In 1894 Italy’s first winner of the Tour de France, Ottavio Bottecchia, was born in departure town Gemona del Friulli. He won the race in 1924 and in 1925, and in 1926 fell ill and had to leave the Tour. In 1927 Bottecchia died mysteriously. Rumor has it, the mob or the fascists had something to do with it. At the time Italy was under the reign of Mussollini and Bottecchia was a proud socialist…
Upon leaving Botecchia’s hometown the bunch cycles in a near straight line to this year’s Giro finish in Trieste. At first glance, a typical last ride of a Grand Tour. The stage will be a procession with the riders left in the race celebrating and chatting and toasting the victor. Just like the Paris finish in the Tour, this year’s Giro finishes with a circuit. It’s 8 laps of 7.3 kilometres so expect the pace to pick up here as the sprinters look to bow out with a victory.
Cue the podium celebrations for this year’s Maglia Rosa.
Giro 2014 stage 21: Images and more
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Related articles Riders and teams - Giro 2014 Favourites - Giro 2014 Withdrawals - Giro 2014 Route and stages - Giro 2014 The Route - Giro 2014 More articles Tour de France 2021: The Route
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 1: Brest - Landerneau
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 2: Perros-Guirec - Mûr-de-Bretagne
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 3: Lorient - Pontivy
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 4: Redon - Fougères
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 5: Changé - Laval
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 6: Tours - Châteauroux
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 7: Vierzon - Le Creusot
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 8: Oyonnax - Le-Grand-Bornand
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 9: Cluses - Tignes
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 10: Albertville - Valence
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 11: Sorgues - Malaucène
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 12: Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux - Nîmes
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 13: Nîmes - Carcassonne
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 14: Carcassonne - Quillan
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 15: Céret - Andorra la Vella
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 16: Pas de la Case - Saint-Gaudens
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 17: Muret - Col du Portet
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 18: Pau - Luz-Ardiden
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 19: Mourenx - Libourne
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 20: Libourne - Saint-Emilion
Tour de France 2021 Route stage 21: Chatou - Paris
Cycling Calendar 2021