Coming down the stairs at 05:00 am to the find the car had been broken into wasn’t a good start to the day.
But that’s life.
The M8, M77, Prestwick, Ryanair and here we are; in the 37 degree heat of Bologna, heading south to Faenza and our credentials.
![Faenza](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/24/giro-ditalia-day-1-stage-15-forli-faenza/vines.jpg)
Getting the ‘creds’ is always a big relief; there’s usually hassle to get them; it’s always nice to feel those bits of plastic around your neck.
![Faenza](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/24/giro-ditalia-day-1-stage-15-forli-faenza/exam-time.jpg)
I love the Gazzetta Sportiva (as it is on Sundays); their layout is great, lots of colour photos, interviews, stats and ratings – attractive and easy to take in.
Gerrans effort yesterday got him an 8 out of 10, whilst Simoni scored a measly 4 as the Gazzetta noted; “Simoni, I’ll tempo passa” – ‘his time is past,’ we think?
The list of 180 corridori di 22 squadre still contains seven British riders: Chris Froome (Barloworld), Dan Lloyd and Jez Hunt (Cervelo), Bradley Wiggins and David Millar (Garmin), Charly Wegelius (Silence-Lotto) and Ben Swift (Katyusha).
Only ‘Cav’ has bolted – but how is David Millar going to ride that nocturne in Edinburgh on Saturday night, if he’s here?
![Faenza](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/24/giro-ditalia-day-1-stage-15-forli-faenza/faenza2.jpg)
The road south from Bergamo to our digs in Fano, by way of the stage finish and Stampa (press room) in Faenza is pan flat, with long straights.
A few K to our left is the Adriatic and to our right is Italy’s ‘spine’ of mountains – the further south you go, the hotter it gets.
We put together a wee intro article on the way down, just to warm us up for tomorrow’s real thing, that was molto pronto – it’s good to be in back in business.
![Faenza](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/24/giro-ditalia-day-1-stage-15-forli-faenza/routing.jpg)
Faenza and creds time, no dramas, it’s a miracle; maybe it’s because the stampa was in a chapel?
We were a tad miffed that we were only given one race manual; ironic, because last year they dumped hundreds of them in the street at the start of the final time trial.
Duly credded, there was only one thing to do – find a bar.
![Faenza](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/24/giro-ditalia-day-1-stage-15-forli-faenza/creds.jpg)
The TV was tuned to RAI, the beer was cool, the perfect coffee came from a Faema machine, sponsors of Eddy Merckx back in the late 60’s and early 70’s.
![Faenza](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/24/giro-ditalia-day-1-stage-15-forli-faenza/faema.jpg)
The finale was good to watch, but we couldn’t understand why Pauwels (Cérvelo) dropped back from being up the road with Bertagnolli (Diquigiovanni) – especially when he easily won the sprint for second from the little group he ended up in.
It looked like a deal to us – but that’s bike racing!
Diquigiovanni are doing the business here, that’s their second stage win and Rubens Bertogliati was in the break all day, yesterday – ending up second.
![Faenza](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/24/giro-ditalia-day-1-stage-15-forli-faenza/eonardo-bertagnolli-serramenti-pvc-diquigiovanni-takes-his-first-grand-tour-stage.jpg)
We high tailed it out of Faenza immediately after we saw the maglia rosa group finish, – we didn’t want caught in the traffic jams.
But the satnav had a bad turn and we ended up on a wee road that was once connected to the autostrada – but not now!
We’re back on course again, headed south for Fano, our digs, a shower and a pizza.
![Faenza](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/24/giro-ditalia-day-1-stage-15-forli-faenza/garzellis-gird-800x600.jpg)
Ale lives there so we’ll be meeting him, no doubt to talk tactics for tomorrow.
![Faenza](https://www.veloveritas.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/24/giro-ditalia-day-1-stage-15-forli-faenza/liquigas-head-south.jpg)
To make the trip more interesting, we have team cars whizzing past us – Liquigas, QuickStep, Lampre, Columbia, Acqua & Sapone; tired riders are sprawled in the seats, thinking about a shower and a massage.
Well, nearly at our junction – need to navigate… a domani e ciao, ciao!