flygirl

Does anyone here follow the Giro d'Italia? Ten more days! And May is such a perfect time to be in Italy (or France, etc...)

For whatever reason, luck, etc., I've had a number of years in which I found myself in Italy in May and always seemed to be within shouting distance of at least one stage of the Giro.

Last year, May 2012, my Mom and I actually saw a stage - the starting line of the stage from Limone sul Garda. I still haven't posted photos from that entire Northern Italy trip, I'll get on that soon - stay tuned.

At any rate, the Giro starts in ten days and as luck would have it, for the first time my "May Italy dates" will not be near the Giro. It starts in Naples and goes to the coast before I even leave home.

MKECityMom

Hi flygirl - We'll be there! As luck would have it, our apartment rental in Florence is about a 12 minute WALK from the finish of the Florence stage (Stage 9 Sansepolcro - Firenze). It finishes in the Piazzale Michelangelo. I am beyond excited, as we didn't know the route when we selected our apartment. We were just crossing our fingers that it wouldn't be difficult for us to traipze in and around Florence finding the race. Now I find out it's finishing just 12 minutes away!

Would love to see your pictures from the 2012 Giro d'Italia. My husband and I went to see the spring races in Belgium and northern France a few years ago. Crazy fun! This time we'll have our two sons in tow (11 and 13).

I'll post my pictures when we return...leaving May 7 and returning to the states May 20th.

flygirl

That sounds fabulous - good for you! That will be a very fun day for you. And now nice to not have to camp out for very long.

My Mom and I stumbled across the Mille Miglia in Florence in 2007. We came around the corner to plunk at a cafe in the piazza and heard lots of cheering. We managed to find great seats at the cafe and we watched all the fun.

flygirl

And here are the photos from 2012 - Limone sul Garda.

I'd be much obliged if anyone could ID a few riders. I caught Taylor Phinney, Daniele Righi and Matteo Rabottini (who is very cute - look at those eyelashes!) but so far that's it. It's kind of tough to ID them with their sunglasses on.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skywalk...7630483916482/

flygirl

ps. It has already started, today.

MKECityMom

Cool photos and I've just got to get some of those crazy paper hats for the spectators! My husband could probably ID the riders. We're very excited about the race. I hope that anyone in Florence that weekend (or at any of the stages in Italy) takes the time to check out the scene. It's thoroughly European. Plus, the cyclists are gorgeous. (Shh...don't tell my husband I just said that. But since he's a cyclist himself, maybe he won't be too offended.)

Just picked up a great HD camcorder, so will be able to post some great videos and photos after our trip. Two more days, and we're off!

Underhill

That was some sprint finish on the opening day!

A_Brit_In_Ischia

If in Italy, it's being shown on the RAI 3 tv station.... which was how we watched yesterday's team trial here on Ischia - in
the comfort of home, rather than out in the sun!

Sorrento, along the Amalfi Coast and down past Paestum today...

Peter