Giro d'Italia 2014

What the fuck is going on with the Eurosport coverage? I'm not that interested in the finish line right now.

This... I turned it off...

I'm pretty sure Eurosport just take a feed from the organisers, so blame the organisers.

working AOK now but this is some boring ass bike racering.

This is making me not want to visit Ireland.

^that in spades.

I think the peloton just wants to get this foolishness over and start the racing in Italy

I don't understand this supposed 'internationalisation' of major tours.

I'd rather see a well organised Tour of Ireland than 3 days of haphazard Giro coverage, like I'd rather see a well organised Tour of Denmark or similar. The tour of Norway is a point in case of a country going out their way to put on something both camera/tourist friendly and quite interesting as a sporting event, it's too bad it didn't attract more of the big guns.

I can understand the respective tours dipping in and out of neighbouring countries on stages, especially to take in spectacular mountains of what have you but 3 days or rainy Irish scenery, before a rest day, before actually getting into the proper shit is a bit disjointed.

Speechless. What a win.

So close for Swift!

shit is a bit disjointed.

Cycling is pretty popular in Ireland so they threw money at it like they have some.

Kittel is flying.

From the head on shot I really thought Swift had it.

the overhead

Helicopter replay of Marcel Kittel winning the Giro d'Italia 2014 - Stage 3 - YouTube

I can understand the respective tours dipping in and out of neighbouring countries on stages, especially to take in spectacular mountains of what have you but 3 days or rainy Irish scenery, before a rest day, before actually getting into the proper shit is a bit disjointed.

I assume you'll feel the same come July?

Honestly, yes.

I'm more excited about the Commonwealth games road race than the TdF being in Yorkshire. It just feels transplanted, like it's a commercial ratings decision over any kind of sporting or entertainment one. Tour de France is about, well, France. I'd rather watch 3 extra stages of epic French scenery and entertaining routes, than some weird 'down the dales' prologue before the real thing gets going.

Mind you, if they start running the Tour of Britain in Italy or Torremolinos or something then maybe it wouldn't be so shit.

There's a very long history of starts on foreign soil for Tours, it's just a fact of life. If it was glorious sunshine in Ireland would you still be complaining? Because if its the weather then this is a walk in the park compared to last year's Giro. There was that one mountain stage where there were no pictures if the final climb at all, just got Nibi and Santa emerging from the gloom at the end. I think the Irish organisers tried really hard and the crowds were great despite the weather.

the overhead

Helicopter replay of Marcel Kittel winning the Giro d'Italia 2014 - Stage 3 - YouTube

Yikes, looked like Kittel was still accelerating when crossing the finish line!

I don't understand this supposed 'internationalisation' of major tours.

I'd rather see a well organised Tour of Ireland than 3 days of haphazard Giro coverage, like I'd rather see a well organised Tour of Denmark or similar. The tour of Norway is a point in case of a country going out their way to put on something both camera/tourist friendly and quite interesting as a sporting event, it's too bad it didn't attract more of the big guns.

I can understand the respective tours dipping in and out of neighbouring countries on stages, especially to take in spectacular mountains of what have you but 3 days or rainy Irish scenery, before a rest day, before actually getting into the proper shit is a bit disjointed.

I wish they'd gone for more wow factor With the route through Norway. Would'nt have made for better racing I Guess. But still.

Speechless. What a win.

That was insane. Kittel wasnt even on my radar. I thought EBH had done too good a job. Just wow.

I think the Irish organisers tried really hard and the crowds were great despite the weather.

crowds were indeed great, lots of people along the roads and almost everyone in pink! don't think many Italians would have stepped out & cheered as much in that weather ;-)

I can imagine that they could have made the 2nd and 3rd stage a bit more challenging than just those flat roads with a small bump or two (which wouldn't have seen the likes of Tjallingii get the KOM jersey)

Speechless. What a win.

This - he came from so far back.

There's a very long history of starts on foreign soil for Tours, it's just a fact of life. If it was glorious sunshine in Ireland would you still be complaining? Because if its the weather then this is a walk in the park compared to last year's Giro. There was that one mountain stage where there were no pictures if the final climb at all, just got Nibi and Santa emerging from the gloom at the end. I think the Irish organisers tried really hard and the crowds were great despite the weather.

Did I mention anything at all to do with it being about the weather you boob?

Awesome Power aside.

What makes a person see 3 fecking fast sprinters, 10m Ahead, and not much more off the line, and think.......'I'll make that'.

After spending the day riding hundreds of kilometers in the rain too.

Some mental attitude.

speaking of mental attitudes, w-t-f?

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/giro-d-italia/in-pictures-belfast-telegraph-readers-giro-ditalia-photographs-30262771.html

For those who like local coverage and lots of pictures taken by people attending.

Unfortunately family stuff came in the way of seeing much, but at least I caught some of the time trial start. Back to normal now...though the banners are still up. Does anybody want a souvenir before they go in the bin? ;)

Okay, I've created a league on Velogames.

The code is 10190856

I`m in as one man bike club