Sorry, Brandon McNulty, Ben Healy, Marco Frigo and the rest, but there was only one real hero on yesterday's Giro stage...
— Cycling out of context (@OutOfCycling) May 22, 2023
The maglia nonna as she's since been dubbed...
🩷🩷🩷 pic.twitter.com/ZSIhIxIGtP
— Jakub Kobik (@kobaseek) May 22, 2023
The e-bike-riding local took the acclaim of the tifosi on the final climb into Bergamo in an attack described by one fan as more exciting than the first two weeks' GC battle. Think the UCI might have something to say about the legality of her bike but hey, at least sock length shouldn't be an issue... Zac Williams of SWpix was thankfully on hand to keep the heart-warming images coming...
Who knew this absolute climbing gold was hidden in one of the valleys?
Probably the best thing about living in Wales, the scenery and the roads. The Barmouth estuary and climb out to Dolgellau is a favourite. pic.twitter.com/FHY4ZLLxvU
— Tuffer (@TufferB) May 19, 2023
Unfortunately for all of us (except our Norwegian readers), it's not, and is instead the Lysevegen climb out of Lysebotn, in between Oslo and Stavanger in the south of the country...
Anyway, while a couple of people spread the word about its actual location, many of the 700,000 people who saw the post were left head scratching at where exactly this hidden gem was, considering the lack of map evidence.
The master trollsman in charge of the daring act of deception then claimed it was a restricted byway and only about two miles long, telling those curious to look for Llandiberrison, Merthyr Tydfil, Tal-y-Bont, Llanidloes and Corris, keeping the wind up rolling.
Yet another classic for the 'don't trust everything random person on the internet tells you' genre. Except reputable live bloggers, of course...
Take a bow Zac Williams of SWpix, dropping some of the best snaps of the entire Giro d'Italia on yesterday's packed final climb, formerly of Il Lombardia before the route finish was moved to Como...
A wave goodbye?
> Mark Cavendish set to announce retirement at end of the season, reports suggest
Perhaps everybody was just happy to see the sun.
The @ballero_94 fan club in action on the roads of Lombardia 😁#Giropic.twitter.com/VRi9Z0tX61
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) May 21, 2023
Busy earning yourself a crippling hangover this weekend? (Nope, just me?) Here's what you might have missed...
> Mark Cavendish set to announce retirement at end of the season, reports suggest
> REVIEW: Vitus Venon EVO-RS Force AXS All-Road
> Join the dots! Check out the Enve Melee with a Black Magic Paint custom finish
> Bike industry turmoil continues as UK cycle distributor 2pure enters administration
I will never call them headset spacers again… pic.twitter.com/3YmrTO3KAG
— Rich Wood (@bigrichwood) May 20, 2023