Sunday, April 27, 2025

Giro d’Italia 2009 – Day 7: Stage 20, Napoli – Anagni

-

HomeDiariesGiro d'Italia 2009 - Day 7: Stage 20, Napoli - Anagni

How is it that a country which spawned Campag, Ducati, Ferrari and Armani can’t get the plumbing to work?

Last night’s hotel had the electrical switch for the shower just a couple of inches from the shower head; the difference between being scalded and freezing was two microns on the control.

Giro d'Italia Napoli
Cheerio Napoli – we won’t be hurrying back. Photo©Ed Hood
Giro d'Italia Napoli
Dave gets interviewed by the Ozcycling boys. Photo©Ed Hood

The people are so friendly here in Naples; the boy in the toll booth last night gave us a row for not having the €1:60 ready – we should have known it was a pre-pay toll.

The roads are horrific, a lot of them are concrete, which has split and potholed – dire.

Giro d'Italia Napoli
This is the view from our luxury apartment! Photo©Ed Hood

And on top of all the that, the pen I bought yesterday doesn’t work – surprising that – and breakfast was grim.

We’ve just been through a tunnel, on our way to the start; Dave reckons that was the nicest part of Naples we’ve seen.

Giro d'Italia Napoli
Gianni Savio, media-friendly Diquigiovanni DS. Photo©Ed Hood

La Gazzetta never let’s us down, though; there’s a huge amount about yesterday’s stage; Carlos gets a 9 out of 10.

Today, we decided to “go people” – we interviewed about a dozen riders, managers and a certain Oleg Tinkov, before the start on the sea front in Naples.

Giro d'Italia Napoli
Oleg Tinkov calls the minders off Ed, then messes about for his camera. Photo©Ed Hood

I spotted Mr. Tinkov and shot across the road for a word, I was a few words into my introduction; “you probably won’t remember me but...” when two handsome, fit looking dudes appeared from nowhere; I noticed a little gesture from the Boss – two fingers onto one of the minder’s forearms; I was OK.

However, if I can give you a piece of advice, don’t mess with Mr. Tinkov!

Having said that, he was as charismatic as I remembered, chatty and good fun, clowning around for the camera.

Giro d'Italia Napoli
Ian Stannard. Photo©Ed Hood

Our ‘sound bites’ worked well and reminded us that pros are generally a pretty sound, approachable group of people.

Giro d'Italia Napoli
Edvald Boasson-Hagen is very quiet but still chatted away to us just fine. Photo©Ed Hood

As soon as we did the business, we were out of there – Naples is not a place that either of us would like to re-visit.

Giro d'Italia Napoli
Ben Swift is justifying his new Pro contract in spades. Photo©Ed Hood

I wrote up the bulk of the article en route to the finish with Dave still cursing Naples, it’s roads, it’s architecture and horrible karma.

Anagni was the stage finish town and we decided to do another piece (as yet unwritten, the need for pizza was too great!) about our day, and the finish in particular.

It was good to be fans, hanging over the barrier and we enjoyed the fact that there was a finishing circuit – 18 kilometres.

Giro d'Italia Napoli
Erik might as well win, but not this race. Photo©Ed Hood

It was a tough finish; a two kilometre drag to the line. On the first ascent, it was split but we felt it might well be a bunch gallop.

Philippe Gilbert thought otherwise and pulled the fat out of the fire at the 59th minute of the eleventh hour, to save Silence-Lottos Giro and win his first race of the year.

An event his sponsors will be happy about, but might just think is a tad over due?

Giro d'Italia Napoli
Philippe Gilbert kicks whilst Thomas Voeckler appears to have resigned himself to 2nd. Photo©Ed Hood

As Allan Peiper said in his book; “when you sign for a new team on big wages, it’s not the races that you’ve already win that they’re paying you for – it’s the races they expect you to win!

Giro d'Italia Napoli
Charly Wegelius has had a quiet Giro, but his target is a month from now. Photo©Ed Hood

The drive to digs was short and relaxing, our hosts friendly and happy to give us access to their modem – deep joy!

Giro d'Italia Napoli
Mario, in civvies this time. Photo©Ed Hood

The pizza was braw, the wee bar where we had our nightcap was sound and here we are in our quiet, clean digs – Roma tomorrow.

Reality on Monday, best make the most of that time trial in the Eternal City.

A domani!

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed was involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he was a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He was also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months often worked in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed was a highly respected journalist, his tales of chasing the Giro, Tour, Vuelta, Classics and World Championships - and his much-loved winter Six Days - are legendary, never the same twice, they gave our site an edge other cycling media could never duplicate or challenge. Sadly Ed passed away in January 2025, two years after suffering a devastating stroke.

Related Articles

Giro d’Italia 2011, Stage 1: Venaria Reale – Turin 19.3km TTT

It's Giro time again! Getting to Venaria Reale wasn't too bad - Edinburgh to Malpensa Airport in Milan on Easyjet; pick up the hire car and head west towards Torino. We decided that rather than brave Friday night rush hour traffic, we'd stay in Chivasso, around 20 K from Torino. A wise decision, Torino was overflowing with 'Alpini' - Italian mountain troops, past and present - for their annual 'beano.' The day after the TTT the Gazzetta reckoned that there were one million people on the streets of the city - we believe it.

Grenoble Six Day 2010, Night Four – Good Morale at the Track

"Dirk, you're working on the bikes early today," says me at the Grenoble Six Day 2010. "Yes, I must finish early so I can watch the darts on BBC TV in my camper van!" I didn't expect that answer," says me. "Yes, I must finish early so I can watch the darts on BBC TV in my camper van!" I didn't expect that answer. He was telling me that the new Look 496 track frame costs in excess of €6,000 and there's a waiting list; they only build to order. They are beautiful though and as Dirk says; 'it's the best bike for the sprint and it's a genuine European product.' It's cool and grey in Grenoble today - and very quiet...

Copenhagen Six Day 2011 – Day Six, Alex and Michael 3rd win in a row

Copenhagen Six Day 2011, but first... Ricco - you have to respect his 100% commitment to being a moronic little twat. There was a piece about him on CyclingNews having a 'kidney problem,' when I checked the site in the morning, I thought it was a tad strange - how does a super fit young man have a kidney problem? But the press release I received from Vacansoleil a little later revealed the true horror of the situation...

Le Tour ’11, Stage 12 – the Tour on the Tourmalet

Looking for a nice meal in Lourdes with great service? That's too bad, you'll struggle to find it! We were lucky to come across the only half-civil waiter in the town after landing in the third restaurant of the night, after being variously ignored by staff and stared at at by local idiots in the first two places we tried. Today's plan: head up to the start at Cugnaux and get a Village Depart breakfast, then drive on race route until the famous climb of the Tourmalet, where we pitched up around 3km from the top.

At Random

Phil Cheetham – Memories, Part One; Racing in France in the 60’s, with UVA Troyes

Often, when we're talking to riders about those Golden Days for bike racing, the 60’s and 70’s, the name Phil Cheetham crops up. Cheetham was a quality rider with some big results in France in the early 70’s and he very kindly agreed to share his memories with us.

Think Long and Hard Before Driving to Antwerp!

Now, if anyone was thinking of doing so, think long and hard before driving to Antwerp and back in a day, because the job in hand is just that-long and hard! Saturday gone was the date of my team presentation, or Ploegvoorstelling, so with the company of my girlfriend we took on the 500 mile round trip to meet and greet with team mates, sponsors, press, and the obligatory random Belgian cycling fanatics at the team café, St Barts, in Merksem, Antwerp.

‘T Kuipke Keizer’ Iljo Keisse Bows Out

Late on the Sunday afternoon Iljo Kiesse and his strong partner and compatriot, Jasper De Buyst pull off a ‘doublette’ - two lap gains in quick succession – in this 100th edition of the Gent Six Day race. I start to worry that we’re going to get served up a ‘fairy tale’,,,

The Volta a Portugal 2013 – the Story So Far…

This Volta, the Volta a Portugal 2013 and I really feel lucky to get here. My form is good, possibly the best ever. Obviously I get the odd pang of paranoia; I think twice if I drink a beer, worry about food - kind of stupid really.