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13 Facts About Il Giro d'Italia

5/5/2011

14 Comments

 
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As you might gather from the above photo, this is going to be another cycling-related post. I can't help myself, though -- il Giro d'Italia begins this weekend and on Monday, will be starting a stage right here in Reggio nell'Emilia! Woo-hoooo!!!

And since I'm so late getting this posted, I'm going to re-post my Thursday Thirteen on this topic from 2008. I hope you don't mind...

So now, please allow me to present

13 Facts About il Giro d'Italia!

1. The first ever Giro d'Italia was begun May 13th, 1909, and was won by Luigi Ganna.
2. This year marks the 94th Giro. It begins on May 7th and will continue through May 29th.
3. It has been suspended twice - for World Wars I and II (1915-18 and 1941-45, respectively).
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4. Ever since 1931, the overall leader of the Giro sports the maglia rosa (pink jersey), which corresponds with La Gazzetta dello Sport 's pink newsprint. (The yellow jersey given to the overall leader of the Tour de France is done for similar reasons - to correspond with the yellow color of the pages of France's L'Auto sports newspaper.)
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5. The different portions of the tour are called "stages". The 1909 race had eight stages. The 2011 race will have  twenty-one.

6. Like all cycling races, the person who crosses the finish line first on the final day is not necessarily the winner. The winner of the Giro is the person who has the overall shortest time for the whole tour.

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7. Last year's winner of the Giro was Ivan Basso.
8. In 2006, the Giro passed through my new "hometown". I took some photos, one of which is my TT header this week, and here's another:
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In 2007, Reggio nell'Emilia played host to the beginning of a stage. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend, as I had to work. (Yeah, I'm still bummed.) I'm hoping to make up for it this year - wish me luck!
9. An American rider won the Giro once upon a time. In 1988, Andrew Hampsten of Columbus, Ohio, raced for team 7-Eleven.
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10. The route of the Giro varies each year. The Alpine and Apennine passes are probably the most difficult stages of all, and it's not unusual for the riders to endure wildly varying climates from the beginning of the tour to the end. Occasionally, the weather is a greater obstacle than expected, as Hampsten found out in 1988:
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11. Three different cyclists have managed to win the Giro five times each: Alfredo Binda, Fausto (Il Campionissimo - the Greatest Champion) Coppi and Eddie (the Cannibal) Merckx.
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12. The Giro d'Italia is considered part of the "Triple Crown of Cycling", along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.

13. The Giro itself was started with one purpose in mind: to boost the sales of Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport (The Sports Gazzette). I dare say it's proven to be a success!
And there you have them! 13 tidbits about the Giro d'Italia!













And I'll have you know that I've searched high and low for a suitable pic to close with...


















And I did the best I could, honestly!



























I went a bit retro, actually, but I think you'll approve.













Besides, I think there should be more ads like this, don't you?
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Ciao for now!
14 Comments
Skylar Kade link
5/5/2011 07:49:57 am

Great facts--something I knew absolutely nothing about!

And thanks for that last pic ;)

Reply
Brenda link
5/5/2011 08:16:58 am

Interesting! You make me want to visit to see these cyclists for myself. :)

Reply
Darla M Sands link
5/5/2011 08:25:37 am

I missed this the first time around and enjoyed it very much. Thank you! Best wishes on attending the stage beginning.

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Harriet link
5/5/2011 08:58:17 am

That would totally suck (your last one).

Have a great day!
http://harrietandfriends.com/2011/05/85-4-million-mothers-in-the-united-states/

Reply
Paige Tyler link
5/5/2011 09:55:02 am

Interesting facts! Love the eye candy!

*hugs*
Paige

My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/

Reply
adellelaudan@yahoo.com link
5/5/2011 09:57:03 am

You have sure opened my eyes to a sport I never would have experienced otherwise. Thanks! Happy T13!

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Heather link
5/5/2011 10:44:54 am

Aren't looking forward to the weekend at all, are you? *VBG*

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Jennifer Leeland link
5/5/2011 11:42:29 am

You're the only one I know who has made this topic interesting.

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Alice Audrey link
5/5/2011 12:17:18 pm

Leave it to the Italians to turn pink into a sexy man thing just because of a newspaper.

Reply
Tatiana Caldwell link
5/5/2011 12:30:57 pm

Cool facts to learn! And I must say, I really like that pink jersey (I would so sport that)

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Janice Seagraves link
5/5/2011 03:02:28 pm

Interesting facts. I had no idea about the tops.

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Janet link
5/5/2011 03:46:43 pm

I think I read this in 2008! LOL!

Reply
Xakara link
5/5/2011 03:47:47 pm

Since I didn't get to see this the first time around, thanks for reposting it. You make me feel like I'm missing out!

Happy TT,

~Xakara
<a href="http://xakara.livejournal.com/100350.html">13 Social Sites</a>

Reply
Shelley Munro link
6/5/2011 01:07:24 am

I always enjoy your cycling posts.

Reply

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    Kimberly Menozzi

    Author. Happily Married. Survivor of life with two deranged kitties.

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