The Giro d’Italia Journey Like a Professional USA introduced a style of the legendary Italian Grand Tour to American soil, giving cyclists of all ranges the possibility to expertise the joys of using like the professionals. Set in opposition to a historic backdrop of America’s oldest metropolis, the occasion mixed scenic routes, difficult climbs, and the unmistakable ardour of Italian biking tradition. From devoted amateurs to seasoned riders, riders embraced the spirit of the Giro, making it an unforgettable weekend of racing, camaraderie, and celebration.
PEZ readers will know that the Giro d’Italia is my favourite of the Grand Excursions. The Tour de France is THE Grand Tour. The Vuelta aka the Spanish Hillclimb Championships is essentially the most enjoyable. However the Giro is essentially the most stunning. So I used to be thrilled once I was invited to journey to the Giro d’Italia Journey Like a Professional USA.
The primary query I’m certain virtually everybody will ask is: Is that this occasion truly affiliated with the Giro d’Italia? The reply is YES. Giro d’Italia Journey Like a Professional is a mission with involvement from RCS Sports activities, the organizer of the Giro d’Italia. Based on the mission’s web site:
By together with those that journey out of mere ardour and people who expertise biking extra competitively, the Giro d’Italia Journey Like a Professional races have been conceived to convey the feelings of dwelling someday as an actual champion. Aggressive spirit, enjoyable, ardour, Italian environment: these are the weather that each rider will “convey again dwelling” after collaborating in a Giro d’Italia Journey Like a Professional occasion.
There are Giro Journey Like a Professional occasions within the US, Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, Spain, and China
The Giro Journey Like a Professional USA occasion was on Sunday, January 19, 2025 with resort check-in and a pasta dinner on the 18th.
My spouse and I made a decision to make it a protracted weekend and drove down that Friday (about 190 miles from our home within the Lowcountry to the host resort: the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort). Not solely simply as a pleasant getaway, however a superb take a look at as our first “lengthy distance” drive in our VW ID4 electrical car. We had sufficient battery vary to make it down there on a full cost however stopped as soon as to “prime off” simply so we wouldn’t be needing to re-charge instantly upon our arrival.
Race headquarters
I had additionally talked one among my former Babylon on the Potomac using buddies who had since retired to Florida (just a few hours south of St. Augustine) into doing the Gran Fondo. We met up with him and his spouse for dinner on Friday at Blackfly, one among many nice eating places in St. Augustine, the place as a change of tempo I imbibed in a Negroni Sbagliato — which is a “mistaken Negroni” that swaps out gin for prosecco.
Operation Dinner Out
With a while to kill on Saturday, my spouse and I performed vacationer in St. Augustine. We visited the St. Augustine Lighthouse and the very touristy (however enjoyable) Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, the unique web site of the Nation’s oldest metropolis.
A view of and from the highest of the lighthouse
One of many many peacocks who’re residents on the Fountain of Youth park
OK, sufficient of the travelogue …
Saturday afternoon was race check-in/packet pick-up. Along with race numbers and a timing chip, we obtained a t-shirt, hat, and jersey in a pleasant bag.
Not fairly the maglia rosa
Swag!
Waves of Grey – Mind Most cancers/Tumor Consciousness was the occasion’s charity accomplice
And Saturday night time was carbo loading on the pasta dinner — in addition to few glasses of purple wine.
Sure, that’s the precise Trofeo Senza Nice. Some will discover the final title engraved is Vincenzo Nibali in 2016. That’s as a result of the Giro modified it’s brand in 2017 for the one hundredth version. There’s a brand new trophy with the brand new brand, however this older one is simply as stunning.
So what concerning the race itself?
For these of you unfamiliar with a Gran Fondo, it’s a race however not a race. It’s not a race in that the winner(s) will not be decided by who crosses the end line first. However it’s a race in that the successful time is decided by the cumulative time of various segments on the course — a method to think about them is as Strava KOMs. Which means your time in between the segments doesn’t matter. So it’s completely potential for the winner to not be the quickest total rider. I’ll admit that I’m not notably a fan of the format, however completely different strokes for various strokes. And I perceive that it’s a means for riders to compete and measure their efficiency in opposition to different riders with out the “stress” related to conventional racing. In consequence, Gran Fondos have broader attraction and may normally draw a bigger ridership than a typical race.
As is typical of Gran Fondo occasions, the Giro Journey Like a Professional USA had three completely different distances (I had signed up for the Medio):
- Gran Fondo – Lengthy Course – 86.5 miles
- Medio – Medium Course – 60.8 miles
- Piccolo – Quick Course – 33.5 miles
Because the race organizers mentioned, this was not a Gran Fondo for climbers (that may be me). For the Medio, the entire elevation acquire in keeping with Journey With GPS was a whopping 282 ft! So undoubtedly flat and quick. I used to be anticipating only a longer model of my regular Sunday group journey on Hilton Head Island.
For riders who didn’t wish to race, there have been Ragazzi enjoyable rides over the identical distances. Plus a 4-mile children enjoyable journey. So one thing for everyone.
However the one factor hanging over everybody’s head — that all of us knew forward of time coming into the weekend — was the climate. All week lengthy, the forecast for Sunday didn’t look nice, i.e., rain. So all of us went to sleep Saturday night time not precisely understanding what would occur on Sunday.
Early Sunday morning (nonetheless darkish outdoors), I used to be awoken by the sound of regular, heavy rain and thunder plus some flashes of lightning. Undoubtedly not good.
All my climate apps mentioned the identical factor
Based mostly on the forecast, the race organizers determined to delay the journey begin to 9am (as a substitute of the unique 8am begin) and mix the beginning of the Gran Fondo with the beginning of the Ragazzi enjoyable rides. Moreover, the 80-mile Gran Fondo could be shortened to the Medio distance, however the instances for riders registered for the Gran Fondo could be separate from riders who registered for the Medio.
However even with the delayed begin, there was nonetheless rain within the forecast and a excessive chance of getting greater than just a bit moist. I’m not afraid to confess to being a wimp in my AARP years. I’m properly previous the purpose of needing to show how HTFU I’m and now not deliberately do #9 rides — have been there, completed that greater than sufficient instances. And it’s not nearly getting soaking moist. I don’t actually wish to have to scrub my bike up afterwards (I do know … first world drawback). So I made the choice to bail — as did my pal who was going to journey with me and lots of others (there have been about 350 riders registered for the occasion and possibly 100-something truly rode).
Staying dry earlier than the beginning
Able to roll within the rain
Adiamo!
Since I wasn’t using, we truly determined to drive again dwelling as soon as everybody was safely off. We had some heavy rain heading north. My pal who was driving south additionally encountered some heavy rain. I talked with some riders I knew who braved the circumstances and so they undoubtedly obtained moist.
All smiles on the end!
Chapeau to all of the riders who did the Giro Journey Like a Professional USA! Although I didn’t journey, my spouse and I had an excellent weekend visiting St. Augustine, America’s oldest metropolis. And — in the event that they’ll have me again — I hope I’ll be capable to do the journey/race subsequent 12 months.
Congrats to the general and all of the completely different age group winners! Race outcomes will be discovered right here.
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