A little late but here’s my recollection on the Sardinian experience that I want to share. I would recommend the Giro to anybody who is remotely even considering it. So… not a poet like Joe, a wordsmith like Steve or a photojournalist like Eric, here is my "top 5" list and my most “memorable” stage, as well as some info on women racers taking part in the grangiro.
My Top 5 Trip Favorites
1. Everything I’ve learned about road riding over the last 5 years was seen in action in the 6 day stage race.
2. International experience – I don’t speak Italian (except for ciao now!) and the Italians didn’t speak a lot of English but there was a common language of cycling and shared understanding of working together on the bike.
3. Teulada cappuccinos and Pula gelato
4. Technical descents. The climbing was well worth it!
5. TS teammates – it was a constant comedy show with a bit of the Food Network mixed in. With a willingness to step up and help out when necessary.
Most Memorable Stage
The day that most stands out the most for me is the 5th stage in the mountains and this is why…
-the only stage we had to drive to & Pete’s bike was tied to the roof with 4 others neatly stacked sideways in the back. Not sure why one of the most expensive & hardest to replace frames for the guy who cared the most about the GC ended up on top but it worked!
- a minute of silence at the start for a fellow rider who passed away from a heart attack in his hotel room
-trying to keep up to the pack through narrow cobble stone streets just to get to the timing mat where the actual start line was a couple of kms away
-a beer hand up from a guy with a big toothless grin outside a local pub (I’m not sure if it was even after noon…)
-Eric & I crawling up a hill while 2 Italians fly by the other way shout Allez, allez, allez! I’m in my 32 on the back not wanting to look up at the climb ahead - this is my allez.
-windmills turning at the top of a mountain (hmmm, wonder how windy it is…)
-inhaling oranges and Tronky bars at the ‘ristorio’ (the only one I stopped at all week)
-Alberto keeping the pack together until the very end with several pushes to keep me & others from dropping off the back
-Eric & I thrilled to be done 130km with 2800m of climbing in just over 5 hours and when we get back to the parking lot, it is nearly empty…
I’ll add on some general info as I’ve had a few questions about other women racers. In the grangiro, I think there were about 18 starters, and not sure about the medio. There were 3 age categories, up to 44, 44 to 60 and 60 plus. There were only 3 in the W2 category, and the rest in W1. Compare this to the men with around 140 racers, who had age classes every 5 years with some in the M10 category, which is in the early 70s age range! About 3 women aren’t listed in the final GC so didn't finish all 6 days, and the top 4 women were equal or faster than the TS top riders, Peter & Joe. The majority of the women, about 10 riders, were from Britain with a few from Italy, 2 from Norway, and one from Paris. I ended up riding with quite a few of the ladies throughout the week, and most of us were staying at the host hotel as well so crossed paths with nearly all of them over the week. Everyone I talked to was friendly and excited to be at the race with quite a few having done it previously. A good sign that they were returning to do it again!
Jen's Sardinia Recap
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