The Giro d’Italia 2024 was really the Pogacar show. From start to finish, he was in the thick of the action and it was especially exciting to see him shine on the tough mountain stages, particularly stage 17 and the epic stage 20 on Monte Grappa.
Livigno is the lesser known sibling of Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo, however Livigno is a truly beautiful climb and the area hosted an amazing mountain top finish on the steep gravel road from Passo Eira to Mottolino. It was not just the action of the Pro’s, but being amongst the tifosi (Italian cycling fans) with their flares, fireworks, drums, megaphones and a few dressed as priests carrying incense, this was also another beautiful Giro experience that will be hard to top.
The Giro always finishes with a super hard final week and a climber’s paradise in the mountains, and the Italian northern Alps and Dolomites didn’t disappoint. Amazing landscapes and testing climbs where Pogacar, Steinhauser and Vendrame showed their talent.
Sella Ronda is always a joy to ride, and really is one of the all time best cycling loops in the world. We took in Passo Gardena, Passo Campolongo, Passo Pordoi and saw the race, literally fly down the steep slopes of Passo Sella. It was truly amazing to see and somewhat like visual poetry, watching a delicate ribbon of racers hold their line through tight double hairpin bends.
And while we followed the race for pink, we also enjoyed a culinary journey off the bike as we rolled across the mountains. Starting in Bormio and the Alps in Lombardia, we enjoyed pizzoccheri, apple fritters on the mountain top as the Giro rolled by, and sampled the beautiful local cured meats and cheeses. As we crossed into the Dolomites and the Sud Tirol region where the local Ladin cuisine is at the forefront, we enjoyed speck, delicious brodo with canederli, Schlutzkrapfen (ravioli filled with spinach) and you can’t forget the daily dose of strudel.
As we rolled down the mountain, we passed the Prosecco laden vineyards of Valdobbiadene and arrived into the Veneto. The daily menu always included the chance to sample a Prosecco, the local salumi and the sensational white asparagus of Bassano del Grappa.
This was another beautiful week where we wove in time following the race, space to take on our own cycling challenges in the mountains, taste the very best of the cuisines where we are, and importantly enjoy time with a wonderful group of riders and non-riders.
Until next year.
