The first summit finish of any Grand Tour is a special occasion, such is the weight of expectation on the race’s main contenders to deliver, and the potential for a shifting-sands moment in the overall standings.
The opening six stages of this year’s Giro d’Italia have been brimming with chaos, frankly miserable weather at times, and, naturally, spectacular bike racing. All this before the first true mountain stage? We’re truly being spoilt by a race that organisers love to brand as ‘the toughest race in the world in the world’s most beautiful place’.
However, if there was any doubt in this tagline, stage 7, which finished on the Blockhaus – the stage for Eddy Merckx’s first-ever Grand Tour stage win in 1967 – was as good an example as any of the Giro living up to this marketing message by the bucketload.
After yesterday’s close call, Dylan Groenewegen was likely hoping for a day of recovery in the gruppetto.
There was a party atmosphere at the start in Formia ahead of the first mountain foray of the Giro. Here, a man plays a scetavajasse, a traditional Neapolitan percussion instrument.
Plenty of fans out, sporting their merchandise and happy to pose for our photographer, Chris.
Before the GC fight, formalities with local dignitaries.
You can never wear too much pink at the Giro, right?
There’s something about this shot that feels very Neapolitan, maybe it’s the facial expressions and passion towards the peloton as it prepares to depart Formia.
Two Tudor riders head to the start, ahead of the first real uphill challenge of this year’s Corsa Rosa
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CyclingNews RSS Feed…