Our Giro stage 15: The most beautiful race
Season 8, Episode 62, May 24, 2020, 03:30 PM
Every year, the Giro d'Italia shows off the best countryside Italy has to offer. It's not to say that France and Spain are not blessed with great scenery but Italy seems to provide the most consistently beautiful backdrop for the racing.
The Giro's slogan – the toughest race in the most beautiful place – might have a touch of hype but it's probably fair to say it is the most photogenic of the three grand tours.
In this episode of Our Giro, Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe look at the visual aspect of the Giro. We meet legendary photographer Graham Watson, who witnessed the drama of the Giro more more than three decades before retiring to New Zealand. Graham explains why the Giro was his favourite race to photograph and watch and looks back at some of the most memorable moments – from the duel between Stephen Roche and Roberto Visentini in 1987, to Marco Pantani's brilliance in 1998 and downfall in 99, to Alberto Contador coming straight from the beach to win a decade later.
We also talk Italy's sense of style on and off the bike with Sir Paul Smith, who designed the maglia rosa in 2013, and Andy Storey, who runs through some of the most memorable Italian jerseys. Plus author and cultural historian Kassia St Clair talks about the power and charm of the colour pink. There's also the latest rider added to Ciro Scognamiglio's increasingly eclectic Giro Dream Team and François Thomazeau plays us out with La Vie En Rose.
The Cycling Podcast is supported by iwoca and Science In Sport.
LINKS
You can check out some of Graham Watson's finest photographs on his website. You can also buy his books, prints and posters.
Andy Storey's book on the history of cycling jerseys is called The Art of the Jersey. You can buy some great retro remakes at prendas.co.uk
Kassia St Clair's book is called The Secret Lives of Colour.
COMING TOMORROW
We meet the only American to win the Giro, Andy Hampsten. This is the first of a two-part interview with the 1988 champion. In part one, we talk about his breakthrough stage win during the 1985 race.
COPPA ITALIA OF CYCLING JERSEYS
What is the best-looking Italian cycling jersey of all-time? You decide. Starting tomorrow on our Twitter page is the Coppa Italia of Italian cycling jerseys. Vote for your favourites in the group stage from Sunday.
LIFE IN THE PELOTON
While we've been doing Our Giro, Mitch Docker and his old Orica-GreenEdge teammates have been remembering Their Giro when they won the opening team time trial of the 2014 race in Belfast.
WATCH OUR FIRST FILM
The Giro's slogan – the toughest race in the most beautiful place – might have a touch of hype but it's probably fair to say it is the most photogenic of the three grand tours.
In this episode of Our Giro, Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe look at the visual aspect of the Giro. We meet legendary photographer Graham Watson, who witnessed the drama of the Giro more more than three decades before retiring to New Zealand. Graham explains why the Giro was his favourite race to photograph and watch and looks back at some of the most memorable moments – from the duel between Stephen Roche and Roberto Visentini in 1987, to Marco Pantani's brilliance in 1998 and downfall in 99, to Alberto Contador coming straight from the beach to win a decade later.
We also talk Italy's sense of style on and off the bike with Sir Paul Smith, who designed the maglia rosa in 2013, and Andy Storey, who runs through some of the most memorable Italian jerseys. Plus author and cultural historian Kassia St Clair talks about the power and charm of the colour pink. There's also the latest rider added to Ciro Scognamiglio's increasingly eclectic Giro Dream Team and François Thomazeau plays us out with La Vie En Rose.
The Cycling Podcast is supported by iwoca and Science In Sport.
LINKS
You can check out some of Graham Watson's finest photographs on his website. You can also buy his books, prints and posters.
Andy Storey's book on the history of cycling jerseys is called The Art of the Jersey. You can buy some great retro remakes at prendas.co.uk
Kassia St Clair's book is called The Secret Lives of Colour.
COMING TOMORROW
We meet the only American to win the Giro, Andy Hampsten. This is the first of a two-part interview with the 1988 champion. In part one, we talk about his breakthrough stage win during the 1985 race.
COPPA ITALIA OF CYCLING JERSEYS
What is the best-looking Italian cycling jersey of all-time? You decide. Starting tomorrow on our Twitter page is the Coppa Italia of Italian cycling jerseys. Vote for your favourites in the group stage from Sunday.
LIFE IN THE PELOTON
While we've been doing Our Giro, Mitch Docker and his old Orica-GreenEdge teammates have been remembering Their Giro when they won the opening team time trial of the 2014 race in Belfast.
WATCH OUR FIRST FILM
Our first film, And So We Rode… is available for Friends of the Podcast to watch now. This is the story of Larry Warbasse and Conor Dunne packing their bags and going on a bikepacking trip in the French and Italian Alps after their pro team Aqua Blue Sport folded mid-season. It costs £15 to sign up as a Friend of the Podcast and you will be able to watch the film as well as listen to all our special episodes. thecyclingpodcast.com/join
OUR SPONSORS
iwoca became The Cycling Podcast’s title sponsors in March 2020. Iwoca specialises in supporting small businesses and can lend between £1,000 and £250,000. Applications can take only a few minutes to complete and they promise a fast and fair decision. To find out more, go to iwoca.co.uk
Science In Sport is The Cycling Podcast’s longest-standing supporter. It’s a relationship that stretches back to the 2016 Giro d’Italia. Listeners can get 25% off Science In Sport’s range of energy drinks, bars, gels and cakes at scienceinsport.com with the code SISCP25
This episode is also supported by Beer52. You can try a case of eight great beers for just the cost of delivery by going to beer52.com/cycle
This episode is also supported by Beer52. You can try a case of eight great beers for just the cost of delivery by going to beer52.com/cycle
RIDE OUR GIRO
If you have a smart turbo trainer, you can ride Our Giro on the RGT digital platform. Each stage is around 30 kilometres long and will be online for three days. Go to RGTcycling.com/our-giro for details of how to download the app and sign up. Thanks to RGT and Veloviewer.com for helping us create Our Giro.
GIRO WINE CLUB
Our friends at Dvinecellars.com have put together a ‘Selezione Our Giro’ case of 12 wines from around Italy. There’s also a ‘Baby Giro’ case of six bottles. Use the code ‘Our Giro’ when ordering. Cases can be delivered in the UK, excluding the Highlands and Northern Ireland, and a donation from each case will be made to the Scuola Ciclismo in Cene.