Anybody been in italy for this bike race? We will be in Italy, and want to watch at least one day of the race.

What was it like? Where is the best place to see it?

That might depend on this year's route.

Has anyone been there in previous years? just wondering what the crowd is like, and if it's mostly tourists watching, or if the locals get into it.

If you've had a chance to watch the Giro on TV you'll have seen the many locals who come out to support their teams. Definitely not just tourists--cycling fans from all over.

I live in Switzerland and every year say I am going to go to the Tour de France and then go to see the last day of the Tour de Romandie at the end of our street here in Lausanne and what you see is over in about 20 seconds flat. The bikers zip by faster than you can see so you can't even figure out who most of them are and then it is over. The best part about the races is beforehand when the cars with the beautiful girls throwing souvenirs come through.

Hello sidandspennysmom. We were in Ravenna, think it was 1983, and the race came through Ravenna. It was fun to watch and we took photos. What we didn't know was that the race continued over the mountains to Isernia. We were going to Isernia. We were quite delayed due to the race, but it was fun as everyone else was also. Outside of Ravenna where the road was like a parking lot residents brought all those "trapped" like we were bottles of water and snacks to eat. I don't remember seeing crowds of people..it was just fun and the residents were enjoying themselves..but again that was over twenty years ago. When we finally got to Isernia the racers were staying at the same hotel we were. Fun fellows!

This year the Tour of California riders will be coming through our town, very near where we live, and we'll be there cheering them on however briefly.

bumping--- anyone else have experience with this??

We watched the Tour de France last year when it went through Provence.

It was an experience not to be missed! There was a lot of waiting, but we chose a spot where we could climb on our bikes to the top of the mountain before the race and then decend after the race passed. It made the day not only fun, but challenging too.

Go see the Giro. You may not be racing back to see it again, but it will be an experience you won't soon forget.

Jen

We DID see it.. in Cortona. it was great! really quick, but fun to hang out with the locals! thanks!