Since 1909, cyclists in the Tour of Italy (Giro d’Italia) have been winding their way through medieval villages, lush citrus orchards, glacial river valleys, Roman castle fortresses, and impossibly pristine farmland with sweeping panoramic views. The Tour of Italy is perhaps the most beautiful bike race in the world, but, increasingly, one of the sport’s most fraught. Last year, after being banned from the sport, cyclist Danilo Di Luca made the audacious claim that one could not finish among the top 10 competitors of the race without using performance enhancers, and this year, coverage of the event was plagued by rumors of battery-operated motors concealed within bicycle frames. The images that follow of the storied Giro raise important questions about our relationship with competitive sports today: To what extent can we separate the pleasure of watching with the success-at-any-price actions of its competitors? Can we just sit back and enjoy the ride?
Tags
advertisement
More for You
-
Chris Hemsworth is the 35-year-old star of “Thor: Ragnarok,” or you may know him as the brother of equally attractive actor Liam Hemsworth. But did you know he’s also a father-of-three? Well, he is. And it turns out, he’s pretty much the coolest dad ever.
-
14 images of badass women who destroyed stereotypes and inspired future generations
These trailblazers redefined what a woman could be.
Throughout history, women have stood up and fought to break down barriers imposed on them from stereotypes and societal expectations. The trailblazers in these photos made history and redefined what a woman could be. In doing so, they paved the way for future generations to stand up and continue to fight for equality.
advertisement


