Giro d'Amsterdam

Friends of the blog know know we are not always very enthousiastic about our hometown Amsterdam. In short it's riddled by incompetence within the city government which is demonstrated by a 50 m wide trench that splits the city centre in which there's building activity for a subway line. That should have been riding 3 years ago, but the works are not even half finished and it's bleeding the city financially.

One acceptable reason for not being able to use the tram is a cycling race

That is why many people thought it a bad idea the city should spend € 5 million on having the honour of being the starting place of the annual Giro d 'Italia, the second biggest cycling stage races in the world, starting here. After seeing the opening race of today, a 'contre le montre' of 8.4 km through the city, we feel this once we have to take side with our government and be merry for having this wonderful phenomenon cheering up our gloomy streets. This parade of flashy colours and Italian panache prooved to be just what the city needed to be cheered up.

Member of the Rabo-team

One stretch of the race was just around our corner and it's wonderful to walk just 250 m from your front door and reach the 2nd biggest race of the season. The atmosphere was relaxed and the crowd was quite cheerful. Probably also thankful for the fact that just a week after queensday there was another great excuse to mass up and drink in the streets.

Cycling is nice, but you need a drink with it...

The weather was grey and gloomy and the city is in a mess because of the garbage collectors are on strike for a week already. This proved to be a good contrast for the hurricane of speed and colour that is the Giro.

Surely those hats will inspire an Ikea lamp designer

One of the 198 coureurs

All cyclist were applauded by the public, some of the cylists like Basso and Vinokourov were hailed with the cry "EPO, EPO!". Professional cycling has been found ou to be a highly 'drug driven' sport over the last years. They came to the right place to stock up on dope this time...

Drugged up to the eyeballs or strictly yoghurt and muesli?

Rabo cyclist

One's go to compliment the Rabo Bank with their sponsoring program. Most banks these days are decried for their greed and irresponsible behaviour. But when people see the Rabo logo to the background of the colour orange, crowds go wild with enthousiasm.

"Is it Queensday today or is this the Gay Pride?"

Dedication and perseverance

Another glorious passage of a Rabo runner

The Baskadiyarlar team acknowledges the sportsmanship of the marathon runner, but the marathon is very dull compared to the spectacle we witnessed today. We'd like to see a stage of a great race in Amsterdam every year.