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Giro d'Italia History and Legends Races

The greatest show on earth

The Tour de France is a ‘bigger’ race than the Giro. It has more media, more commotion, more people making demands on the cyclist’s waning energy. What it doesn’t have is the tifosi (see notes 1) of the greatest show on earth.

I discovered my passion for cycling at a very late age. I always enjoyed riding my bicycle starting from my boyhood: I rode for commute, I rode for enjoyment, I even raced a couple of times. But I started riding a road bike in my early 30s. Then I started watching cycling races and immediately fell in love with them.

I watched some races including Tour de France 2008 edition, with little understanding of what was going on actually. In the early stages, I was even thinking Mark Cavendish was going to win the Tour.

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Giro d'Italia Races

Giro d’Italia 2014 Official promo (Promo ufficiale)

The Giro d’Italia 2014 Official promo has been published by the RCS Sport, the organizer of the Italian grand tour (produced by Studio eFFe). They did a great job, as usual. Breathtaking images. Enjoy.

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History and Legends Giro d'Italia Races

From heaven to hell: Wilfried Reybrouck at the 1974 Giro d’Italia

In the 1974 Giro d’Italia, a completely unknown 21-year-old Belgian, Wilfried Reybrouck, won the first stage from Vatican City to Formia and wore the maglia rosa in his first professional Grand Tour.

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History and Legends Giro d'Italia Races

Slowest rider, fastest bike: the story of Pinarello and the Maglia Nera (Black Jersey)

In the 1946 Giro d’Italia, a new jersey has been introduced: The “Maglia Nera” (black jersey). It was awarded as a symbolic prize given to the last man to finish the race within the time limit.

But why the jersey was black? The riders chose the black because it was the color of the jersey worn by the soccer player Giuseppe Ticozzelli.

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Special Bicycles Bicycles and Equipment Cyclists and Teams Giro d'Italia History and Legends Races

Hampsten Cycles

Hampsten Cycles, LLC, founded in 1999 by the legendary American cyclist Andy Hampsten and Steve Hampsten, and building all frames in-house in Seattle, WA. They offer a unique line of custom road frames and whole bikes.

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Cycling and Music, Cinema, Art Giro d'Italia History and Legends Races

Alfonsina Strada [the woman who rode the 1924 Giro d’Italia]

1924 Giro d’Italia was very extraordinary. Because, Alfonsina Strada participated in that year’s Giro d’Italia, and became the only woman to have ridden one of cycling’s three 3-week grand tours.

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Cycling Books Giro d'Italia History and Legends Races Tour de France

Slaying the Badger: the greatest ever Tour de France (1986)

I finished reading “Maglia Rosa – Triumph and Tragedy at the Giro d’Italia” by Herbie Sykes. Now it’s Tour de France time, and I started to reading “Slaying the Badger” by Richard Moore.

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History and Legends Giro d'Italia Races

Ponsin, Santisteban, Ravasio and Weylandt – four cyclists who died at the Giro d’Italia

Four cyclists have died during the Giro d’Italia: Orfeo Ponsin (a.k.a. Orfeo Ponzin) (1952), Juan Manuel Santisteban (a.k.a. Juan Manuel Santiesteban) (1976), Emilio Ravasio (1986), and Wouter Weylandt (2011).

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History and Legends Giro d'Italia Races

Giovanni Rossignoli: the hidden winner of two Giri d’Italia

Giovanni Rossignoli was the hidden winner of two Giri d’Italia. He never won the Italian grand tour, but, in fact, he was the fastest finisher – twice.

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Cycling Books Giro d'Italia Races

Maglia Rosa – Triumph and Tragedy at Giro d’Italia, by Herbie Sykes

I finished reading “Put me back on my bike” by William Fotheringham, and now started a new book: “Maglia Rosa – Triumph and Tragedy at Giro d’Italia”, by Herbie Sykes. A great book about the history of the Giro d’Italia.