arreviderchi italia

A three-week tour is always going to be difficult to sum up in a few sentences and this year's Giro is no exception. But, suffice to say, it was a great one. Close right to the end, with some exceptional performances, hair raising moments and a worthy victor. In winning the GC Denis Menchov proved that he is not a mere follower of wheels but a thoughtful tactician, who can climb with the best of them and remain cool despite the volatile nature of stage racing. The emotion he showed after the final TT in Rome were pictures that needed no words. But it's the picture above however that incapsulates the race for me perfectly. Two very different bike riders. Two very different expressions. Danilo Di Luca raced every day hard and never let up. He couldn't shake Mechov when it mattered most but his tenacity and willingness to attack are what makes bike racing the greatest of sports and what makes Di Luca a true champion regardless of where he stands on the podium. Sastre, Garzelli, Pellizotti, Cavendish, Armstrong...the list of those who made their mark in the 100th Giro is a pretty long one and many men contributed to the success, and importantly the style, of this race. Final mention? A certain Rabobank mechanic whose quickness of thought saved the day...