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89th Giro d'Italia - presented by

Stage 21, Museo del Ghisallo - Milano, 140K

28 May

Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
Bennissimo Basso!

Dust Devil's Daily Wrap, Stage List, Stage Profile, Photos

So another Giro d’Italia draws to a close and The Dust Devil is a little sad knowing that I won’t have my daily dose of Italian drama to look forward to. Was it a good Giro? In all honesty I have to say that last year’s edition was better. That was through no fault of the race organizers though. Ivan Basso and his CSC squad simply outclassed everyone else in the peloton giving Basso an enormous 9 minute plus final advantage. Last year’s race had the advantage of a GC separated by seconds instead of minutes, and that made the difference.

The Dust Devil is a glass is half full kind of guy though, so let’s look at the positives of this year’s Giro: We witnessed the birth of a new campionissimo in Ivan Basso. Basso stamped his authority on the race, but did it a much more subdued classy manner, a la Miguel Indurain. Let’s face it, Armstrong was the champion of champions, but his Tour victories were like watching an elephant storming through a china shop. Sometimes it’s nice to see a champion utterly crush the opposition. But it’s sometimes also nice to see the victor take emphatic victories, while also leaving some glory for the others.

I don’t know about you, but for me seeing the peloton snaking over some Dolomite pass gives me goose bumps. This race (and this sport) evoke a real passion that few other things are capable of doing. So in that sense, this year’s Giro was a resounding success.

Viva Il Giro d’Italia!!!

- The Dust Devil