Giro d'Italia Bike Camp
Firenze & Maroista, Italy
14--21 May 2005
Part 1: Firenze
Part 2: Rossano Veneto & Maser
Part 3: Passo Duran
Taliah and I joined Carpenter/Phinney Bike Camp
to see the 88th Tour of Italy.
Our fabulous journey began with Tuscan landscapes,
including hometown roads of Gino Bartali, in Ponte a Ema,
dressed in pink along the Giro route.
At start of Giro's 9th Tappa in Florence,
Connie Carpenter got us into the village depart.
What a feast as we met with an all-star cast of cycling greats,
including happy team CSC manager Bjarne Rijs,
after yesterday's TT victory by Dave Zabriski.
Next up was Olympic Champion Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step)
and evergreen Erik "Ete Zabel (T-Mobile).
We saw Aussie stars, Matty White and Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis),
and Italians Dario Cioni (153 Liquigas) with Pietro Caucchioli (Credit-Agricole).
Today's leader, in the maglia rosa, Danilo "the killer" Di Luca (Liquigas),
and super sprinter Alessandro Pettachi (Fassa Bortolo).
On the start line with Bike Camp cyclists
from left to right: Rom Tamondong (Apache), Nick Sargent (Phonak),
with me-Dave Perry ("azzura") and Taliah Lempert ("bici rosa"),
in front of David Kruger (Simple Green) and Jacque Kruger.
Chainwheel cafe tables at La Gazzetta dello Sport in village depart.
Part 2: Rossano Veneto & Maser
Part 3: Passo Duran
© 2005 David Perry bikecult.com