2007 GIRO GALLERY
A week of stages in the tri-Veneto, with every kind of viewing opportunity: stage starts, climbs, sprint finishes...what more could we ask? Better weather, as it turned out: for the first time in the 17 years that I'd been following the Giro, the stages in our region were plaqued by downpours.
On my first day at the race, I noted the threatening skies, drove only part way up the Giau pass, and walked the rest of the way. I didn't want to have to drive back down such a steep road in a storm or blizzard. When I reached the top of the pass conditions were pretty grim, and I was glad that I hadn't ridden my bike up, and had lots of warm clothes and rain gear in my backpack. Sure enough, clouds blew in, the temperature plummeted, the winds picked up, and rain began to lash the summit. At times like these, I'm glad that I'm not a professional cyclist.
The riders next spent a rainy rest day in the beautiful Agordino area, where we saw some of them spinning their legs along the valley road that runs along the Cordevole river.
The stage start in Agordo saw dark skies and snow-covered mountains which created a fascinating and dramatic atmosphere...and for the riders, one of dread.
The following day took the riders over the infamous Passo Zoncolan. Not wanting to deal with the crowds and chaos, I watched the race from the comfort of my living room.
The next stage brought the riders back down to the plains for a guaranteed sprint finish in Riese Pio X, not far from my home. The skies were threatening but fortunately the storms stayed away. I wrote an article about the little town and its stage for CyclingNews.com (click to read the article)
Friday's stage started in Treviso--drat, rain again! I skipped the start and headed directly for Pian delle Fugazze, on Monte Pasubio. It was raining very hard when the riders arrived, and I only managed to take one semi-decent photo.
The last stage in the Veneto Region was the Bardolino-Verona ITT. I was looking forward to a festive day on scenic Lake Garda, and to taking lots of close-up photos of the riders at the start...but guess what?--rain yet again. The usually aqua waters were a dull gray, and the thick mist eliminated all views of the lake and surrounding mountains. My camera stayed in my backpack, in a Ziploc bag. Thus ended my 2007 Giro d'Italia.