Giro Italian Lessons

By _Will_@cyclingalps May 4, 2016, 4:24am EDT

Ciao a tutti! Oggi, impariamo italiano - today, let's learn Italian. OK, this is simple. First, I will "try" and give you a brief Italian lesson related to cycling. Then it’s up to you. In the comments:

Tell us your favourite Italian words/phrases.
Ask us how to say something.
Correct all my mistakes.
Go on any tangent you desire.

We’ve done this before and had some fun - in fact this is just an expanded version of the article we used in 2014 - but hopefully still useful for everyone. In ogni caso, sono tranquillo.

D’accordo, cominciamo. OK, let’s begin.

Gruppetto = Gruppetto! Ha, see, speaking Italian is easy. On tough mountain stages, a group of riders that band together to help each other make the time cut-off. The Laughing group.

GEOGRAPHY:

Passo/Colle = Mountain pass or Col
Tornante = Switchback/hairpin
I dolomiti = The dolomites
Esempio: Stelvio non é nei dolomiti. Stelvio is not in the dolomites.
Salita (Salire) = A climb, hill (to climb)
Discesa (Scendere) = Descent (to descend)
Pendenza = Gradient or slope
Calcare = Limestone
Confine = Border
Esempio: Abbiamo passato il confine con Francia = We have crossed the border with France
Giro = Circle, circuit
Cima Coppi = The highest point in each Giro. Cima = summit. Fausto Coppi was the legendary Italian cyclist of the post WW 2 era.
Esempio: Questo anno Colle dell'Agnello sarà la Cima Coppi = This year Colle dell'Agnelleo will be the Cima Coppi

THE JERSEYS:

Maglia Rosa = Pink jersey. Race leader.
Maglia Rossa = Red jersey. Points leader
Maglia Azzurra = Blue jersey. Mountains leader.
Maglia bianca = White jersey. Best under 25 rider.

PEOPLE:

Passista = Rouleur. Strong rider, good on long, flat or mid-mountain stages.
Velocista = Sprinter
Dicesista = A great descender. Not Fränk Schlek.
Scalatore = A mountain goat of a climber
Scattista = A JRod type that can accelerate devastatingly on the steepest slopes. Pantani.
Esempio: Que pedenza! Una Scattista come Quintana dovrebbe attaccare qui. What steepness! A scattista like Quintana should attack here.

Gregario = Domestique
Direttore Sportivo = Director Sportive
Giudice di Gara = Race judge/commissioner
Massaggiatore = Masseure
Tifosi = You and me. Fans
Squadra = Team
i big = the bigs (Nibali, Contador, Aru, etc)
Fuga = Breakawy
Battistrade = escapees (pace setters)
Inseguitori = chasers

RACE TERMS

Tappa/Tappone = Stage/Queen Stage
Esempio: Que bella tappa = What a beautiful stage
Partenza = The start
Traguardo = The finish line
Una volata = A sprint finish
Arrivo in salita: Mountain-top finish
Treno = Train
Abbuono = Time Bonus or per Sean Kelly, bonification
Plotone = Peloton
Zona rifornimento = Feed zone
Ventaglio: Echelon
Cronometro = Time Trial
Cronometro a squadra = Team Time Trial
Esempio: Chi vincerà il chronometro Individuale = Who will win the ITT?
Cronoscalata = mountain time trial
Falsopiano = false flat
Crisi = crisis (used by RAI commentators when a rider is cracking, as in "la crisi di Basso")
Foratura = puncture
Forare/Bucare = to puncture
Ammiraglia = Team Car
Caduta = crash
si stacca = dropped
Ritiro = DNF
Problema Meccanico = take a wild guess!
Foratura di Gambe = Bonk/Fringale (puncture of the legs)
Grinta = grit and determination

EQUIPMENT

Portabottiglie/Borraccia = Water bottle
Ruota = Wheel
Casco = Helmet
Pedale = pedal
Sella = Saddle (yes, the Sella Massif that will be circled in stage 14 means saddle)
Pompa = Pump
Freni = Brakes
Pneumatico = Tire
Catena = Chain
Manicotti = Arm warmers
Ruota Dentica = Plateau.
Esempio: Ha bisogna di una grande ruota dentica per Zoncolan. He needs a big plateau for Zoncolan.

WEATHER

Pioggia (noun) / Piovere (verb) = Rain / To Rain
Neve / Nevicare = Snow / To Snow
Nebbia = Fog.
Esempio: Odio la nebbia = I hate fog
Fa Caldo/Fredda = It (the weather) is hot/cold
Umido = wet / damp
Ventoso = Windy

Esempio: Spero che non nevica durante tappe 19 et 20 = I hope it doesn't snow during stages 19 and 20.

IMPORTANT FOOD

Birra = Beer
Vino = Wine
Caffè = Coffee (discussing types of Italian coffee is beyond my powers, but)
Cappuccino = only in the morning!!
Espresso = Tiny and strong. Normal Italian coffee
Caffè Americano = An espresso with hot water to dilute.
Caffè Corretto = add a dab of liqueur
Gelato = Ice Cream!
Salute/Cin Cin = Cheers
Esempio = Mi piace molto gelato e birra, cin cin. I really like ice cream and beer, cheers.

IMPORTANT ANIMALS:

Marmotta = Marmotte
Mucca = Cow

And don't forget: uomini forti anche piangono = "even strong men cry"

OK, this ends your quick Italian lesson. The Giro is almost here so get practicing!

Non vedo l'ora. I can't wait.