Wouter Weylandt

Kristof Ramon just posted this excellent photo of Wouter Weylandt doing a recon ride for Pairs-Roubaix earlier this year. Rest in peace, Wouter.

Check out more of Kristof's excellent photos here.

GIRO!

Can't wait! Starts next week! Details here, and I'll probably be watching Kelly and Harmon's coverage on Eurosport via CyclingFans.

Ooh La La!

Rapha are running a special dinner/viewing party in Chicago for Stage 9 of the Giro. It ain't cheap, but you get a limited edition Rapha jersey also. Expect lots of orthodontist talk! Details here.

Thanks to Sage for the heads-up, again!

I know I'm late, but...

While I was away at my brother's wedding (best Barry Lyndon themed wedding ever!) Ivan Basso won the Giro. His attack on the Zoncolan where he distanced Evans was class. The Tour is going to be AMAZING this year!

1969 Giro Poster

The Rapha blog just turned up this fantastic Giro d'Italia poster from 1969:

So cool!

If you're in London, you can pick one up here. New Yorkers can wait patiently and hope a Rapha pop-up shop turns up sometime soon...

Go Vino Go

Yeah, I don't really care what anyone else thinks, I want him to win it.

Giro d'Italia 2010

Starts tomorrow, in Holland?! Defending champion Menchov and 2008 champion Contador not attending, because they're focusing on the Tour. Big name Americans like Lance, Hincapie, and that weird, balder version of Lance not attending because they'll be riding the Tour of California. Multiple convicted dopers and Italian crowd favourites not attending, because of the doping. I mean, who's left? Cunego? Vino?? Cadel??? I'm so conflicted...

Watch it here, but don't tell anyone it was me who told you about it.

100 Years of Giro Winners

Amazing.

By Cyclocosm. Seen at Milano Fixed.

Retro Giro

Sweet retro wool Giro jersey from Santini, limited to 500 worldwide. This is your chance to dress like you're riding l'Eroica. Seen over at Prendas.

I'll stick to the track, thanks!

From yesterday's mountain stage of the Giro, which was also, apparently, one of the hottest days on record. Nessun grazie!

Photo: ALESSANDRO TROVATI/AFP/Getty Images

Giro d'Italia

Begins tomorrow. If you're in the US, you can watch it on Universal Sports.

Poster by the incomparable Graham Watson.

Favourite Shirts Exhibition

If you're in LA this weekend, you should head over to Paul Smith's shop on Melrose where, starting this Saturday, May 9th, there'll be an exhibition of classic cycling jerseys to mark this year's Giro d'Italia. Held in conjunction with Rapha and Rouleur, the exhibition will run till May 31th. Miles, you should go to this and take some photos for me. All the details are here.

Also, anyone know if Lance will be riding the Giro? I'm a little out of touch right now...

Maglia Rosa

Definitely the best looking Giro d'Italia leader's jersey in a long time. Wait, what? Designed by Dolce & Gabbana, you say? OH NO! The Giro sold out! Get that fashion out of my cycling!

Paolo Bettini Interview

Bettini in his World Champion kit, hanging with Danielson and Cancellara before a stage of the Tour of California. Photo by Team Pegasus rider Chris Padfield's Dad. More of his excellent photos here.

ProCycling has a good interview with Paolo Bettini on its website right now. In it he talks about racing, retiring, the Giro, and the possibility of him riding for another team. Bettini is one of my favorite riders in the pro peleton, not least because he always seems to be having fun. As he says in the interview, "If people wonder about my desire to race, I can say that when I put a race number on back, I enjoy myself. I think that was evident at the Giro." Really, Paolo? You had fun at the Giro? I would never have known...

Bettini clowning around with a tray of pastries and cakes that he distributed to other riders in the peleton. This is during a stage of the Giro, by the way... Photo borrowed from cyclingfans.com.

Irish Team Wins Giro Stage!

Go on ya good thing ya! Matteo Priamo of CSF Group-Navigare winning the 6th stage at the Giro d'Italia. Photo by Damien Meyer.

That's right, Irish continental team CSF Group-Navigare won today's stage at the Giro! How great is that? It's feckin' deadly is what it is! Olé, olé, olé, olé! Okay, so the team is only registered in Ireland... and virtually all its riders are Italian... and the manager is Italian... and all the staff are Italian... and the team is based in Italy... but whatever. The jersey is green, isn't it? What more do you want?

[update] I just learned that LPR Brakes, the team of Danilo DiLuca, Paolo Savoldelli and stage 7 winner Gabriele Bosisio is also an Irish registered team. What gives??

[update 2] David Harmon, Sean Kelly's partner in crime at Eurosport, said this morning that CSF Group-Navigare are registered in Ireland "for bizarre tax reasons." Ireland: Tax Haven to the Professional Cycling World Since Whenever.

My Gloves. Let Me Show You Them.

Oh, and speaking of things Italian, check out my gloves...

The arrows tell me which way to go. Cipo gave them to me. He told me people would be jealous and hate on me accordingly, but he said I shouldn’t let it bother me. So I don’t. In your faces.

Il Pirata

These have been around for a while, but watching the Giro has me wanting one pretty badly...
Originally seen on Tracko, these shirts are made by Laek House. This sport needs more characters like Pantani. Also, what the hell is going on at the Giro this year? It's a crash fest! Benatti said that the riders were unhappy with the roads in Sicily, which narrowed so suddenly in points that they caused at least one of the crashes on the first stage proper. Hey, at least a trackie won stage 4...

Starts Tomorrow!

Who's your pick for the pink jersey? A lot of people think Klöden might take it. Personally, I'm hoping Gilberto Simoni will win. But does his Venezuelan-registered team, Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli, have the strength and depth to take on teams like Astana and Liquigas? Only time will tell...