Chasing Pink.

A dispatch from the Giro 100

By Black Sheep Cycling

May 17^th, 2017

the circus.

Terrible roads, unpredictable weather and, occasionally, chaotically organised, the Giro d'Italia has no right to be as compelling a race as it is. But somehow it's survived 99 editions of this unexpected beauty and is toasting its century edition with all the same haphazard pomp and pageantry that make it the Grand Tour.

What defines the Giro is the people. Italians are notoriously passionate and they proudly parade pink in support of the Corsa Rosa. There's not a hint of the French reluctance you see at Le Tour. Here, cars are painted pink. Bikes are wrapped in pink. Pink balloons line every street, adorn every child. In preparation for its May arrival, green-fingered Italians even grown their roses rosa.

foligno - montefalco.

Stage 10 – a 38. something ITT from Foligno to Montefalco naturally came with its own intrigue. Marginal gains and the height of cycling modernity set against a pre-Roman period labyrinth-like town of terracotta and orange seeped alleyways, brightly-coloured regional flags and beautifully decaying walls. Smiles everywhere. Always. But where else, but the Giro, would a dog evade its captors to the detriment of eager time triallists or the race leader have to bunny hop an erroneously located kerb. Nowhere else. But that's exactly why we remain enthralled by the Giro d'Italia – 100 editions on.

In no other Grand Tour would the race leader be forced to bunny hop an erroneously located kerb. But that's exactly why we love the Giro – 100 years on.