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. 

I am leaving the “Strade del Giro”, but I have the last story to tell you about Stage 17 – Top Hill Finish on Passo Brocon, east Italian Alps. 

I had a VIP pass for this stage, and I confirm that I didn’t like. I prefer to watch the Giro on “my way”. In fact my “real story” happened before I entered the VIP area.

I wanted to experience it and I confirm what I wrote in About.
I didn’t like and I won’t do it again for these simple & main reasons:

1. Who is at the VIP areas are not real cycling fans. The real cycling fans are those who know everything about the Giro, its history, the main winners, the most challenging stages in history, the racers, who is eager to predict how the stage will evolve, who is going to win etc.
2. The guests were mainly Americans, Australian and Chinese. They were around these bar tables drinking beers and talk loudly about their own stories. I was the only one glued in front of the maxi screen watching the race. I felt I was in a sport bar. I felt I had nothing to do with these people. I missed my fans that I meet on the last km to the top, on the steepest switchbacks, with whom I can share predictions, memories, the excitement when the racers are approaching the final mountain. 
3. The VIP area was right at Arrival. However, between vans, barriers, the only way to watch the racers to cross the finish line was to go to the balcony upstairs, from where, yes you can see the racers arriving, but not a few feet away like when you are on the road. I felt more a spectator than a fan, I felt more far away, you lose that direct and emotional contact and feeling of being there on the side of the road, from where you can touch them, even if you should never do that, you can see the expressions on their faces, from where you can hand a banana or a bottle of water to the last ones, to those are 30-40 minutes behind who are living a pure nightmare. This is the Giro live, living these stories, not being sheltered on top of a fancy balcony with a fancy drink in your hands.