The spring classics have come and gone. One grand tour down. « 29er Crew

The spring classics have come and gone. One grand tour down.

By Kyle Lawrence | 29/05/08 |9:36 PM

Vive Il Giro! The call was gingerly echoed throughout my past weekend as the rolling peloton of thirty some mountain bikers meandered through the Virginian Blue Ridge Mountains. Bells rang as spectators and fans alike lined the rural roads to cheer along the riders as the Giro passed through the small hamlets nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge. Riders the world over traveled far and wide for one of the best and most explosive Giro’s to date. After all it was lucky number seventh year of the Grand illustrious Giro d’ville and Fooftown did not disappoint. After much hype, trash talk and months of grueling training we were all ready to compete at the highest level.

Il Giro in the Heartland Riding through the Blue Ridge with a little bit of pink
Mountain bike racing at its finest, purest and most fun. Low key group of riders who mostly know each other, hang out for four days riding, racing, riding, racing, cooking, eating, hanging out at the campfire sleeping and then doing it all over again the next day. Stage race style. We had it all KOM jersey, Sprint Jersey, and of course the Maglia Rosa. We had a new campsite each night.

We had a new campsite each night. Point to point stage race. Back country trails, Blue Ridge Parkway downhill sprint lines at 30+ miles per hour on mountain bikes. One of the best pieces of ridge riding around, rock scree fields, granny gear climbs, timed downhills.

In the end it isn’t about the racing. Its really all about hanging out with Great people cooking and eating delicious food, campfires, tasty beverages, clear crisp weather, breathtaking overlooks, technically tickling downhills, Big group rides, mountain top meals and so much more. Each day had a sliver of competition but most of the ride time was spent in PP or parade pace/party pace. No better way to possibly spend a weekend.