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When rumors were floated two weeks ago that the District might host an opening stage of the 2011 Giro d'Italia, local cyclists crossed their fingers for what would be one of the few opportunities to see the world's best professional cyclists stateside. Not only did the rumor turn out to be true, but planning for not one, but two stages in the city are underway.
CyclingNews is reporting that a group of local race promoters is proposing that the Giro – one of three Grand Tours of professional cycling – come to the District for an opening prologue and the race's first stage. Both would use the city's many monuments as a backdrop, and the first stage, a circuit race, would add in a climb in one of the District's many neighborhoods.
Mark Sommers, a local race promoter who put on the 2008 Capital Criterium, told DCist that "lots of preliminary work on potential courses" is taking place, and that he remained in active discussions with Giro officials, Mayor Adrian Fenty's office and city agencies. (Sommers not only races alongside Fenty on local team D.C. Velo, but he has also been nominated by the mayor to serve on the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics.)
While the prologue would stay within the city's federal core, Sommers said, the first stage would likely incorporate parts of Rock Creek Park and Massachusetts Avenue up toward the National Cathedral to add climbs to what is an otherwise relatively flat city. (The Italian Embassy is located just off of Massachusetts Avenue along Embassy Row, adding certainty that the race would use the hill as part of the route.) He added that they were looking to include as many Italian-inspired sites as possible along the route, hinting at a pass by the Watergate, which was designed by Italian architect Luigi Moretti. Both the prologue and first stage would remain within the city's boundaries.
Nothing is yet certain, though, as race organizers still have to contend with the cross-Atlantic commute and consequent time differences, neither of which is likely to make the close to 200 cyclists and their support staff very happy. Regardless, Sommers pointed out that interest exists on both sides to make a Giro appearance in the District a reality.
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if they want an italian-themed climb, they could also go up 16th street past the old italian embassy across from meridian hill. or, they could have literri's set up a booth in the cardozo high parking lot so they could use 13th street (best hill west of the river).
the second choice would be awesome, since it would mean they'd finally have to pave those blocks of 13th that have been ignored for years...
Yeah, 13th Street would be awesome, but it's too short a hill to count for much in these races...
For local flavor, the route absolutely must include a pass through the Gauntlet of Rock Hurling Youths along 14th Street. Staff it with teens from the Summer Jobs Program. Win-win.
I don't think there are any climbs in the District long or steep enough to break up a field of world-class pros. It would be a sprint finish, which I think would be great. A bunch finish on Constitution Ave in front of the White House and Washington Monument would be epic.
Sure -- 10 circuits of the Mall first . . .
Start a stage out in Loudon County or Montgomery County and then come in Canal or GW parkway.
Putting aside the transfer issues, for a min, I could see a kick-ass prologue here. But *no* idea how you could manage a non-laughable stage within DC proper. DC to Sugarloaf Mtn (MD) or Front Royal (VA), at a minimum.
That's why it would be a circuit race, which involves doing laps on a specific course instead of the usual point-to-point racing you find in stage races.
Inre: the climbs
The first stages of a Grand Tour race aren't meant to have climbs that break up the field. That usually doesn't come until the second week. There are climbs, though; their purpose is more to provide a venue for spectators than to distinguish competitors. Racers pass more slowly, and we see the spectacle of suffering. (And in Washington, D.C., what a terriffic backdrop!)
Tilden Street and Park Road are ideal for this purpose. Either way, the ascent and descent into Klingle Valley are the steepest roads I know in D.C.
Just put 'em on the Beltway.
I heard that DC really appreciates cyclists so this is a perfect opportunity.