The Giro D'Washington

[eleven]

I know it's a hot-mess logistically, but a prologue around the National Mall, past the White House and perhaps over the Potomac would be a pretty amazing sight (to Americans, anyway - not sure Europeans would be as impressed).

 

[Hugh Januss]

+1

You can bet I'll be there.

How far are you from DC? Can we all stay at your house?

 

[BikeCentric]

This is bad for the riders in the short term but good for just about everyone else. It's good for the sport globally and good for American cycling in particular which is really suffering lately.

 

[Big_Blue_Dave]

Well I think I now have my 2012 holiday plans sorted if this really does go ahead.

 

[Bicicleta]

Its 4 miles from my house to where the stage is scheduled to start at the Natl Archives (that's the Navy Memorial/Archives metro stop). Great location. Its where Obama got out of the car to walk on his inauguration day.

Its a dumb idea, but I am benefiting from it, so no complaints. Need to start scouting out locations to watch the race.

 

[LugHugger]

Well I think I now have my 2012 holiday plans sorted if this really does go ahead.

It's the craziest, f*cked up idea I've ever heard. But...I've wanted to visit DC since I got hooked on the West Wing. Now all I need to do is persuade the other half it's a good idea to travel 4000 kms west with a toddler in tow to follow a bike race!

 

[Race Radio]

Its 4 miles from my house to where the stage is scheduled to start at the Natl Archives (that's the Navy Memorial/Archives metro stop). Great location. Its where Obama got out of the car to walk on his inauguration day.

Its a dumb idea, but I am benefiting from it, so no complaints. Need to start scouting out locations to watch the race.

Nice,

Looks like we are all crashing at Bicileta's house. Hope you have a big couch.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Its 4 miles from my house to where the stage is scheduled to start at the Natl Archives (that's the Navy Memorial/Archives metro stop). Great location. Its where Obama got out of the car to walk on his inauguration day.

Its a dumb idea, but I am benefiting from it, so no complaints. Need to start scouting out locations to watch the race.

TFF's off the hook we've all got a closer place to crash.

 

[ergmonkey]

Not sure what I think about the race plan--other than that it will be fun for me to watch.

As to potential spectators: bring your bikes! The riding in the DC area is MUCH better than I thought it would be before I had a chance to live there. West of DC you'll find no huge climbs, but lots and lots of good rollers, quiet rural roads, and endless miles of hard-packed dirt that is rideable on a road racing bike. As for the city itself, at least it's safe on a bike (unlike most American cities...)

Basically lots of this (not my own photos):
http://www.downwarddogphotography.com/poolesville/h1bbd5971#h1bbd5971

 

[Hugh Januss]

It's the craziest, f*cked up idea I've ever heard. But...I've wanted to visit DC since I got hooked on the West Wing. Now all I need to do is persuade the other half it's a good idea to travel 4000 kms west with a toddler in tow to follow a bike race!

To follow the beginning of a bike race most of which takes place 7000 kms to the east.

 

[philcrisp]

I know it's a hot-mess logistically, but a prologue around the National Mall, past the White House and perhaps over the Potomac would be a pretty amazing sight (to Americans, anyway - not sure Europeans would be as impressed).

I was pretty impressed when I was driven over it on a grey November afternoon. There aren't many European cities laid out like Washington.

 

[Anonymous]

How far are you from DC? Can we all stay at your house?

It is about 7-8 hours from here. Me, I will be staying in the cheaper hotels near Dulles. Nice hotels and half the price of those closer in.

 

[53x11 in DC]

What the hell just fell in my lap??? I live two miles from the stage start (in Georgetown) and my office is at 701 Penn Ave., OVERLOOKING the National Archives.

Pinch me - this is ridiculous.

And if you don't think you can get some great stages in in the mid-Atlantic area, you are SORELY mistaken. Phenomenal riding around here.

 

[Anonymous]

TFF's off the hook we've all got a closer place to crash.

Yea, well I didn't want you guys staying at my house anyway.....

 

[philcrisp]

Fine for American spectators, pure hell on the teams. They're nothing but Meat Popsicles for $$$.

It's a really stupid idea though .... since DC has no connection to Italy. What's next ..... let's start the TDF in New Zealand?

All this reaks of corruption...... so what's new?

Sort of reminds me of Astana getting in the year they were supposed to be banned. I stand to be corrected on the following but if you assume that the publicity caravan, if Giro has one, and press cover their own costs I can't see that the Giro costs that much less than the Tour to run and has less value to sponsors hence less revenue. I would therefore suggest that RCS might need less money waved under there noses to do something wacky than ASO.

IIRC and again correct me if I'm wrong, there was a lot of talk about talking the Tour to Quebec in the late 80s, possibly to coincide with an anniversary of some sort. In the end ASO decided it was all too much and said no.

 

[53x11 in DC]

I was pretty impressed when I was driven over it on a grey November afternoon. There aren't many European cities laid out like Washington.

The irony is that it was laid out by a European, Pierre l'Enfant ("L'Enfant's Plan"). The plan generally guided the building heights, street layouts, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, sounds like a group ride will be in order. Locals, it will be your chance to show us how you roll.

 

[luckyboy]

There's a joke about the Giro vs ToC here, but I can't quite find it

 

[53x11 in DC]

Well, sounds like a group ride will be in order. Locals, it will be your chance to show us how you roll.

Please understand that by decree, all rides in DC are sorted out by party affiliation. Dems rock the single speeds, Repubs bust out their XXXL jerseys and and $10k Colnagos, Libertarians get a little mixed up and break out the e-Bikes.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

A close family friend works in the treasury building and lives nearby. I'll need to make a phone call or two.

By the way, a non-cycling aunt, just asked me if I was riding in the race...

 

[Race Radio]

It is about 7-8 hours from here. Me, I will be staying in the cheaper hotels near Dulles. Nice hotels and half the price of those closer in.

Dude, didn't you get the memo? We are all crashing at Bicileta's place, although 53x11 also represents an attractive option as well.

You bring the PBR I got the Pork Rinds

 

[Bicicleta]

Nice,

Looks like we are all crashing at Bicileta's house. Hope you have a big couch.

Funny. The couch is the one piece of furniture the dog does not jump on. Its leather and it freaks him out.

 

[Bicicleta]

Dude, didn't you get the memo? We are all crashing at Bicileta's place, although 53x11 also represents an attractive option as well.

You bring the PBR I got the Pork Rinds

I vote for 53x11's place. PBR and porkrids. I am more of a bud light and Easy Cheese kinda girl. http://cockeyed.com/inside/cheese/cheese.html

 

[Bicicleta]

What the hell just fell in my lap??? I live two miles from the stage start (in Georgetown) and my office is at 701 Penn Ave., OVERLOOKING the National Archives.

Pinch me - this is ridiculous.

And if you don't think you can get some great stages in in the mid-Atlantic area, you are SORELY mistaken. Phenomenal riding around here.

I used to work at 701. Can you get a conference room overlooking Pennsylvania Ave. and invite us all over??

 

[Psalmon]

I can't understand why people find this a bad idea.

1. Not just any international location: This isn't about just going somewhere else for it's own sake. The TOC moved to May. Most Americans don't know the Giro; they all think the TdF is the only race all year. Cycling is moving more global. ASO owns half the Vuelta, is partners with TOC, and runs the biggest race on Earth. So RCS can either stay in Europe, watch PT teams split between a growing TOC and Giro, and risk becoming a regional race or sell out to ASO; or they can keep up and build brand/race awareness in the biggest market in the world. The US isn't Bukina Faso (although with the fiscal crisis it may start to resemble it soon). They aren't competing against Missouri (off schedule). They are competing for talent and stature against TOC and ASO in the US and over their TV deal on a direct scheduling basis.

2. Logistics. The map says it all:
http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hl=en&tab=wl
It's 1,200 km from Middelburg, NL to Savigliano, IT. Rail, road, it's a day transfer and they include a rest day to account. Other than the time difference, some of which scheduling can solve, morning stage, etc. the logistics just aren't that much more crazy. Millions of people in far less physical condition, travel further, overnight, without rest days, and go into major meetings, with high stakes, where their professional skills are tested significantly, and perform exceptionally. Reading some of the comments here, you'd think RCS was planning to move a nursing home overnight to Italy.

3. Money. Why wouldn't RCS want to try and increase exposure, broaden sponsorship, and increase rider participation/choice? The riders are just meat popsicles? Come on. Increased name recognition on a world stage and more potential sponsorship are worth something to the riders too. You think they'll do a soft sprint on Pennsylvania Ave, complaining, "oh I'm just 'ze meat popsicle, merde?" There is no real money in this sport to begin with, that's the problem. As fans, I'd think people would be excited to expand the sport beyond lost Italian roads nobody's ever heard of, save the Romans that built them 2K years ago.

Benvenuto Giro. Buona mossa e ben fatto!