Back in December 2008 I wrote a post indicating that the Giro d’Italia was coming to Abruzzo. Well tomorrow is the day. The stage is set for an emotional race with Dennis Menchov leading the Spoltore born Danilo Di Luca by 39 seconds. With a route entirely in Abruzzo, from Chieti to Blockhaus, and the 2nd placed Di Luca being an Abruzzo native, you can guess which of these cyclists is more likely to get the crowd’s support.
Today, a rest day, a delegation of cyclists passed through the earthquake hit Abruzzo region as the Giro d’Italia paid tribute to the area.
“I’m hoping to give the Abruzzesi a day of joy, excitement and hope” Di Luca said. “Menchov is very strong but tomorrow I’m going to have all the fans on my side. I’m going to try and win it for them. ”
When I wrote that December post a reader asked if I knew the derivation of the word “Blockhaus”. At the time I didn’t but this article from the Giro d’Italia site of Gazzetta Dello Sport gives the answer and more besides. It says “Blockhaus takes its name from the local military fortifications built by the Germans on top of pre-existing fortifications dating to the Bourbon age. With the approval of “don” Carlo Travaglini, the local promoter, patron Vincenzo Torriani adopted the name in order to localise the area and give it an identity”.
The romantic in me would like to see Di Luca win. I haven’t been so interested in a professional cycle race since Stephen Roche of Ireland won the Giro d’Italia back in 1987, and he went on to win the Tour de France and the World Championship road race in the same year!
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