Giro d'Italia 2018

The route of the 101 Giro d'Italia has been revealed and it's really interesting.
The exotic start is a fantastic idea to expand the cycling culture outside Europe. Nevertheless Israel and its silly controversy about "west Jerusalem" prove that maybe the organizers have chosen the wrong country. They are not ready to be part of a melting pot event.
Despite Israeli officials, I think that the TT in Jersualem will be a fantastic scenario for the start of the Giro.
The route continues with interesting stages, that will amuse the spectators and the fans since the first week.
The diamond of the race is the terrible Zoncolan that is something unique in the World Tour.
That stage will worth a Classic and the winner will remain in the history of cycling.
The Colle delle Finestre will be another great climb but it has been positioned too far from the end of the stage.
I have just two critics to move to this great Giro:
1) the arrival in Rome. The capital is a wonderful city but it is not a cycling one.
Milano is the Italian capital of cycling and the final TT in the city should become like the Champs Elysées for the Tour de France. Last year it has been something memorable with the leader jersey changing in the last stage, after a battle lasted 21 days.
2) The Dolomites and the Tuscany have been a bit sacrificed.
Nevertheless I really look forward this Giro, enriched by the participation of the best riders in the world and by Froome too, attempting a historic triple.

The Eagle Of Filottrano

This is a very sad article to write.
You have no words when this kind of tragedies happen.
Nevertheless, I decided to write this article to pay a tribute to one of the most representative riders of the cycling world, Michele Scarponi.
I am very sad also because yesterday, answering to the last Tweet of Michele, I told him to bring to his children two pink jerseys too and He liked my comment.
This made me feel even closer to him, because this was Michele, a rider incredibly close to people and fans.
He has never been arrogant or conceited, he was always ready to joke with someone and this made him the rider of the people.
The career of Michele is out of the question, he has been one of the best riders of the last 20 years, but what makes the difference is that he will be remembered for his fantastic personality and this is the hardest trophy to conquer.
Remembering Michele, I just want to imagine that the Eagle of Filottrano will fly over the Peloton protecting the riders.

Cycling & Art Pt. 2

What happen when two of the most famous manga artists love cycling?
The result is in this incredible book called: "Viva il Ciclissimo!"
Katsuhiro Otomo and Katsuya Terada (the first is the author of the manga called "akira" and the second is the author of the manga called "Saiyukiden") in 2007 decided to follow the most fascinating Grand Tour in the world, the Giro d'Italia.
They spent three intense weeks travelling with the Giro d'Italia convoy, tasting from the inside the essence of the race.
During the race they drew the impressions the race gave them day by day.
Once back to Japan they published an amazing book called: "Viva il Cilissimo!"  where they gathered all their drawings.
The Giro d'Italia represented in the book was won by Danilo Di Luca and presented the hardest climb in Europe: Monte Zoncolan.
The book is still available on Amazon.
Click here for more drawings taken from the book.