GIRO D'ITALIA starts this Saturday, anybody else watching.....

[LittleAbruzzenBear]

...I can't wait. Wiggo thinks he can win it, although I do feel sorry for Chris Froome being sidelined.

I was hoping the MNers who followed Le Tour with me last year when I was pregnant will find this thread (I was CappuccinoCannoliLover then!).

I will try to see some if it. The programmes are so good as well as the cycling and competition. Go Wiggo!

Would be great if he could do it. I'm just that we're not out there this year to see a stage. We might try and go next year as DS2 will be nearly 2YO then. DS1 loves all the cycling and has been to two Giro stages in Abruzzo (at 9MO and 21MO!).

This link is good for anyone who wants to know who is racing.

www.steephill.tv/giro-d-italia/

Just checking which channel will be screening it. Looks like all the live stuff will be on Eurosport which we don't get. Will have to make do with highlights.

Yes, I have very well timed mat leave

Eurosport is the only reason we have Sky, but I think cycling should have proper coverage on one of the main channels. It's an even bigger deal since Wiggo and Cav have made the sport popular and more recognised. I think more children would be able to watch it then, which would be a good thing. It annoys me because everything is football, rugby, tennis, cricket and snooker. Cycling is a proper sport and should be treated equally.

MyName brilliant timing! I actually went into labour the day after Wiggo won the Tour (too much excitement and cupcakes in our house!) and I was deliriously telling my consultant if I was having a boy he would be named Bradley Mark Chris..... I gave DS2 a different name thankfully!

Much nicer coverage in euroland, you get the true feel of the atmosphere. Particularly keen on the sites and gastronomy of each region - racing aint bad either.

Yes, it is like a travelogue with fit men in lycra to look at.

Love Wiggo and Cav. Huge admiration for Froomie, but can't get excited about him in the same way. Need a bit more pesonality. How shallow am I?

personality

You're right snow. Chris is a good athlete, but I don't like him like Cav and Wiggo. I hope Tommy Voeckler recovers from his accident before the Tour. He is another fav of my mine. DH says it's because he is small and feisty like me!

Enjoying the debate about who Sky will choose to be their leader for Le Tour. Think route is more suited to Froome but Wiggo is awesome, would love to see him get the support to attempt the double. Don't think Froome will be on board with that. He's desperate to get out of Wiggo's shadow.

I can understand why Froome wants to get the chance, he could do it, but I'm a Wiggo fan!

Time stands still in the evenings in our house during TdF but I've never watched the Giro. Don't have sky. Does anyone know if highlights are on one of the normal channels? ITV3? Really so excited about Tour de Yorkshire next year.

Go Wiggo!

I just checked for Saturday and there aren't highlights on ITV4 or other main channels, but to highlight my earlier point bloody cricket and snooker is on. Cycling is taken seriously in the rest of Europe, you would think things would change after last year....

Completely agree Bear. What else do they have to do? Joe Public are obviously on board, look at the recent recipients of Sports Personality.
Sure if one of the channels took a chance it would be vindicated.

Yes, I think the BBC should step up to it. The Eurosport presenters are really good because they are/were involved in cycling so they make it entertaining, they know what they're talking about and have a sense of humour. If the Beeb could get the right presenters then I think it would be a success. At the very least there should be proper Tour coverage to start with (ITV4 last year weren't good enough).

Dh and I do not agree about tommy. V. I like him, dh hates him. Cancellara and voigt are the two main faves in this house though, we have been busy cheering cancellara on in the spring classics

I love Fabian! DH looks a bit like him, but not as fast on a bike!

snow I just emailed the BBC about the appalling lack of cycling coverage and that they should be televising the Tour at least and I used your very good point about the Sports Personality awards!

Personality wise I like Andre Greipel as I know what he is like in real life - really really nice guy. As for racing style, contador always animates the race (shame about the character). Unfortunately from a viewing perspective Sky don't make the racing all that exciting to watch - perhaps they have taken a leaf out of footballer's manual and are try to fill the front pages to add a bit of excitement so kind of wondering if the spat is for real or just a publicity stunt as Wiggins hasn't got a chance in hell to win due to the course not having enough ITT and too much climbing.

I will tell DH that Andre Greipel is nice. It's hard to tell with some of them. I may have it wrong, but I like Tylar Farrar, Jeremy Roy and Thomas de Gendt too, or they seem nice!

I like de Gent too, as well as Hoogerland don't know what they are like in real life but their DS is a good friend and a really great guy so should ask him about those two. Roy is good too, I like his aggressive style - always makes the race more entertaining.

I haven't forgotten Hoogerland's crash a couple of years ago, the barbed wire! Ouch!