For this year Giro, stage 15 has been epic.
Another memorable day on my two wheels.

Stage 15, with the arrival in Livigno, has been the most difficult and longest stage of this year Giro and very emotional day for me.
Since I was doing “these things”, I am 15 years older, and I no longer live at altitude in Boulder (CO).
Yes, I suffered to reach that top of Foscagno Pass at 2300 mt after over 20 km of climbing. My legs were tired, and I was short breath. I started crying 7 km to the top in front of the irreversible signs of aging. But then, in front of me I saw that astonishing scenery, those white mountains with so much snow. The last 5 km of the road were wrapping around that mountain. I could see the last tunnels close to the top. I got moved by such beauty. My legs restarted going. I felt so grateful that I could still reach that beauty with my legs even if it feels so much harder now.
I finally could get a great shot of Pogacar who rode by me “solo” & invincible as a “Pink Arrow” (una Freccia Rosa) under the roaring of the helicopter flying against those snow slopes. I forgot all the fatigue and the tears; all was worth it!

It was priceless to watch our guide “Daniele, the Stelvio Man” handing bananas and water bottles to the last groups of racers, the sprinters, who fall behind 30-40 minutes, who struggle to make it within the maximum time, who have written on their faces that they are living a nightmare. We were cheering and screaming “Bravo, Dai, Dai” to everyone, from the leader to the last one. Every one of them deservers all our respect, cheering and gratitude. Their fatigue makes the greatness of this sport.