| Few races have the traditional charm and theatrical vitality of the Giro D'Italia, and the 2003 race represented Italy and Italian cycling at its very best. The curtain rises with the charismatic world champion Mario Cipollini battling to outstrip Alfredo Binda's 60 year-old record of 41 total stage wins, even as the main actors of the general classification are busily polishing up their lines and by no means biding their time. As early as stage seven's winding ascent to the Terminillo, Gilberto Simoni's steady rise to the throne begins to develop from a fascinating sub-plot into the central theme of the 2003 Giro, culminating in his devastating lone epic ride through snow and hail in Dolomites in the final week. Simoni may be centre stage, but the Giro has never lacked in character or characters. Spicing up Simoni's persuit of power is Marco Pantani, endlessly in search of former cycling self, and italy's nearly man, Simoni's arch rival, Stefano Garzelli. Then there's also the enigmatic Dario Frigo and the new face of Eastern European cycling, Yaroslav Popovych. A story with as many twists and turns as the Italian opera; the 2003 Giro is a tale worth remembering and watching many |
