Our Giro stage 16: An American in pink

Season 8, Episode 64,   May 26, 2020, 03:30 PM

In this episode of Our Giro we hear from 1988 Giro d'Italia champion Andy Hampsten, the only American to win the race.

Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe look back at the 1988 Giro which was shaped by terrible whether on the stage to Bormio, which went over the Gavia.

Snowy conditions made for a cold, miserable day in the saddle for the riders but there was no question as far as the riders were concerned that such a prestigious stage would go ahead. It would never happen today but it has gone down in Giro history as one of the most incredible stages of any grand tour.

Hampsten was not first to the top of the Gavia that day (that was Dutchman Johan Van de Velde); and he did not win the stage either (that was another Dutchman, Erik Breukink) but the American did take the pink jersey from Franco Chioccioli (who lost more than five minutes) to take control of the Giro.

Over to Hampsten, who usually lives for part of the year in Tuscany, to tell the story...

The Cycling Podcast is supported by iwoca and Science In Sport.

COMING TOMORROW
We meet Trek-Segafredo general manager Luca Guercilena, who did not have a career as a professional rider but came through the management ranks at the Mapei team.

STACY SNYDER'S SECOND BATCH OF MUGS ON SALE TOMORROW
A second batch of Stacy Snyder's mugs and cappuccino sets will go on sale on Wednesday (May 27) at 5.30pm UK time (12.30pm east coast). Etsy site: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SnyderCeramics

COPPA ITALIA OF CYCLING JERSEYS
What is the best-looking Italian cycling jersey of all-time? You decide. Starting tomorrow on our Twitter page is the Coppa Italia of Italian cycling jerseys. Vote for your favourites in the group stage now.

LIFE IN THE PELOTON
While we've been doing Our Giro, Mitch Docker and his old Orica-GreenEdge teammates have been remembering Their Giro when they won the opening team time trial of the 2014 race in Belfast.

WATCH OUR FIRST FILM
Our first film, And So We Rode… is available for Friends of the Podcast to watch now. This is the story of Larry Warbasse and Conor Dunne packing their bags and going on a bikepacking trip in the French and Italian Alps after their pro team Aqua Blue Sport folded mid-season. It costs £15 to sign up as a Friend of the Podcast and you will be able to watch the film as well as listen to all our special episodes. thecyclingpodcast.com/join

OUR SPONSORS
iwoca became The Cycling Podcast’s title sponsors in March 2020. Iwoca specialises in supporting small businesses and can lend between £1,000 and £250,000. Applications can take only a few minutes to complete and they promise a fast and fair decision. To find out more, go to iwoca.co.uk

Science In Sport is The Cycling Podcast’s longest-standing supporter. It’s a relationship that stretches back to the 2016 Giro d’Italia. Listeners can get 25% off Science In Sport’s range of energy drinks, bars, gels and cakes at scienceinsport.com with the code SISCP25

RIDE OUR GIRO
If you have a smart turbo trainer, you can ride Our Giro on the RGT digital platform. Each stage is around 30 kilometres long and will be online for three days. Go to RGTcycling.com/our-giro for details of how to download the app and sign up. Thanks to RGT and Veloviewer.com for helping us create Our Giro.

GIRO WINE CLUB
Our friends at Dvinecellars.com have put together a ‘Selezione Our Giro’ case of 12 wines from around Italy. There’s also a ‘Baby Giro’ case of six bottles. Use the code ‘Our Giro’ when ordering. Cases can be delivered in the UK, excluding the Highlands and Northern Ireland, and a donation from each case will be made to the Scuola Ciclismo in Cene.