More Giro action

Another exciting day planned as were only about 30 kms from the racing action. Up nice and early for breakfast, this time I remembered to take the vegemite too!

After breaky we took a quick trip to the shop to get some sandwiches and drinks for the trip - wouldnt get caught out again with no food.  We put on our Aussie uniforms and we were off at about 1100.

We found where we needed to be reasonably easily - there was some new road work that confused our sat nav but with the help of google maps found the road we needed.  We were quite early today as we didn't want to risk road closures cutting us off.  I had also made use of google earth and  picked a spot on the side of the road that we could park safely.

We took up our position and then decorated the car - we had an Aussie flag, a blowup boxing kangaroo, stupid umbrella hats and also a crows flag.  It didn't take very long for the locals to start checking us out and I think we confused them - dont forget that the car has red number plates and also a F for france on them.  Some were able to work out that we were Aussies but many thought we were french!

 

We had a while to wait so we sat and read our kindles and waited.  However, lots of people dropped by to take a photo of us and the car so we gave up and just loitered outside the car.  It turned out to be an absolute hoot.  Lots of people asking us where we were from and who we were barracking for - in very broken english.  We spoke to an older man who actually spoke english pretty well and he was more than frustrated by the performance of the Italian riders.  We also got invited to join the rowdy group down the road near a little pub and frequently had photos taken of the car.  They asked us who we were supporting and of course we said Orica - so then they referred to us as Orica  hahaha.  Some other bloke went past us a couple of times - the last time he had two mates with him and it was like he was introducing his mate to Tony - handshaking included.

At one point we had an elderly gentleman ride up on his bike with his grandson talking to us in Italian.  He had a grotty looking headscarf on and it seemed he wanted to swap his scarf for one of our hats.  He even showed us the crusty old skin cancer scar on his head.  Nate wasn't loving his hat so we happily gave it to him.  He was so funny - he put it on straight away and even an hour later we saw him ride past still wearing it - yelling "go aussies" at us.

The carovana went past at about 1pm pretty much to schedule - it seemed smaller today and much quieter.  Towards the end of the car group a Giro media car pulled up alongside us and there was an Aussie guy with a great big camera.  He said " I have to get a photo of you guys" and so he did.  He also turned on his video and asked us a whole lot of questions and then told us to look out for it on youtube!

The Dolomites in the distance

looking back up the road to see where they were coming from

Lots more people stopped to chat and take photos - there was a pair of guys wearing pink shirts who called us their cousins!!  They must have said hello at least half a dozen times.  Tony had a brainwave too - we had a packet of little koalas in the car so we started handing them out when people stopped.

About 10 minutes before the riders go through, a car goes past spruiking on the microphone how far away they are, and if there is a breakaway group etc.  We couldn't tell what they were really saying but assumed they were closeish.  The best warning that they're nearly upon you is the helicopter noise, and then seeing a chopper in the sky.  There is usually a breakaway group with a bit of a gap before the main peleton.  Today the two groups were almost on top of each other so it was over way too quickly.

the breakaway

the peleton

one of the support cars

Tony grabbed the roo and we all went bonkers yelling at them going past.  Must have worked somewhat as one of the riders pitched his bidon at us.  It went past some other guys feet to just near us - Nate swooped and the rest is history!  It was one from Quickstep, so were thinking Fernando Gavriria again (my other son (see the other giro related post :-)).

Bidon!!

So it was time to leave as soon as the last car went past.  We decided to gift the boxing kangaroo to one of the kids we had seen so Nate and I walked back up the road to the bar patrons.  There was a little girl there all kitted out in pink so we went to her. She wasnt as excited about the roo as the adults were - we got many thank-yous and lots of cheers of  "Orica Orica".  They were so excited to get the roo and even tried to swap it for beer.  We politely declined and returned to the car.  We had to drive past them to get out and we could see that there was a whole crowd of people having a look at the roo, so much so that Tony and I fear for his safety!

good luck Roo!

Its a shame we couldn't have seen more cycling stages - we just love the atmosphere the race brings - lots of people so  proud of their race and so they should be.  Already I cant wait for the tour down under to come again next year.