CyclePig

Do you feel like going for a ride surrounded by some fantastic scenery? Why not set your sites on the Giro d’Italia?

Ok, maybe that’s not quite realistic for the following reasons - firstly you need to be a professional cyclist, secondly you need to be able to ride 100’s miles over many consecutive days, and thirdly you would need to be in Italy right now as the Giro starts today.

Photo by luiginter

But just because the Giro is a race for professionals it doesn’t mean there isn’t something to be gained by the average cyclist. I don’t normally follow professional cycling but I do make an exception when it comes to the grand tours of the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. For me both of these awesome races provide great inspiration to get out on my bike and discover new places - I also quite like cycling in the Alps and Pyrenees.

About the Giro d’Italia

The 2008 version of the Giro d’Italia runs from May 10th - 1st June. It will see 198 riders compete in 21 stages and cover a massive 2,150 miles - more than many of us ride in a year. For details of the route, the teams and the TV options for many countries check out the Giro d’Italia 2008 Live Dashboard. If you are keen to watch it but it is not broadcast in your area there is an online option at Cycling TV.

If this is your first time watching I would suggest to try and watch a highlights program rather than the live coverage. Also, I find the mountain stages can be the most interesting as the scenery is fantastic and you get to see the professional cyclists at their absolute limit - pushing uphill at speeds that most of us dream of doing on the flat.