MN Peloton - Giro d'Italia, 9th May Belfast to 1st June Trieste.

[PansBigChainring]

Almost here....how's the training regime going?

The first of the three Grand Tours, Tour of Italy, departs from Belfast with a team time trial from the Titanic shipyard, before a second day riding round the North, and then a third day from Armagh to Dublin centre, and then a flight to southern Italy and few weeks easy riding up through central Italian Apennines, over the Dolomites and a cruise through to Trieste on the Adriatic coast. No problems then...

Some useful links?

Overall route and maps

The understandably excited local Belfast press

and a bit more general fuss


Most of the usual pro-cycling suspects will be competing, and returning for the Tour de France Yorkshire in July.

Before all of this though there's a few 'classic' races to be had, but we can put those to another thread? Nothing else should get in the way of 3 days of professional racing in the Irish sunshine.

[PansBigChainring]

Spring Classics thread

[DramaAlpaca]

Excellent, we have our Giro thread already

Signing in nice & early so the peloton doesn't leave without me.

Very excited about the Irish section of the Giro

[DramaAlpaca]

Well, I tried to post a shamrock, but it's gone!

[PansBigChainring]

You can't start too early! There will be some cobbley thread 'bumps' before the start, but..having been on a TdF route, I'm not sure the folks in Belfast-Armagh-Dublin know how BIG a thing having a pro race will be. It will be stuffed with Italian media!

Shamrock - Thinking of asking HQ for a cycling emotion whilst the TdF is in England.

[cremolafoam]

Clocking in to report that Belfast city is beginning to turn pink. I have my pink cardigan at the ready . Much excitement starting to build . lots of shops sporting Giro window stickers . Molto bene!!!

[cremolafoam]

I can be your correspondent in situ.
- could be doing with a Giro pink smiley please mumsnet.

[PansBigChainring]

Buenissimo!
Una smiley rosa would be fab, and I'd imagine lemon squeezie for Tech to do.

[PansBigChainring]

Or buonissimo even!!

[Floralnomad]

I love the Giro ,it's my favourite of the big tours .

[FelixFelix]

Hello! Just been linked to here from the classics thread. Marking my place

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Count me in as one of the tifosi - I'm looking forward to the Giro!

[cremolafoam]

Less than a month to go.
Vair excited

[DoctorTwo]

Is it going to be on proper telly or only on a pay channel? I only have Freesat.

[PansBigChainring]

Doc - I've had a quick look and I don't think it will be live on proper telly. There'll probably be some live streaming on-line though, but you'd probably have to do a google search to check this out.

[cremolafoam]

I think it will be shown
On bbcNI - some of it anyway - if you have freesat you may be able to tune your bbc to Northern Ireland region( likewise via Sky etc) certainly the time trials on 9th will be locally televised I would imagine. Anticipating lots if helicopter action overhead here anyway
Looking at the route, most of Belfast will be in lockdown for the day.

[PansBigChainring]

Here's a pretty good guide to the Giro as well, showing the routes whilst in the North and the Republic.

[Cremolafoam]

Thanks Pan.
Some newsy stuff here

We have been issued with pink scarves for work next week. It's getting quite exciting now....

[PansBigChainring]

I've asked HQ for a pink jersey symbol for the Tour, or at least whilst it's on in the North and the Republic. IT would be rather cute!

[Cremolafoam]

Yes that would be class! Even a pink smiley.it would also be nice to have this bumped into Sporting Events category also.

[HowGoodIsThat]

Chapeau to Pan for starting this year's thread!

How has winter training been for y'all?

[Panwearsrosa]

I've just changed jersey!

Training has been pretty wet and cold (it was even hail stoning this afternoon) but we are hardy folk!

[HowGoodIsThat]

I have been cycling all winter (bar most of Dec when I put my back out) and am starting this season in reasonable form for the first time ever. That is to say, I can cycle more than 40km without dying. Marginal gains.

[Panwearsrosa]

Marginal gains indeed. I've been doing my lengthy commute during winter, and was heartily sick of being wet through twice each day. Still, I love it and wouldn't have it any other way.

[Cremolafoam]

I might have to name change to maglia nera. Id be lucky to do 5km without weeping:0(

[JustSquirted]

Have you seen this?
North down cycling club are the ones in pink. Six hours of cycling for their fame!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=y7f7Hk1mf54&feature=youtu.be