With about 68 kilometers of categorized climbing (maxing at 18%!) in a 174 kilometer stage, I imagine that yesterday’s rest day was a distant memory when the peloton woke up this morning and looked at the route.

 

Standing near the summit of the 14k long Aprica climb, Andrea and I had no updates about the race so we entertained ourselves by making blind guesses about who would be in the break and what the gap would be. She predicted Ryder Hesjedal would be among those in the break and I guessed they’d have about 6 minutes. When the head-of-the-race car came by shortly after with an update for the crowd, we were tickled to learn that Hesjedal was among the 8 or so riders in the break with a 1:55 advantage. We eagerly waited for the break to round the corner and discovered that in the few minutes since the update, the Canadian had attacked the group and was now riding solo!

 

A strong chase group didn’t want to let Hesjedal get too far up the road.

 

Thus far in the Giro, Aru’s Astana has typically been at the front, chasing down breaks and protecting their leader, while Tinkoff has looked weaker and less organized as a team, though Contador has ridden strongly. Today, though, the neon yellow kits lead the chase up Aprica, on the first of two laps featuring the climb.

 

Aru was tucked in further back and with just a few teammates, rather than his usual full squad.

 

Our side of the climb was populated but not crowded. The other side of the street was, well, less populated.

 

The broom wagon shadowed Lampre’s Gang Xu. The Chinese rider would abandon the race before the stage’s end.

 

Most of the spectators cleared out after the first lap while we took the opportunity to properly hang up a couple of Canadians flags in case Hesjedal was still clear of his rivals on the second and final lap. We pieced together information overheard from the Italians behind us that Astana’s Mikel Landa, winner of stage 15, had gone clear and that Kruijswijk and Contador were together while Aru lagged behind. What we didn’t know was that when Contador had suffered a mechanical, Astana had attacked the maglia rosa, a very surprising move in a sport that prides itself on its sense of sportsmanship. Given that Contador literally rode up a mountain with a broken leg at the 2014 Tour de France, it suddenly seems obvious that of course Contador would be able to chase back to the leaders, which is precisely what he did.

 

When the motorcycles and helicopter approached for the final time, Landa was still solo and on his way to back-to-back stage wins.

 

Thirty eight seconds later, Kruijswijk gritted his teeth and crossed the finish line with a relaxed looking Contador.

 

Just over 2 minutes later, Andrey Amador and Yuri Trofimov finished. The Costa Rican slipped one spot in GC to 4th while the Russian climbed a spot to 5th.

 

Just behind the pair was Hesjedal, riding alone as he had for much of the afternoon. You can usually find Hesjedal riding towards the back of the bunch, just where he likes it, but as a result of his aggressive riding in the break aways over the last 2 weeks, he jumped from 13th to 10th on GC.

 

A struggling Aru, the man tipped to be Contador’s main rival for pink, not only finished the stage nearly 3 minutes down, he dropped on GC from 2nd to 3rd after his own teammate took the stage and moved up another place.

 

Leo Konig, the new Sky leader after Porte abandoned after a disastrous stage 15,  led in a small group of riders. The Czech rider remains in the top 10.

 

Every couple of minutes, another handful of riders would round the corner and climb for a few hundred meters more towards the finish line.

 

The course soon hosted two-way traffic as riders staying in Aprica made the short descent to their hotels.

 

Another group rolled in.

 

Astana and Cannondale Garmin shepherded about 40 riders in over half an hour after Landa claimed victory.

 

Chad Haga, tossing a water bottle.

 

Sprinter Elia Viviani finished with Alan Marongoni and Alexander Porsev, maintaing the red jersey by 5 points over fellow Italian Giacomo Nizzolo. Benat Intxausti, however, finally handed over the KOM jersey after Kruijswijk’s continuous work in break after break earned the Dutch rider a 1 point lead over the Basque climber.

 

On Wednesday, the riders are treated to the shortest stage (excluding the TTT and TT) of the Giro’s 98th edition. As it’s relatively flat, the few surviving sprinters will be keen to grab the stage and justify suffering on today’s stage.

It’s great to see how all of the town deck themselves out in pink to celebrate the Giro, but it’s been wonderful to see so many remembrances of Wouter Weylandt who died while racing in the Giro. This particular one was done in post-it notes on a garage door.

 

Fans clubs have been turning up to celebrate many of the Italians on the pro-continental teams.

 

It was yet another rain soaked day at the Giro. I didn’t even bother to get out my regular camera and instead used my waterproof one that I usually only save for the beach!

 

All but the last 20 or so cyclists will set off individually at one minute intervals. Here Bert De Backer and Jussi Veikkanen approach the finish line just about equal even though De Backer started nearly 2 minutes ahead of Veikkanen.

 

Predictably, Greipel, Boonen, and Matthews abandoned the race overnight. From here on out, there’s not much point for the sprinters to kill themselves hauling their bulky bodies over enormous mountains. Just a handful of the fast men have decided to stick around.

 

For a good chunk of the riders today, the goal was simply to limit their loses or to conserve energy to help their leaders in the upcoming mountain stages.

 

Vasil Kiryienka, the stone faced Belarusian of Team Sky, thundered up and down the course, setting new best times at every intermediate time check and landed himself in the hot seat with the overall fastest time of  1:17:52. With many of the stage favorites and GC contenders yet to finish, he waited to see if his time would hold up.

 

With just a few riders still out on the road, Kiryienka’s victory was pretty much wrapped up. Contador, while riding strongly, wasn’t going to touch Kiryienka’s time, though he was succeeding in his primary objective of putting time into Fabio Aru.

 

Aru started the TT with 19 seconds advantage on Contador. When the rising Italian star crossed the finish line, he had lost the maglia rosa and 2:28 to Contador.

 

Today was a painful day for Aru, but the Giro isn’t over yet. With a series of demanding mountain stages still to go, Tinkoff and Astana are sure to continue their tug-of-war all the way to Milan.

Welcome to the seaside town of Albenga, host to the Giro's stage 2 start.

I was impressed by the size of the crowd by 9:30 am. The square was packed up to six people deep!

 

There was standard pre sign on entertainment: bike tricks,…

 

…the obligatory group of local school kids,…

 

…and a gaggle of old timey bikes and kits.

 

The publicity caravan came and went, leaving a wake of happily dazed people clutching their new treasures and wondering what exactly each little trinket was.

 

Once the caravan had gone, so had most of the crowd!

 

Whoever is wearing the maglia rosa on May 31 in Milan will take home this trophy, which is displayed every morning by an insanely tall woman wearing dangerously high heels. It is, of course, an impressive feat to earn the trophy, but it's also pretty damn impressive she is able to carry it so gracefully while sashaying on an uneven ground and managing to walk up a short flight of stairs to the podium without tripping on the hem of her dress and face planting.

 

One of the announcers displayed the sign on sheet the 197 riders would use. Typically 198 riders start a Grand Tour, but you'll notice the small X near the lower left corner indicating that George Bennett will not be riding.

 

Alessandro Petacchi spoke to the press.

 

 

Hubert Dupont, the first rider to sign on.

 

Mauro Finetto.

 

While the big picture of any given race is the same–race bikes and the first one over the finish line wins–the details can vary tremendously from one race to another. I'm not sure I've seen a pro race rack the bikes like this before. This is how bikes are typically racked in triathlons to facilitate speedy transitions.

 

BMC's Amael Moinard and Philippe Gilbert sign on.

 

A huge roar for Fabio Aru.

 

Esteban Chaves and Darwin Atapuma: competitors on the bike, friends and Colombians off. (Note: they are, in fact, still Colombians when they're on the bike.)

 

It didn't take long for the sign on area to get congested.

 

Andre Greipel.

 

Orica started the day with the pink and white jerseys. With today expected to be a sprint finish, will Michael Matthews take them both at the end of the day?

 

Jesus Herrada.

 

Because it is what I do, I had my marker and banner ready to collect autographs. By now so many of the rides know me, even if it's just as “that crazy Canadian girl who keeps showing up,” that many of them automatically come over to sign or to have a chat. It tickles me to know that they recognize me just as easily as I recognize them, even if I've only been to one other race since last September.

 

Bardiani CSF.

 

Most of the big names waited until the last minute before signing on while other riders made their way to the start line. Below: Brent Bookwalter and Amael Moinard.

 

Davide Formolo.

 

Marcus Burghardt.

 

Davide Malacarne and Jerome Pineau share a moment.

 

High 5s from Fabio Aru.

 

The streets were lined with spectators to send the riders off.

 

The neutral zone took the riders on a long loop through the town. I thought I could probably catch the peloton if I hustled up the road. When I turned away from the start, my jaw fell as I saw the crowd! No wonder they left after the publicity caravan, they had all gone to secure their spots on the course! While this was going to make things tricky for me, it made me so happy to see everyone had come out to support the Giro.

 

Some urban bushwhacking was required on my part.

 

I never get tired of this sight: the colorful peloton flowing like water around the curves.

 

Today's 22 autographs came from: 3 Carlos Betancour, 5 Hubert Dupont, 7 Hugo Houle, 18 Serghei Tsvetcov, 41 Philippe Gilbert, 42 Darwin Atapuma, 62 Tom Boonen, 74 Murilo Fischer, 77 Kevin Reza, 84 Heinrich Haussler, 103 Stig Broeckx, 105 Adam Hansen, 118 Dayer Quintana, 145 Mauro Finetto, 155 Tom Danielson, 161 Luka Mezgec, 165 Simon Geschke, 166 Chad Haga, 169 Tom Stamsnijder, 175 Sergey Lagutin, 192 Bernie Eisel, and 207 Mick Rogers.

 

At this early point in the race, I must call a time out and step away from the Giro but I will rejoin the peloton all the way to Milan by the end of next week with my Canadian flag, assorted permanent markers, a friend, and (if the Spanish mail system is playing nice) my cowbell!

 

 

After scoping out the course in the morning and realizing that the finish line was well fenced off, I stayed put at my spot a little under 700 meters to go. With this sharp left hand turn, I figured I'd have a great vantage.

 

Lampre was first to roll down the start ramp. They were not expected to pose a threat today.

 

Hugo Houle led AG2R.

 

Carlos Betancour.

 

Androni Gaicattoli.

 

Astana posted a strong time and became the early race leaders.

 

Nippo-Vini Fantini.

 

Trek.

 

Bardiani CSF.

 

Philippe Gilbert and BMC.

 

Left: Brent Bookwalter.

 

Looking for a solid ride to place GC hopeful Richie Porte in the ranks, Sky fell 14 seconds short of Astana

 

Left: Porte.

 

Rigoberto Uran and Etixx-Quick Step. They fell six seconds short of besting the Kazakh team.

 

Giant Alpecin.

 

Simon Geschke.

 

IAM led by Sylvain Chavanel.

 

Heinrich Haussler.

 

Movistar's Jesus Herrada.

 

Dayer Quintana, younger brother of the 2014 Giro winner.

 

Southeast.

 

CCC.

 

Having won the TTT at the 2014 Giro exactly one year ago today, Orica was the team to beat. I didn't have a stopwatch, but you could tell the Australian squad was absolutely flying!

 

With just six teams left to finish, things were looking good for Orica.

 

Lotto Jumbo.

 

Lotto Soudal.

 

Katusha (and an impressive tan line).

 

Tinkoff was the only team on the road who looked like they could possibly challenge Orica, but even they were seven seconds too slow.

 

Cannondale Garmin just didn't quite have it today. Below: Ryder Hesjedal.

 

Alan Marangoni.

 

Nate Brown.

 

FDJ was the only team still on the road and there was no way they were on track to beat Orica! The podium belonged to the Aussie squad!

 

Simon Gerrans has probably wanted to forget his 2015, which has been plagued by injuries and crashes until recently, but that changed today. As the first rider to cross the finish line, he earned the race leader's maglia rosa.

 

Team sprinter Michael Matthews received the white jersey as the best young rider.

 

Orica returned to the stage one last time to be named the best team.

 

A beautiful morning in Sanremo to get the Giro kicked off.

 

Today's 17.6km team time trial began in San Lorenzo and much of the course was on a narrow bike path. Local cyclists and joggers made use of the bike path this morning ahead of the pros.

 

The finish area, abuzz with activity.

 

The course was eventually closed to pedestrians and teams had the opportunity to finally ride it from start to finish without having to worry about plowing into pedestrians.

 

Lotto Soudal had already ridden the course once, but must not have been satisfied with their effort. They doubled back and hoisted their bikes over spectators and a fence, only to be confronted by a confused police officer, who eventually let them have another crack at it.

 

Alan Marangoni and Davide Villella of Cannondale Garmin.

 

Nate Brown and Tom Danielson.

 

Ryder Hesjedal.

 

Jesus Herrada.

Once the caravan had passed, the race was ready to get started…

 

Here we go! It’s Giro Eve, the first Grand Tour of 2015!

Sanremo, which you will already know from Milan-Sanremo, is host to Saturday’s TTT which kicks off the 98th edition of the Giro. While nothing can ever compare to the amazing spectacle that Belfast put on to celebrate the 2014 Giro, Sanremo has pinked the town in its own style.

 

They even rolled out the pink carpet at the casino!

 

Someone went to a lot of trouble to individualize a few hundred of these bizarre, little wooden doll things which lined both sides of the carpeted stairs.

 

Teams were scheduled to start arriving around 4:30 and a decent crowd, up to 3 people deep in some spots, eagerly awaited the riders.

 

Italian procontinental team Southeast arrived first. Below: 41 year old Alessandro Petacchi, the oldest rider at the Giro.

 

Caleb Fairly and Cheng Ji were just of the riders who were visibly impressed by the scene.

 

Three cheers for Poland! That’s a lot of orange…

 

Androni Giacattoli.

 

Ethiopian road race champion Tsagbu Grmay.

 

Przemyslaw Niemiec.

 

Roberto Ferrari.

 

A disinterested Sylvain Chavanel led IAM into the casino.

 

Jerome Pineau and Australian road race champion Heinrich Haussler.

 

The last member of Trek Factory Racing was Japan’s Fumy Beppu. There’s a Japanese photographer I usually see at the races and while he photographs the bulk of the peloton, he and Beppu were both thrilled to take a moment and enjoy having the pink carpet all to themselves.

 

FDJ.

 

Bardiani CSF.

 

Lotto Jumbo’s Steven Kruijswijk was the only rider tonight who brought a bike with him! Also noteworthy about the Dutch team is that their kiwi climber, George Bennett, was absent from the presentation.

 

Nippo-Vini Fantini.

 

There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason as to when a team would arrive, which lead to long bouts of nothingness. This is when I like to see what the photographers are up to.

 

BMC.

 

Sergey Lagutin may have changed his cycling license to be Russian, but he will always be Uzbek to me!

 

I’ve never seen such a huge smile from Luca Paolini! Riding in his native Italy does wonders for him, it would seem!

 

Adam Hansen is about to start his 4 millionth consecutive Grand Tour. Or something like that.

 

Claudio Chiappucci, an Italian climber who won Grand Tour stages and jerseys in the 1990s, was on hand as a TV commentator.

 

When the Tinkoff bus pulled up, none of the riders emerged for several minutes, but that didn’t stop the crowd from wildly applauding nonetheless. They all wanted to see Alberto Contador. Then, at the last moment, someone behind me remembered that Italy’s two time Giro winner Ivan Basso (below) was also riding.

 

 

Astana with Fabio Aru.

 

Jesus Herrada marched his Movistar teammates into the casino.

 

Rigoberto Uran, 2014 Giro runner up, and Classics great Tom Boonen, who is making his Giro debut at the age of 34.

 

All smiles and chit chat from the Cannondale Garmin squad. The team will ride in support of Canada’s only Grand Tour winner, Ryder Hesjedal.

 

 

AG2R.

 

Handshakes from Salvatore Puccio while Richit Porte bounded up the stairs.

 

For anyone keeping score at home, Sky was the 21st team to walk the carpet. There was another one of those long lulls and it had been well over 90 minutes by this point, so spectators started to wander off. This woman took the opportunity to rifle through the Giro dolls and take her favorites home as a souvenir.

 

I know just what you’re thinking. “Twenty one teams? But the Giro has 22 teams!” Indeed. And the defending 2014 Giro TTT champs were in no particular rush to show up.

Doing things their way as usual, around 6:30, a full 2 hours after the first time kicked off the evening, Orica GreenEdge strolled up the street and sauntered happily up the steps. Unfortunately for them, they missed the great crowd. In fact, it had thinned out so much that I’m very visible in this team photo below!

 

Simon Gerrans autographed a jersey.

 

With the last team headed inside for the formal presentation, I meandered around and discovered the riders were exiting the building through a side exit to get to their buses. Plenty of people took this opportunity to hound the riders for autographs and photos. Race favorites like Contador were very gracious but you could tell they really just wanted to get on their buses and head back to their hotel for a good dinner and maybe some functioning wifi.

 

When I’m at the races, I like to keep my eyes open for what jobs I could do. Sometimes it’s a serious thought, sometimes not. But I’m pretty sure I’m qualified to be the Official Cross Walk Guard for Cannondale Garmin!

 

Sleep well, everyone. You’ve got a long 3 weeks ahead of you.