Giro d'Italia Bike Race

The Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy) is an annual multiple-stage bicycle race. The race has been held annually since its first edition in 1909. Along with the Tour de France (France) and Vuelta a España (Spain), the Giro makes up cycling's prestigious three-week-long Grand Tours. The Giro is usually held during late May and early June. While the route changes each year, the format of the race stays the same, with the appearance of at least two time trials, the passage through the mountains of the Alps and the finish in the Italian city of Milan. Like the other Grand Tours, the modern editions of the Giro d'Italia normally consist of 21 day-long stages over a 23-day period that includes 2 rest days.
All of the stages are timed to the finish. After finishing the riders' times are compounded with their previous stage times. The rider with the lowest aggregate time is the leader of the race and gets to don the coveted pink jersey (who needs yellow!).

So why is this story even here?

The Netherlands will host the first three stages of this year’s Giro d’Italia. Amsterdam celebrates the tour’s kick off on May 8th. (today!)

Pink bicycles placed just above the water in Schalkwijk (just south of Utrecht), in the Netherlands, celebrate the arrival of the annual Giro d'Italia bike race. Pink is evidently a theme.

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