Spectating Giro d'Italia in person?

Dunks

Dunks

Dunks

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Hi all, bit of a random one but has anyone got any experience with spectating any of the grand tour stages in person, specifically the Giro?

I'm off to Italy this weekend we're staying in Verona which is near Stage 20 of the Giro and I was looking at how feasible it'll be to try and get a decent spot to spectate, but not sure on the logistics. Normally we hire a car when we visit Italy but we won't have one this time, although we could easily just hire one for the day. It'd be pretty good to get a spot up Monte Grappa!

Are there certain times you need to arrive before the course/roads get closed?

Just looking to see if anyone has done this before and has any tips!

Cheers.
 
The roads are normally closed 2 hours before the race caravan passes through. The giro isnt the same cavalcade as le tour but its still quite a lot of vehicles that proceed the race. At a guess the race will hit Mt Grappa at around 3pm so you would likely need to be on the climb by 1pm. The problem is normally finding somewhere to park and that's why a lot of fans ride up the climb to a spectating point. The best thing is normally to find the nearest town/village at the foot of the climb and then walk up but bear in mind Mt Grappa is an 18km climb!

It's better to be on a climb because the riders are not flashing past in seconds at 45kmph. Otherwise its a long effort for very little actual spectacle. I've been on the Passo Pordoi but we cycled up and just found a spot to rest up and have a picnic. Bearing in mind Stage 20 will be the last chance to attack Pogacar then I expect the Grappa will be quite busy.
 
Dunks said:
Hi all, bit of a random one but has anyone got any experience with spectating any of the grand tour stages in person, specifically the Giro?

I'm off to Italy this weekend we're staying in Verona which is near Stage 20 of the Giro and I was looking at how feasible it'll be to try and get a decent spot to spectate, but not sure on the logistics. Normally we hire a car when we visit Italy but we won't have one this time, although we could easily just hire one for the day. It'd be pretty good to get a spot up Monte Grappa!

Are there certain times you need to arrive before the course/roads get closed?

Just looking to see if anyone has done this before and has any tips!

Cheers.
Click to expand...
Yep, watch the tt in Palermo and the etna stage in sicily in 2020, as above 2 hours before minimum roads will be closed, possibly more if its up a mountain you won't be able to drive up after 8am usually.

We rode up etna a few hours before and had to walk the last bit as we went up the non race route side. Great to watch and surprisingly quite although it was stage 3 and also covid year.
 
Second the climb part. I was in the South Coast of Spain in a very small town on holiday a few years back. Saw the Vuelta was coming through. Stage two, so pretty flat, the town was around 30km from the start, long straight, slightly downhill and they came through in a single group at what would have been every bit of 65kmh. Got a cap and a tshirt from the caravan though with the name of a Spanish supermarket on the front so not a wasted day
:D
 
Calpol said:
The roads are normally closed 2 hours before the race caravan passes through. The giro isnt the same cavalcade as le tour but its still quite a lot of vehicles that proceed the race. At a guess the race will hit Mt Grappa at around 3pm so you would likely need to be on the climb by 1pm. The problem is normally finding somewhere to park and that's why a lot of fans ride up the climb to a spectating point. The best thing is normally to find the nearest town/village at the foot of the climb and then walk up but bear in mind Mt Grappa is an 18km climb!

It's better to be on a climb because the riders are not flashing past in seconds at 45kmph. Otherwise its a long effort for very little actual spectacle. I've been on the Passo Pordoi but we cycled up and just found a spot to rest up and have a picnic. Bearing in mind Stage 20 will be the last chance to attack Pogacar then I expect the Grappa will be quite busy.
Click to expand...

SoliD said:
Yep, watch the tt in Palermo and the etna stage in sicily in 2020, as above 2 hours before minimum roads will be closed, possibly more if its up a mountain you won't be able to drive up after 8am usually.

We rode up etna a few hours before and had to walk the last bit as we went up the non race route side. Great to watch and surprisingly quite although it was stage 3 and also covid year.
Click to expand...

Vandle said:
Second the climb part. I was in the South Coast of Spain in a very small town on holiday a few years back. Saw the Vuelta was coming through. Stage two, so pretty flat, the town was around 30km from the start, long straight, slightly downhill and they came through in a single group at what would have been every bit of 65kmh. Got a cap and a tshirt from the caravan though with the name of a Spanish supermarket on the front so not a wasted day
:D
Click to expand...


Cheers guys, very useful! Looks like a car might be the best option and then trying to find somewhere to park up the mountain, looking at previous runs of this route people just seem to park wherever there is a bit of a grassy verge :D

Biggest issue with trying to convince the missus that it'd be worth the hassle is the toilet situation away from the start and end of the stage! Especially if we end up spending 4+ hours there.
 
I was looking at photos of it on my phone. My "couple of years ago" was actually 2019. I used the Vuelta app for the timings as we were only a 15 minute walk away and it was surprisingly accurate. Would expect there is one for the Giro that by now will no doubt be better.
 
I've been to TdF in 2023 at Huez.
we have set around Beefeaters and that was a party to remember !!
the noise the atmosphere, people and heath haha
just amazing.

roads closed for traffic few h before. Cyclists were let up huez
eventually milk floats came throwing tshirts, caps, flags etc in to crowds.

eventually cyclists came ;)

was amazing day out
 
bastic said:
I've been to TdF in 2023 at Huez.
we have set around Beefeaters and that was a party to remember !!
the noise the atmosphere, people and heath haha
just amazing.

roads closed for traffic few h before. Cyclists were let up huez
eventually milk floats came throwing tshirts, caps, flags etc in to crowds.

eventually cyclists came ;)

was amazing day out
Click to expand...

Would love to go and watch the TdF some time. Might try to persuade the missus that a trip at the right time would be a good idea.
 
fez said:
Would love to go and watch the TdF some time. Might try to persuade the missus that a trip at the right time would be a good idea.
Click to expand...
if you do, once route is published, look in to accomodation quickly as all will sold out and prices will soar.

follow beefeaters as well as they will be stating from where they will be supporting tour :)
will see if i can link few videos on here
 
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