Happy Giro Eve everyone! Yes, it's an exciting time... the anticipation of waking up tomorrow, running downstairs to look under the Giro Tree, where we will find an overflow of Giro, just like we asked Girbecco Claus. Really, I'm so excited I can barely hold down solid food.

To pass the time, at least when not shopping for your Giro feast or preparing the Giro ham, I propose a Haiku contest. However, I am not feeling thusly inspired, so the first one to post a worth entry will be elevated to this space. Update! And fittingly it's Steno:

sing so, rosy po!
purple alps and arno’s flow
echo…..girbecco!

However, I am feeling a different inspiration... a hint: On the first day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me: Read all about it, on the flip.

The Twenty Days of the Giro:

On the first day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

One team in synchronicity.

On the second day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Two domestiques and a team in synchronicity.

On the third day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Three fast sprinters, two domestiques and a team in synchronicity.

On the fourth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the fifth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the sixth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the seventh day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the eighth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the ninth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the tenth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the eleventh day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Eleven teams a-loafing, ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the twelfth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Twelve grinders grinding, eleven teams a-loafing, ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the thirteenth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Thirteen fastmen flying, twelve grinders grinding, eleven teams a-loafing, ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the fourteenth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Fourteen attackers attacking, thirteen fastmen flying, twelve heroes fighting, eleven teams a-loafing, ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the fifteenth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Fifteen hills a-rising, fourteen attackers attacking, thirteen fastmen flying, twelve grinders grinding, eleven teams a-loafing, ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the sixteenth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Sixteen seconds subtracting, fifteen hills a-rising, fourteen attackers attacking, thirteen fastmen flying, twelve grinders grinding, eleven teams a-loafing, ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the seventeenth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Seventeen climbers cracking, sixteen seconds subtracting, fifteen hills a-rising, fourteen attackers attacking, thirteen fastmen flying, twelve grinders grinding, eleven teams a-loafing, ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the eighteenth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Eighteen schemers scheming, seventeen climbers cracking, sixteen seconds subtracting, fifteen hills a-rising, fourteen attackers attacking, thirteen fastmen flying, twelve grinders grinding, eleven teams a-loafing, ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the nineteenth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Nineteen hopes vanishing, eighteen schemers scheming, seventeen climbers cracking, sixteen seconds subtracting, fifteen hills a-rising, fourteen attackers attacking, thirteen fastmen flying, twelve grinders grinding, eleven teams a-loafing, ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the twentieth day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

Twenty grabs for glory, nineteen hopes vanishing, eighteen schemers scheming, seventeen climbers cracking, sixteen seconds subtracting, fifteen hills a-rising, fourteen attackers attacking, thirteen fastmen flying, twelve grinders grinding, eleven teams a-loafing, ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.

On the last day of the Giro, Girbecco gave to me,

One champion smiling, twenty grabs for glory, nineteen hopes vanishing, eighteen schemers scheming, seventeen climbers cracking, sixteen seconds subtracting, fifteen hills a-rising, fourteen attackers attacking, thirteen fastmen flying, twelve grinders grinding, eleven teams a-loafing, ten dreams alighting, nine loops of madness, eight breakers breaking, seven falcons swooping, six von Trapps singing, five gold chainrings! Four long attacks, three fast sprinters, two domestiques, and a team in synchronicity.