Friday, May 8, 2015

The Spokes Man

GIRO!!!
Grandissimo!
The first grand tour is finally upon us.  We all know the Tour de France is the king of races, but the Giro is not far behind.  When it comes to history, food, drink and sheer beauty Italy is hard to top.  This year's race will be in HD on BeIn Sports (ask Greg for his login) and we should be able to get together for a stage or two along the way.   Here's my guide for when and how to watch this year's Giro.

The Pope has made it official so let's get this thing rolling

Stage 1, Saturday 5/9:
* 
Why to watch: I am not a fan of watching time trials even team time trials, but I had to put this on the list as it's always fun to get it started.  Also, somebody's team always fucks up pretty bad ruining their team leader's chances on the first day (see Garmin last year and Cunego's team this year).
Who to watch: Today is more about who loses time than who gains time.  Orica thinks winning the TTT makes a good grand tour so look for a fast time there.  Otherwise the big budget teams like Saxo and Sky should place well.
How to watch: It's the start of the Giro don't over think it, pop some wine, make some pasta and kick things off.

Stage 2, Sunday 5/10:
*  
Why to watch: Yeah I know it's Mother's day, but it's Mother's day everyday at my house.  I'm watching the Giro.  Today's stage should end in a sprint but the reason to watch is the finishing town.  After a ride down the Mediterannean coast the race will do laps through the port city of Genoa.
Who to watch: So many second tier sprinters.  This should be a chance to find out who's the real deal this year.  My money's on Greips, maybe one of these youngsters like Mezgec.
  How to watch: It's Mothers's day so some Bellinis seem in order.  Genoa is known for it's foccacia and basil pesto, maybe pair that with the rich sea food salad Cappon Magro.  If that seems like too much how about just slapping some "genoa" salami onto some foccacia, sitting back and enjoying the coastal scenery.  

Stage 4, Tuesday 5/12:
**  
Why to watch: Two words: Cinque Terra.  This stage actually has an interesting ending as the cat 2 climb should shell most sprinters before the long drag into town.
Who to watch: What fast man can make it over the final climb?  Mathews? Gilbert? I'm picking Juanjo Lobato.
How to watch: Wait til after work, find the race on YouTube, call that chick from college that's always talking about her transformative trip to Italy, uncork a bottle of Cinque Terra Red and tuck into some meat ravioli.  

 Stage 5, Wednesday 5/13:
** 
Why to watch: The Giro rolls into the Emilia region and the riders are greeted by the first summit finish of the race.  Shouldn't be a huge GC battle but worth watching as someone will lose time and PhilGil and Mathews might get a chance to go head to head again.
Who to watch: How fast do the climbers go up the final climb.  Look for BMC and Orica to try to control for JillBear and Bling, then they can watch as Diego (puff the magic dragon) Ullisi takes the win.
How to watch: Put down the wine drunky, no grapes growing in Emilia.  Don't worry they use what they got and fermented berry liqueurs is the drink of choice.  Also, this would be the time to dust off your grandma's mushroom lasagna recipe as this is the birthplace of the layered delicacy.  

Stage 8, Saturday 5/16:
*** 
Why to watch: Billed as the first big showdown of the Giro, this summit finish should be selective.
Who to watch: Probably not the winning climb of the Giro but somebody will fall off the back.  Look for the top 4 to stay close together, but it's hard not to pick Contador for any of the mountain stages. 
How to watch: A large contingent of Team Wiskota will be busy in southern Minnesota that morning with the Almanzo, Root River Triathalon and such so the stage will have to wait until the afternoon.  But then we will have a ton of cycling to watch.  This is also the queen stage of the Tour of California, one of the few races we get live on our tvs.  Today is a day to replace those carbs.  Taglliatelle, muffalda and polenta are all popular in the this region.  Serve it up with a thick meat sauce like the locals do and pair with a Cabernet style red.    


Stage 9, Sunday 5/17:
**  
Why to watch: This lumpy stage makes the list mostly because it's on a Sunday and may be the best chance for Team Wiskota to get together.
Who to watch: Lumpy stages can be hard to predict.  Look for a rider from a team whose leader bonked the day before to try to win from a break away.  Garmin perhaps.  When I look at our Wiskota riders I think this could be a Paolini day.  If it goes to sprint look for Greips  or maybe Hofland, both have teams that can control the lead out.    
How to watch:  Giro in the morning, bike to the pub for the final stage of Cali around noon?  If anyone knows where to get Strega, now's the time otherwise Peronis on the patio. End the day with a nice family supper of cavatelli with broccoli.  You can celebrate Team Volpe's win at the Almanzo with a crisp white wine such as a Coda di Volpe.

That will get you through the first two weekends.  As always the Giro really starts to heat up in that last week.  Stay tuned for the second half of the Wiskota Giro viewing guide.  











2 comments:

  1. The Genoa salami from Jimmy Johns didn't do the trick.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Super excited for Tues. stage. Cinque Terra climb looks amaze balls.

    ReplyDelete