This year the Giro d'Italia seems to have broken their normal traditions . Not only do they start on a FRIDAY in Ireland , but they finish in Trieste . In addition to this they have 3 Rest days ! Looking at the flight from Dublin to Bari ( at a guess ) , it seems to need a rest day to get over the change in Cultures , let alone a probable change of weather conditions ? For Racers , it doesn't matter about the costs involved , in their stay in any Country , but living off my savings , a visit to cold & wet Belfast , is not the ideal start to nearly a month of travelling .
Those Racers that know me , will know that since 2010 , i have had the little green Citroen available as back up for Medical Emergencies. My dose of P.E. after the 2009 Tour de France and repeat in Feb 2011 at the Tour de Med has reminded me that i am getting on in years and Medical Assistance with Hospitalisation is not the best of Ideas . The first bout entailed 10 days in the Schwaz Hospital but the second bout only required 2 Nights since i opted to drive non stop from Monaco to Schwaz , since i knew their records would be able to shortcut any unnecessaryly repeated exploratory work .
From COLD & WET Belfast and Dublin , with their grey granite buildings to the South of Italy with 30c+ temps and Mediteranean architecture overnight , quite a contrast ? I recall the transfer from Wet & gloomy Belgium , years ago to Bergamo , with a tad warmer but gloomy weather that lasted until the Team Time Trial of Cremona to Piacenza , that was run the next day in mid 30s sunshine . The contrast was very welcome for me .Several visits to that area since have always produced comfortably warm sunny conditions .The choice for me is to depart Dublin by air , or to head to Bari and enjoy the warmer conditions as i watch the RAI TV all day broadcast , as they dart in and out of various aspects of the matters surrounding the daily events .
Today RCS had the Formal Presentation of the 2014 Giro Route . Various Racers were on hand , although which of them actually race will not be determined until after the 2014 Tour de France route is revealed .
Here is the daily schedule :
2014 Giro Route : Total Distance 3450 km
Belfast (IE) → Belfast (IE)
2/ Saturday, May 10 218 km
Belfast (IE) → Belfast (IE)
3/ Sunday, May 11 187 km
Armagh (IE) → Dublin (IE)
TRansfer Monday, May 12
Rest day
4/ Tuesday, May 13 121 km
Giovinazzo → Bari
5/ Wednesday, May 14 200 km
Taranto → Viggiano
6/ Thursday, May 15 247 km
Sassano → Montecassino
7/ Friday, May 16 214 km
Frosinone → Foligno
8/ Saturday, May 17 174 km
Foligno → Montecopiolo
9/ Sunday, May 18 174 km
Lugo → Sestola
Rest Day Monday, May 19
Rest day
10/ Tuesday, May 20 184 km
Modena → Salsomaggiore
11/ Wednesday, May 21 249 km
Correggio → Savona
12/ Thursday, May 22 46.4 km
Barbaresco → Barolo
13/ Friday, May 23 158 km
Fossano → Rivarolo Canavese
14/ Saturday, May 24 162 km
Agliè → Oropa
15/ Sunday, May 25 217 km
Valdengo → Montecampione
Rest day Monday, May 26
Rest day
16/ Tuesday, May 27 139 km
Ponte di Legno → Val Martello
17/ Wednesday, May 28 204 km
Sarnonico → Vittorio Veneto
18/ Thursday, May 29 171 km
Belluno → Malga Panarotta
19/ Friday, May 30 26.8 km
Bassano del Grappa → Monte Grappa
20/ Saturday, May 31 167 km
Maniago → Monte Zoncolan
21/ Sunday, June 1 169 km
Gemona → Trieste
Total Distance 3450 km
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