A day at the Giro d'Italia races (9 photos)

This was the Giro d'Italia Stage 12 seen from a little hamlet called Ponticelli on the other side of the Consuma Pass. It was a long 132 mile stage with a higher climb after the Consuma.

The day started translucent, then cloud cover moved in, and by the time the breakaway group - with the eventual stage winner at back centre - came through it was thundering and raining. The helicopters are amazing. The 'Go Alba Go' was not for Wee Eck but local boy Vincenzo Albanesi.

Then an eight minute wait for the main train led by the steely faced Ineos men (always make me think of Grangemouth), the team cars, two back markers screaming around the team cars, and then the bloody sun came back out.

A delightful, anxious three hours as the light conditions plummetted and I knew from previous experience that you blink and eye and you've missed your photo opportunity.

Had myself a little picnic and watched the always interesting passing.

As with these things its easy to feel deflated afterwards. You are so close to the action - I was on the roadside - but the race seems more distant the closer it gets and the riders are so intent on their job in what were not easy conditions.

You can see see the race leader Egan Bernal in at the back of the Ineos team in the rose helmet - they've all got their rain jackets on.

After the race had passed everyone leaves. I walked back to the car and got back to the house to see the last 30km of the stage on the telly.


God knows how they do it, day after day. Next day (Friday - I'm blipping late) they ride from Ravenna to Verona and then on Saturday up into the Alps.