Italian autumn Semi-Classic could come down to a fight between the World’s number one one-day rider and the World champion number one sprinter
The 2012 GranPiemonte route was presented by race organiser RCS Sport in the Piedmont capital Turin today. The race – previously known as the Giro del Piemonte – will be run on Thursday, October 13th, over 199km between the towns of Piasco and Novi Ligure, and promises to offer chances to the sprinters as well as the breakaway specialists.
The previous two editions of the 1.HC ranked race have been won by World number one Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto), who went on, on both occasions, to take the Giro di Lombardia two days later. The previous two editions were taken by Italian sprinter Daniele Bennati (now Leopard Trek) though, which is why RCS Sport is billing the race as a likely duel between Gilbert and World champion Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad).
After leaving Piasco, the first 45km of the race will be predominantly flat or downhill before hitting the small climbs of Monforte d'Alba, Diano d'Alba, Benevello, and Castino. There then follows another flattish section before the final fifty kilometres sees the start of another set of hills, consisting of Cremolino, Tagliolo Monferrato, Bosi and Monterotondo. The final one of those features gradients of up to 12%, which provides a useful springboard for late attackers.
The final ten kilometres will be on wide flat roads into Novi Ligure but a 900 metre rise, with slopes of up to 8% inside the final two kilometres will mix tings up further. If the sprinters can make it over this climb, then it’s downhill for the next 500 metres before flat finishing straight.
As well as the anticipated Gilbert-Cavendish duel, organisers are also expecting action from Italian champion Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli), Filippo Pozzato and Joaquin Rodriguez (both Katusha), Alessandro Ballan (BMC Racing), Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and double-winner Bennati.