Vertical Metres: 3,047 m
Passes: Passo Valles (2,032m), Passo Rollo (1,972m), Monte Grappa (1,674m)
A tough transitional stage from the Dolomites to the Southern Alps. The stage starts with the dual climbs of Passo Valles (11 km at 8%) and Passo Rolle (6 km at 7.7%). This is followed by the longest descent of Transalp; 50 kilometers that start steep off the Rolle and continue at a more gradual gradient on to Ponte Serra. The real challenge of the fifth stage will be the ascent from the floor of the valley up to the peak of Monte Grappa (averaging 28km at 5%, but with several kilometres at up to 17%).
Photoblog...
The start of stage 5. Pen A forming behind the Race Director Cars. With pens B, C & D further back. The 'neutralised section' in this stage was a few hunder metres to get the pelaton out of town, then the route headed immediately up the valley towards the Passo Valles. The temperature at 9am was already in the 20's:
Midway up the the first climb of the day, Passo Valles. 11 kilometres at 8%. Starting to feel the fatigue of the week we targeted 240 watts for the 55 minute climb:
A typically beautiful & scenic descent. Taken at upto 78 kph (49mph):
Working in a large group to traverse from the bottom of the Rolle to Ponte Serra - into a headwind - to get to the start of the Grappa:
The climb of the Monte Grappa. 21 km until the feed station, a further 7 km from the feed to the top. The whole climb averages 5%, but has sections that are 17% steep. If you are familiar with your Surrey Hills climbs; then think of this as 10 ascents of Box Hill with a Whitedown in the middle for good measure.
Stats...
Totals ~ Duration: 5:17 ~ Riding: 5:14 ~ Dist: 127.9km ~ Elevation Gain: 3047m
A typically beautiful & scenic descent. Taken at upto 78 kph (49mph):
Working in a large group to traverse from the bottom of the Rolle to Ponte Serra - into a headwind - to get to the start of the Grappa:
The climb of the Monte Grappa. 21 km until the feed station, a further 7 km from the feed to the top. The whole climb averages 5%, but has sections that are 17% steep. If you are familiar with your Surrey Hills climbs; then think of this as 10 ascents of Box Hill with a Whitedown in the middle for good measure.
Stats...
Averages ~ Speed: 24.5kph ~ Power: 211w ~ Heart Rate: 134 ~ Cadence: 72 ~ Temp: 24.9
Max ~ Speed: 78.2kph ~ Power: 817w ~ Heartrate: 155 ~ Cadence: 138 ~ Temp: 35.0C
Metrics ~ TSS: 328 ~ NP: 236w ~ IF: 0.788
Conclusions...
Stage 5 - Pos 203/654 teams (31st percentile). Overall - Pos 242/695 teams (35th percentile). Another great day, again. Felt tough out there due to the intense heat - it was 35 degrees Centigrade at the Finish - but we had our best result yet at 203rd for the stage. And have jumped up the overall standings by 25 places. All good.
Tomorrow...
Another monster. 146 kilometres (the longest of the Transalp) and two significant climbs for 2,740 metres of climbing. And the forecast: very hot...
Stage 6 Route Profile and Preview
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