They said it couldn't be done - Giro 2012 to start in Washington
by Monty. on Feb 24, 2010 1:03 PM EST
Email
PrintThe official announcement is due tomorrow, but Italian newspaper Sole24 has scooped them with the news that what we were all laughing about or saying might happen in five years is official, signed and confirmed. There will be a prologue around the Memorial Bridge, then stage one looks like being a crit race along Pennsylvania Avenue, past the National Archives, the White House, FBI HQ, Freedom Plaza, the Obelisk, the State Department, Watergate (is this bit a joke), Rock Creek Park and back. That's Saturday and Sunday, then Sunday night it's back to Italy, Monday is a rest day, Tuesday some equally bizarre stage in Italy.
192 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
That is a very expensive 2 stages for the European teams...
could of at least done one or 2 stages more to get some bang for the buck but whatever.
Maybe
but the publicity that the sponsors will get should make it more than worthwhile
It's rubbish stupid etc..
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
Absolutely.
And I am SO going to be there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
Huh.. I thought you were English..
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
i'll join you
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
I said at the time the rumor first came out
that this was a terrible idea for the riders and the teams, but I’d selfishly be so happy. Luckily DC isn’t that far from NY, and I’m sure the DC PdCrs are already planning an Italian themed celebration.
Definitely
I’m so psyched I’m going to Italy tomorrow
(I actually am, but it’s for work and has been planned for months)
This Might Be Good News...
…for Team Type 1, which says it aims to be in the Giro by next year.
by Chief Commissaire on Feb 24, 2010 9:32 AM EST up reply actions
Eeh.. With all the respect..
But with that team?
I know Rabou from Rabo CT.. But he’s not an huge talent.. The rest is ?/
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
Agreed...
…Team Type 1 lost all its top talent from 2009 (Aldape, Wilson, Lill) so it remains a huge unknown in the stage racing department.
I can’t imagine them getting into the Amgen Tour of California without some proven results at San Dimas, Redlands, etc.
by Chief Commissaire on Feb 25, 2010 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah they don't have any climbers really save some decent guys like Chris Jones.
They are chock full of sprinters though.
by Vlaanderen90 on Feb 25, 2010 1:20 AM EST up reply actions
Even their amateur team is chock full of sprinters
Huge dudes on their Cat 1-2 team.
by Douglas Ansel on Feb 25, 2010 10:27 AM EST up reply actions
don't be so stingy
I don’t care if it is “rubbish stupid etc.”, I can actually drive there and that makes it good for ME
Your point?
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
The point is I'm jealous
As a resident of Europe you could on any given weekend during the season take a couple of days off of work, hop in your car or on a train and go see some real racing. For that matter it’s not just the racing, (this is the bit that really raises my jealousy level) you could spend the same amount of time, take your bike and go climb some historic cols. Or you could go to Paris and eat, or go to Rome and eat, or go to London and … er … hit the pubs (before anyone gets offend, I understand that there is world-class dining in London.)
So before you poo-poo this, please have a little sympathy for those of us for whom this would be a rare opportunity.
For those of you living in Europe who don’t take advantage of the opportunities that are practically at you doorstep, there aren’t enough words to express my disdain.
For those of you living in Europe who don’t take advantage of the opportunities that are practically at you doorstep, there aren’t enough words to express my disdain.
Yah boo sucks?!
by thebongolian on Feb 24, 2010 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
yes but
it’s quite a stupid idea in terms of rider recovery and the race in general isn’t it?
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
Meh
Not something you want to do a lot of. But just this once? Considering the good it could (maybe) do the sport in terms of increased exposure, I would argue that it’s worth the hassle. Hopefully the first few stages in Italy won’t be important at all, so people can recover.
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 24, 2010 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
i can see the benefits of exposure
but they’ll have to stack the final week with key stages….oh wait. yeah this is a great idea!
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
Not anymore so that it starting in Amsterdam, Frinky!
Or having podium drag queens!
As for TT’s in Rock Creek Park, DC courier having been doing the Rough News Time Trial every Wednesday during Daylight Savings Hours for years.
Here is the map!
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/DCBCA-s-Rough-News-Time-Trial
Racing for Victory and Free Beer!
Don't know if teams like Acqua & Sapone or whoever will think it is worthwile at the time for all of that effort for 2 stages
that most likely don’t have too much impact on GC (prologue and a crit) and they will just be pack fill. It should be fun though but some of the teams that have lower budgets might be a bit strapped
by Vlaanderen90 on Feb 24, 2010 7:29 AM EST up reply actions
Does Washington not have Maccie D's?
Does Washington not have catholics?
the race sponsors that is
If DC have signed a deal to host the race they will probably pay for travel and accommodation.
This is the dumbest thing since the Tour of the United States
Dibs on Mark’s couch.
"Woof, woof, woof! That's my other dog imitation."
Does his couch
pull out?
"My facking goat didn’t wear Robes! Does he look Scottisch?!" Baron von Frinkenstein
There's a basement room available in my house
for the small price of a commemorative “DC Polemica” Snuggie.
Is it too much to hope that the local government acts like the Italians and paves the roads in advance of the Giro?
Jens Voigt doesn’t know where you live, but he knows exactly where you will die.
Given that DC is funded by Congressional appropriations...
…way too much to ask.
It remains to be seen...
It depends on what 2012 sponsors have business in the USA. Even now and going only with a few teams that come to mind, many primary sponsors (ex: Liquigas, FdJ, Milram, Omega Lotto) are strictly european and do very little business overseas. But it’s true that the peloton got a couple of big US sponsors in the last few years, maybe in 2012 there will be even more.
Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (F. Coppi)
Yes
But usually when they crossover it’s for a little while (Tour of California, Missouri… the Quebec and Montreal GP will also fit well with that). But this time, the teams (and indirectly the sponsors) have to move everyone for only 2 days of racing, it’s a lot of money for somewhat low visibility.
But I’m all for them coming, even if Washington is a loooooong ride in a car from here, it’s still closer than Italy. I just wonder how the team sponsors are going to like that.
Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (F. Coppi)
"I just wonder how the team sponsors are going to like that."
They won’t like it one bit. But so what? They aren’t a part of the decision making process.
The sponsors will love it
this will get masses of TV time in Italy, beyond even what the Giro normally gets.
Great!
If they’re already starting three straight GTs in Holland for no apparent reason, no use complaining about the Giro in DC…
Only wish the crit course were harder. The report makes it sound like they’ll open Pennsylvania Ave behind the White House….maybe even finish near there. Hmmm. I hope they make serious use of Rock Creek park to toughen up the course but that doesn’t sound like the plan…
Bingo
THey can be stupid, I still want to WATCH THE FRIGGIN GIRO
by Douglas Ansel on Feb 24, 2010 9:39 AM EST up reply actions
i don't like it
but i’m gonna love going to DC to see it.
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
The bad new is that this is an absolutely terrible idea...
The good news is I’m going the the mother effing Giro in 2012!!!!!!!!
Trying to head off dozens of requests to crash on your floor?
Good luck!
It's fun to beat Cancellara--Edvald Boasson Hagen
where do i sign up?
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
not a good thing to publicize...
unless you really are ready to put tents in your backyard! :)
George bunny-hopped my bike somehow. He's like a cat. -- cvv
Slightly more seriously
The Mall is pretty much the heart of the DC Metro, if you can get to any station in DC, Maryland, or Virginia, you can get to the start easily. I can’t imagine the Giro attracting enough people to come close to any of the previous ridership records.
warning: if you have sinus probs, don't take the orange or blue lines from virginia into dc.... they go under the river and the pressure change ain't nice
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
from where i currently live (about 85 miles south of dc), can take amtrak from fredericksburg direct to union station, about 1:12 total travel time
based on current schedule of course
can also see about the MARC train (maryland)….
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
MARC (Maryland) and VRE (Virginia)
are commuter trains, they have no weekend service.
i knew vre didn't. i thought marc did (or use to maybe?)
oh, well, just amtrak then….
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
I hope that they like to bash American.....
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
Left lane...no
right lane…d’oh.
"My facking goat didn’t wear Robes! Does he look Scottisch?!" Baron von Frinkenstein
Let me say this..
1. He is going to form a one man team and win solo gold on the teampursuit
2. We are going to own America in a couple of year in ice-hockey. Kramer is speedskater + Naomi van As hockey = Olympic gold on the ice-hockey thing
3.. Yesterday.. I would have abused you…
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
Hockey challenge?
Bring it on. We’re more than ready to beat you this year and the following ones.
by Douglas Ansel on Feb 24, 2010 9:36 AM EST up reply actions
No..
An Ice hockey challenge.. The Hockey challenge we already win.. For a couple of years
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
Ah, I meant ice hockey
It’s the only real kind
by Douglas Ansel on Feb 24, 2010 9:40 AM EST up reply actions
So.. Have you ever ice-hockeyed?
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
Sooo. You are basically calling ice-hockey the greatest sport of all..
Ah well.. Nvm
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
Maybe 3rd
After cycling (of course), and soccer
by Douglas Ansel on Feb 24, 2010 10:00 AM EST up reply actions
Football you mean?
And I thought soccer in America was for.. women.. I don’t like it.. If there is cycling.. Only watch it if I haven’t had 3 months of cycling.. So around now..
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
We're playing you guys in voetbal
On Wednesday, you know.
I'll eliminate you like I eliminate gluten from my diet.
by tehGrindCrusher on Feb 25, 2010 4:42 AM EST up reply actions
Worst part of this is that it occurs in an election year so it's a major FAIL.
There will be much political hay made of the race and we will hardly be able to talk about it without the no politics rule coming into play. And if anyone needs proof they need look no further than Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. I’d like to see the deal fall through and be forgotten or at least be run a different year so that it could be about racing and not politics.
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
Honestly
I don’t think so. The DC mayor will be re-elected this year, so no big politics there (at most, some sniping about jobs for local kids). And I’ll bet you a dollar (or even a euro!) that zero Federal dollars will flow to this event. There’s just no Federal interest in this. At most, we’ll get some d-bag Congressman complaining about road closures. Oh, and the Washington Examiner (because the Times will be dead by then) will run some stupid piece with lots of innuendo about men in tights. Blah blah blah.
It made absolutely no sense that the push to get the Olympics was so roundly cheered when it failed.
And many politicians and especially their water carriers won’t let facts get in the way.
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
here's the Rosetta Stone
Will it annoy a liberal? Do it.
And that holds in this case, too – no one will care about the Giro. Or probably even notice it, while it’s here. It’s a bigger closure than usual, but far from the biggest (I think the Marine Corps Marathon gets that).
I hope you're right.
I’ll stop whining now. :-]
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
Giro in DC = They are european so they must be socialist so therefore they are coming to indoctrinate the country...
Other than that they will just be annoyed that they can drive their SUV’s around the block
by Vlaanderen90 on Feb 24, 2010 9:56 AM EST up reply actions
If this works
what will ASO do in response?
3 stages in Montreal?
Become even more Franco-centric and avoid Alsace and Brittany for 5 years?
Start with a prologue in Qatar, and 4 stages in Senegal?
1 stage in Montreal
1 stage in Quebec city and
1 stage in Louisiana
"Today I was honked at...I caught up and made a great honking noise back...he caught up and said I'm gonna punch you in the face...I laughed."
~DZ
No Guyana?
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 24, 2010 8:35 PM EST up reply actions
What the eff RCI?
This is a stupid, stupid, stupid idea.
And yes, I’m tempted to go ahead and book my hotel room. Between this and the 2013 cross championships in Louisville I’m excited.
Yep.
Empanadas and potstickers, please.
"My facking goat didn’t wear Robes! Does he look Scottisch?!" Baron von Frinkenstein
Oh and I don't like mushrooms..
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
Since I'll be there
I’ll help you cater. :)
I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in.
Well, Sui will be busy driving the shuttle-bus
and we have to eat something , what with all the beer we’ll be drinking. Thank’s for the open bar btw.
Hey, Mark.
We can finally get rid of that stupid pony keg we’ve been holding on to because we don’t want to drink it. Think it will last until 2012? (Hrm, now that I think about it, I don’t think anyone would notice because it’s Heineken.)
ooooh - yum
All those good pics and recipes to try in person!
George bunny-hopped my bike somehow. He's like a cat. -- cvv
i'll gladly cater....
everyone submit their food allergies in plenty of time please
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Oh, for fuck's sake...........
If this doesn’t come off I’m still coming to your house for the weekend. DC is lovely in May, and Mark can take me on his favorite rides while you make beets. Or you can join us and Chris can make beets. Or the beets can go riding and we’ll just watch the Giro.
Somehow it will all work out.
"Woof, woof, woof! That's my other dog imitation."
You know, I really think you
missed your calling. You should be a megamanager for all sorts of good punk and rockabilly bands. You’ve got the gift.
"Woof, woof, woof! That's my other dog imitation."
this is a foolish idea
but i’m happy for you americans! think of the race reports we’ll get.
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
I bet it ends up being more than a prologue and a crit.
At least I hope so. At least cyclingnews is hinting so….A man’s gotta dream.
A lot of nice roads in Shenandoah and Pennsylvania for nice stages Monday, maybe even Tuesday.
by Mr 60 Percent on Feb 24, 2010 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
i know a few hills on rte 7 that'll hurt a few legs
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
stage finish
at Sugarloaf? Or Camp David? Very giroesque terrain.
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 24, 2010 8:36 PM EST up reply actions
actually, there's this road that goes btwn rtes 7 and 50 with the mount weather emergency op ctr
the road going downhill to rte 7 requires you to ride your brakes in the car… the cyclists would have fun going up that hill….
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
They better not ride out there
unless the organizers are prepared for heavy casualties from suburban rednecks flying along oblivious in their SUVs.
Just think of the EPA response needed if Pozatto was hit by a car, the hair gel spill alone would shut down Loudon County.
Jens Voigt doesn’t know where you live, but he knows exactly where you will die.
the real prob is that the intersections/crossings of the road on both rte 7 and rte 50 are blind, especially on rte 50
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
What about a TT along Skyline Drive?
From Front Royal to Charlottesville or something?
That would be cool.
I'll eliminate you like I eliminate gluten from my diet.
by tehGrindCrusher on Feb 25, 2010 4:45 AM EST up reply actions
I was looking at topo maps of Shenandoah...
But since SNP is a national park, the organizers would definitely need cooperation from the feds.
But a stage along Skyline drive and through the valley would be very pretty.
oh, yeah, and it's a tad curvy too...
less steep on the downhill going down to rte 50, but much more curvy… with some steep dropoffs
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
I'm hoping for a crit
Directly through the White House. Will is cheering, while Toby is grumpy.
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
by TheFigurehead on Feb 24, 2010 4:45 PM EST up reply actions
All of us seem to be saying it is silly -
but that we will be there. Perhaps not so silly?
:)
Also completely screws the ToC – which is presumably half the point.
How would this DC start screw the ToC?
The start is in early May…and the ToC is in mid-May. This has nothing to to do with the ToC and everything to do with sponsor/media money.
The main ways I see it screwing with the ToC
is that the Giro will take North American Pro Conti team(s) that year that they might otherwise wouldn’t, leaving those team(s) to either skip the ToC or field a B team there. But with the ToC being a Pro Tour race by then, the teams will be otherwise unaffected.
On the other hand, the Giro launching in DC a week or so before the ToC launches will just increase publicity in the country for cycling and that would help (marginally) the ToC. All publicity is good publicity and all of that.
+1
on the second paragraph. Annointing May as “Cycling month” in the U.S. is only a good thing for the ToC.
by Mr 60 Percent on Feb 24, 2010 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
BMC is a Pro-Conti team and....
…they will have a team racing on both the Giro and ToC this year. No danger of screwing the ToC. Would be the same situation in 2012….though BMC should be a Pro Tour team next year.
2 ways I think...
The ToC this year is getting some top quality US based talent (and RadioCrock) to choose them over the Giro. No way this happens if the Giro starts in America (Sponsors will want a show in DC) – so the ToC lose pretty much all their marketable stars (I think there will be less talent at it then in the February version).
Secondly, and I am not sure there is a way to put this kindly, the ToC will look really second rate when compared to the pizzaz of a true Grand Tour. At best it will look like a pale imitation, at worst like a US club race.
Morale of the story is don’t mess with the Italians.
Why would the ToC feel outshined by two stages of the Giro
That’s hardly going to make the ToC look second rate. I don’t know if the casual fan is going to be any more impressed by two Giro stages in DC than they would be the ToC.
I'll eliminate you like I eliminate gluten from my diet.
by tehGrindCrusher on Feb 25, 2010 4:48 AM EST up reply actions
budget dollars
if I’m going to dc in May, I’m not even considering cali in the same month…
George bunny-hopped my bike somehow. He's like a cat. -- cvv
Giro starting in USA is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.
Embarrassing. The bizarre expense involved – the logistics on US soil, the costly transfer, both in terms of drag on the riders, pure cost of implementation, the environment implications… For God’s sake, give the money to Haiti. And Abruzzo.
hmm
exactly how much more burdensome is the expense and logistics for a transatlantic flight than it is for a transcontinental flight?
The major difficulty would be that the teams and race organizers can’t use the buses and big trucks to drive—but transporting that stuff across Europe also involves expense and logistics too. so there’s a bit of an off-set to be considered.
My point: If you do something (like, say, mandate regyular road bikes for the prologue, and minimize transfers on the US side . . . I’m not sure that it’s actually THAT much more expensive or burdensome to do a trans-atlantic flight than it is to go from Netherlands to Italy.
The big problem involves jet-lag and recovery . . . and cyclists have several years of learning how to deal with that now.
There is no 10 hour flight in between The Netherlands and Italy
"Here the high school level of immaturity will be left to hottitude columns and people like myself." Der Phil. H
It would seem that way
If you were aboard.
"And now for something completely different"
by Boilermaker19 on Feb 24, 2010 2:17 PM EST up reply actions
Let it be, Frinking
At least we won’t have another one of them socalled GT’s glutting our streets here in Holland. We have enough traffic jams as it is right now.
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
+1
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
ha
they’re on it even as we speak.
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
Not "the environment implications"...
Now my guilt will make me stay home and send the money I would have spent on selfish endeavors to Greenpeace ( or Haiti of course).
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
I'm guessing it's close to even
because teams would drive their buses, trucks, and team cars from Holland to Italy . . . which involves a fairly massive carbon output.
If Ford would just sponsor all team vehicles (or even better—if all of the team vehicles were chevy volts) it would come close to being neutral wrt what would be produced on the other side of the Atlantic.
Just drive a hybrid to get there . . . (one of my team-mates put nascar wheels on his prius)
It would be a good time for a team to somehow get a hold of some liquified hydrogen so they could drive the
Honda FCX Clarity as a team car. That would be totally carbon neutral and it so much better than a stupid battery powered prius that sucks down more electricity.
by Vlaanderen90 on Feb 24, 2010 4:47 PM EST up reply actions
I thought for sure I pulled the snark lever before I hit "post".
I can’t afford to be liberal, or generous with donations to causes aroud the globe. So I’m not going to suggest what someone else should do with their time and money. And I certainly wouldn’t do anything “for God’s sake”.
I think the Giro start in the US is a stupid idea, just like almost everybody has stated, but I am damn sure planning a family vacation to DC.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
ezzactly
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 24, 2010 8:37 PM EST up reply actions
I've got a great idea...
for a theme song. Just needs a slight rewording and Washington will be good to go.
Gerrie Kneteman: If a football player falls he shouts for his mother, if a cyclist falls he yells for his bike.
What a dumb idea...
The reason I’ve always liked the Giro parcours more than the Tour is that the first few stages usually feature a few mildly difficult stages which serve to get the action going right away. (Instead of the boring sprint fest that is the usual first 10 days of the Tour)
Now that’s going to be negated by having the riders take part in two flat merely ceremonial stages followed by a long transfer, and then probably a few more easy days in Italy so the riders can get rid of the jet lag.
I know the organizers of the Giro are all about publicity (see the way they fawned all over Lance last year in the run up to the Giro) but please forget about these across the ocean transfers after ’12. Just a bad idea. The integrity of the race is really being compromised.
agree, a 9.8 on the dumbness scale.
stone me now (with belgian cobbles please) but i live in the u.s. and will not make the mecca to DC. i will save my money and put it toward watching a european grand tour IN EUROPE.
Rodania,,,,,,,Rodania,,,,,,,Rodania,,,,,,,Rodania
Dumb, but I'll be there
And the Watergate part isn’t a joke. It s, in fact, on the route you describe. To those in DC, the Watergate is also Hotel, not just a scandal (which originated at that Hotel).
That's the other thing
When I heard the Giro organizers were considering starting the race in the U.S. I was slightly intrigued by the possibility of it coming to NYC, mostly for selfish reasons. (Since I live very nearby)
Would have been a cool spectacle (and a logistical nightmare, lol) to see a race run in either Central Park or some other part of Manhattan. Darn.
MY APT SHOULD PRETTY MUCH BE ON THE COURSE
super pumped
by Davide Don of Rio on Feb 24, 2010 6:05 PM EST reply actions
yup
you heard they are paving the W&OD right?
by Davide Don of Rio on Feb 24, 2010 6:32 PM EST reply actions
I'm shipping the Volvo over!!!
can i get there by taking Route 66??
errrr....am i supposed to sign this??
provided enough people are in the car
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Let's wait and see
If it becomes official, then I will start the process of planning the best PdC party ever. And if they pull the plug, then we can all nod approvingly toward common sense.
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 24, 2010 8:39 PM EST reply actions
We have a great and wonderful leader.
Soon, Chris is to be added to the next edition of this.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
so
do I get a say in the music?
"The only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is." Edvald Boasson Hagen
by Chris Fontecchio on Feb 24, 2010 10:09 PM EST up reply actions
If you can also get them to lower the price of the video.
$100… for real?
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
You mean the best PdC party ever won't be in Flanders?
Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill (F. Coppi)
Read the rule book.
The next PdC party is always the best. So obviously Flanders is the best ever. And so will the next one in Flanders be the best ever. :-p
Bicycling is the nearest approximation I know to the flight of birds. Louis J. Helle, Jr.
giro in washington in 2012.
So it’s really true the world is coming to an end. But before or after the giro? And will sui/megabeth’s couch be where the gates to hell open up and ……..
Giro in DC
ROADTRIP. I am so there!!!!!!!
Welcome David :)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Aerial coverage over DC would be cool
but airspace around Washington DC and especially the National Mall is highly restricted.
that's putting it mildly
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Hmm, that could make the coverage less interesting
Helis make a pretty big difference. I suppose there is A Plan for that.
i wouldn't be so sure!
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
You could get heli coverage
for Rock Creek Park, and Memorial Bridge, but neither would be particularly interesting or necessary. No way for the Mall circuit (I haven’t seen anything but Marine One and Two over the Mall for, well, almost 10 years now). But that’s such a wide open space that I don’t think there would be much that you can’t do with a few cameras on top of the right buildings.
So no pap shots
of Obama’s daughters sunbathing on top of the White House?
Now I read that again
pap shots was probably not the best way to put it.
No official announcement yet
but story has made the Washington Post
Gee, do I ride my bike over the hill to watch the ToC...
…or do I plan to visit my family in DC? Or Both?
Seriously, the Giro in DC is way whompin’ ridiculous. That being said, it would be cool to watch in a familiar setting.
I’m not holding my breath on this one.
"He looked pretty good until he went over the side of that cliff." - thevaro
Should have more stages for all that travel.
Like maybe a stage into the steeps of the Harper’s Ferry area.
I’ll be there regardless
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Podium Cafe
Featured Stories
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
