At the time of writing, it’s just hours away from the unveiling of the wildcards for the 2012 Giro d’Italia. The race organisers RCS Sport will shortly name the four Pro Continental teams which will be given an invitation to take part in the race, something which may well be the high point of their season.
As the hours and minutes tick down to that decision, we look back at the 2011 edition of the race with some images from what is arguably the most passionate event in cycling. The Tour may be the biggest contest, but the Giro has something really special about it; that’s seen in the enthusiasm of the fans, the determination of the riders, the spirit of the tifosi, the beauty of the countryside and the sheer colour of the race plus the land it takes place in.
The images which follow give a flavour of what the race is about. You’ve most likely already seen many pictures of the riders slugging it out during the stages; these photos take a different angle, showing the race at a different time, the riders in a different mood.
There’s nerves, excitement, joy, tragedy, pride, determination and much more. The 67 scene-setting photos show a glimpse of another side of the Giro, as viewed through a camera lens rather than through a TV screen.
Click on the images below to advance to the main gallery