Top Cyclists Look Forward To ‘Spectacular’ And ‘Demanding’ Giro Ride Off

Jerusalem, 28 February, 2018 (TPS) --  

As Israel prepares to host the first three stages of the Giro d’Italia, beginning May 4th five top former cycling champions from Italy are currently in the country testing out the route of the world’s second most important road cycling race, which sets off for the first time from outside of Europe.

In conversation with Tazpit Press Service (TPS), the riders said they expected a “spectacular” and “demanding” race.

Two months ahead of the big start, two world champions, Maurizio Fondriest (1988) and Alessandro Ballan (2008); two winners of the Giro, Gilberto Simoni (2001 and 2003) and Paolo Savoldelli (2002 and 2005), plus Andrea Tafi, the last Italian king of Paris-Roubaix race in 1999 are testing out the Israeli section of the route which commences with a 10.1 kilometer time trial against the backdrop of Jerusalem’s Old City on a 10.1km, with the second stage running 167 km from Haifa’s Baha’i Gardens through historic Acre and Caesarea, before reaching the finish line on Tel Aviv’s beachside promenade. The third and final Israeli stage is a gruelling 226 km ride from Beer Sheva to the Red Sea resort city of Eilat, after which the participants will fly to Sicily where they will begin to climb the boot.

Alessandro Ballan told TPS that the first pink jersey of the Giro will not be easy for the riders to win. They will have to first contend with the hills of Jerusalem and a 7% slope in the last in the last 400 meters of the first stage.

“It is a very demanding route. You have to be ready from the beginning, and there  many changes of rhythm,” Ballan said. “The timing gaps in Jerusalem between the riders will not be big, but still the riders will have to be very careful in the use of their energies. The third stage in the Desert, from Beer Sheva to the Red Sea resort city of Eilat can be very hard if the weather will be windy. In that stage, we will not understand who will win, but we will probably understand who will lose. The gaps for those who will not succeed to ride with the wind will be big”.  

Savoldelli said the “big start in Jerusalem will be spectacular, and the desert  stage has many pitfalls.”

He added that the Israel stage of the Giro would not only be a professional experience for the rider, but also one fused with symbolism. “ I never thought that the Giro could have started from such a symbolic place for Christians. This Giro will be very emotional, the riders will pass through places full of significance,” the winner of the 2002 and 2005 Giro d’Italia told TPS.  

Ballan too said he felt the uniqueness of the surroundings.  “ Jerusalem is the mother of the religions, it is inevitable not to think about it “ he said

The security issue does not seem to bother the champions “When I got the invitation from the Israeli tourism minister. I first feared because of the security situation and of what is going on in Syria. I am glad I accepted the invitation because I changed my mind, you can stay calm here,” Ballan said.

Savoldelli also said the decision to Start the Giro in Israel was right.  “Sports need revitalizing events, this place will create a lot of interest,” he said.