Code: RD285C
This could be the best Giro ever! Showing unmatched class, masterly authority, and a sense of strategy second to none in this year’s Giro d’Italia, Ivan Basso became the first real star of cycling’s post-Lance Armstrong era. Clinching three superb stage victories en route to his first-ever major Tour victory, Italian Basso’s battle for the biggest home win of them all is an enthralling two-wheeled adventure stretching from rain-soaked Belgium to the snow-capped Dolomites, from the awesome Alps to the heart of sophisticated Milan. Faced with valiant rivals, appalling weather and almost excessively difficult mountain stages, Basso nonetheless went the distance – all 2000 miles of it – to notch the largest winning margin since the Giro of 1965. How Basso, being a closely watched pre-start favorite, managed to seize control of such an infernally complex race is fascinating in its own right, but the Tour of Italy 2006 also literally teems with sub-plots and visual feasts. The return of champion Jan Ullrich to top condition, the cut-throat bunch sprint battles and the final week of mountain climbing, unparalleled in any recent major Tour, all make this one of the most unforgettable Giros on record. Even Lance Armstrong said he was seriously impressed by Basso’s inexorable rise to power this May. Don’t miss this DVD!
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