Halfway through the Giro
We’re halfway through the Giro, It’s been an exciting ten days so far. With the race kicking off in Ireland and spending three days there taking in the emerald isle. Then heading back to its normal stomping ground of the roads of Italy.
This first ten days have seen some action that many in the peloton and those viewing would rather not have seen, namely these being the multiple crashes. From the first days in Belfast through to the rain soaked stages on glass like roads in Bari and the following stages riders have been falling like ten pins.
Crashing is a part of cycling life, for a professional its a a hazard of the job. For a enthusiast it’ll happen now and again, either due to poor concentration,bad luck or dangerous roads. It’s never nice no hard you fall. For Castelli sponsored team Garmin-Sharp this Giro will be one that will stick in the memory of all due to one wet grid and a huge dose of bad luck.
Back In Ireland the atmosphere was electric, Belfast had been gearing up for an almighty depart to the first ever Giro Grand Tour, the city was covered in pink. From the lights illuminating the city hall to the mayors spiky hair cut whited he’d died pink. The city had taken the theme and the excitement to heart. It was a pleasure to attend the race there.
One rider that had the home advantage and masses of adoring fans was Garmin-Sharps Dan Martin. The crowds were loving him at the team presentation, the cheers were defining, he was on the front of local papers, on the TV and fans had banners wishing him luck.
When Dan succumbed to the slippery grid on stage one, you could almost feel the city inhale with shock. The shock turned to disappointment and concern once the severity of the crash came to light, Dan sat in the road holding his shoulder and looking in pain. It wasn’t a start to the Giro that the team nor Dan had wanted or expected, it was far far removed from the teams plans or expectations.
A broken collar bone saw Dan sidelined and in hospital that night. Twelve minuets of a Grand Tour must be some sort of record, twelve minuets that turned not just Dans Giro plans upside down but the whole teams. This must be the shortest Giro of any ride in recent history.
The night after a Team Time Trial stage should be pretty straight forward for any team, bikes to clean, massages to be had and food to be devoured, maybe the occasional press conference to be held, but all in all it should be pretty straight forward and easy to prepare for the following days stage especially when you’re based in the same hotel and have no transfer to make.
But what happens when something as serious as this crash, when multiple riders on the team have hit the ground hard. Broken bones are not the only thing that need attending too, bikes and moral need to be looked after. I spoke with two members of the Garmin staff to see how they cope and how they see the riders mentality the morning after.