Friday, May 4, 2018
For the first time outside of Europe, the Giro d’Italia is to start in Jerusalem, Israel.
Stage #1 consists of individual times through very wavy roads of city.
Jerusalem marathon runners might appreciate, in difficulty, Rome is rated 1 star, and Jerusalem is rated 3 stars, with 6 other 2018 locations, out of 21, rated 4 or 5 stars.
For the Giro d’Italia pro-cyclists, the route in Jerusalem is considered average.
Gino Bartali was an Italian professional cycling sports star. He rode his bicycle around the hills and mountains of Italy to train. The Nazis stopped him repeatedly, but little did they know that hidden in his bike were forged documents. Bartali quietly helped save Jews with his work with the resistance. No one will every know the extent of his efforts, for Bartali, did not discuss his heroic efforts. The Jerusalem stage of the Giro d’Italia is named to honor Italian cycling hero Bartali.
At Yad Vashem, a special ceremony was held before the start of the Giro d’Italia to name Bartali an honorary citizen of Israel. In 2013, after his story became known, Bartali was included as a Righteous Gentile at Yad Vashem.
The Jerusalem race is followed by Haifa – Tel Aviv, from Kiryat Bialik to Rothschild Blvd and Be’er Sheva to Eilat.
How big is this event? A billion people should be tuning in from around the world to watch live on television.
They will see Fabio Aru of EAU Team Emirates. His concern? It is warm here and he has to “pay attention to hydration.”
Israel Cycling Academy has come a long way in a short couple of years. To be involved with the third most popular sports event in world is fantastic. Academy team members come from 16 countries.
When asked about BDS and pressure not to come to Israel, Zakkari Dempster who trains in Spain and comes from Australia, answered.
Loved the accent. What a great bunch of guys.
On Sunday, May 27, Giro d’Italia is to finish up in Rome. I keep thinking how different the journey from Jerusalem to Rome, than one so many centuries ago.
BDSers must be falling all over themselves.
What a colossal BDS fail.
