start to the stage. For him, a fair compromise was found.

“The problem is that in the mountains, the climate can change very quickly: the temperatures, the fact that it snows or rains… So it is clear that until the last moment, we cannot know the decision, know what to choose But we had already decided on a protocol in case of extreme temperatures, we had three possible cases to face this kind of morning. This morning, given the situation, we opted for solution no. 3 which is to leave Prato allo Stelvio I believe that what we did is a fair compromise between what they wanted and what we wanted. This pleases everyone, including the municipality of Livigno. try to find a good compromise.”

Every year has its chaotic stage. In 2023, it was the 13th stage which had been shortened due to weather conditions, reduced to a sad distance of 74km.

This year, the 16th stage is mired in a decision-making impasse: the organizers want a fictitious start in Livigno, but the riders remain in the cars.

If they end up taking the real start, the stage will be 121km long, assuming the route no longer moves. Which we don’t really advise you to bet on.

No runner is yet on the starting line even though the fictitious start was to be given at 11:55 a.m. Given the terrible weather conditions and the small audience present, what was the point of sending them to parade for 5 kilometers? This is probably the fashionable thinking in team cars.

Australian Decathlon-AG2R Ben O’Connor pulled out all the stops at Eurosport.

“It’s probably one of the most poorly organized races. Honestly, this would never have happened in 99% of other races. It’s a shame that in 2024 there are still dinosaurs who don’t see the human side of things. We have to start lower,” said the climber.

As expected, the weather conditions are horrible on this 16th stage of the Giro. The snow falls heavily in Livigno, turning into rain as we descend into the valley. As for temperatures, they are around 5°C.

Rest assured, you are better off at home than on a bike in Livigno.

The latest information suggests a fictitious departure at 11:55 a.m. for a real departure at 1:58 p.m. This step is already daunting.

According to the latest information from Eurosport, the fictitious start should be given in Livigno but the riders should immediately get into the cars to cross the pass in complete safety and give the real start after the Umbrail pass.

The pink jersey Tadej Pogacar gave his opinion on the standoff between the riders and the organizers at the start of this 16th stage. For him there is no doubt: the departure must be postponed.

“I don’t understand the situation. What I see is that the weather is terrible, at our hotel there were already snowflakes. So 600m higher, it’s snowing deep so it’s very dangerous, especially the descent The stage would be more appropriate if it started after the pass. It is not a good idea to climb to 2500m in the snow and then descend at full speed, it is dangerous for your health. We will see what happens. “They decide. They want us to run, we can run but we will have to hope that there is no incident because there will be regrets afterwards.”

Through the voice of the CPA, the professional riders’ union, those participating in this 2024 Giro have requested a move to the start after the Umbrail pass due to climatic conditions, threatening in the event of deaf ears not to take the start.

A meeting is currently underway to decide. While waiting for the decision and the end of the negotiations, this was delayed.

Two riders will not start this 16th stage this Tuesday. Ill, the Dutchman from Bora Hansgrohe Danny Van Poppel preferred to withdraw from the race. For his part, the Belgian Jenthe Biermans was too marked by his violent fall of 25m in a ravine during the 15th stage.

As since the start of this Giro 2024, it is Eurosport 1 which will broadcast this 16th stage. The start will be given at 11:30 a.m.

>> At what time and on which channel to follow the 16th stage of the Giro 2024?

There is Pogacar and, very, very far behind, the others. This Sunday, on the eve of the second rest day, the Slovenian once again crushed the competition by winning solo at Mottolino.

Overall, the pink jersey pushes back its first pursuer, the Briton Geraint Thomas, at 6’41.

>> The general classification after the 15th stage

Beyond its mountainous profile, conducive to spectacle, this 16th stage risks falling into madness at any moment due to particularly bad weather conditions forecast for this Tuesday.

The organizers have therefore put in place a special weather protocol which will allow runners to take a three-minute break to change their clothes if they become soaked, in order to protect them from the risk of hypothermia.

>> Detailed weather protocol

The riders of the Giro 2024 are not done with the high mountains. After arriving this Sunday at the Mottolino ski resort, Tadej Pogacar and his pursuers will have to swallow three classified passes: one out of category to start the day, then a 1st category and a 2nd category, at the top of which the winner will be judged. ‘arrival.

>> Route, profile, favorites… Everything you need to know about the 16th stage of the Giro 2024

Welcome to this live dedicated to the 16th stage of the Giro 2024 between Livigno and Santa Cristina Valgardena.