May 21

We got up in time for breakfast this morning and heard some familiar English as we were eating. A couple from Germany (the gentleman was originally from England) sat down next to us, so we chatted with them. It is always SO nice to meet other English speakers! Sometimes we get a little tired of our own company. We told the couple that we were in Italy to support Lance, with the cancer cause the most important reason. They were interested in the Foundation and were aware that Lance had come back for the benefit of the LiveStrong Global Cancer Initiative. He said it’s a shame the media doesn’t make a bigger deal about the cause. By the time we finished chatting they had decided to go see the finish that day.

Our hotel was located halfway between yesterdays finish and today’s finish. We try to do that sometimes so our transfer times are shorter. We had decided to be on the final climb today, which was about 20K from the finish town, but first we drove to the finish line and wandered around the town and got some lunch. While walking back to our car we saw a cyclists wearing LiveStrong bike shorts and shouted LiveStrong to him. Turned out to be Ed and Kate Pennella from Boulder CO. They run a bike touring company and he said he used to race with our friend Davis Phinney. Small world.

We drove on to the climb which is always an adventure. One road we were on for several kilometers was hardly wide enough for our car. We found a nice place at the top, just past the 20K to go banner and right before they start the descent to the finish. Jerry did a little chalk road art, and we put up all of our LiveStrong banners and the giant Hope Rides Again banner that Nike sent us.

LiveStrong Road Art. The LiveStrong booth passed out chalk for people to draw their own art

It does stand out on the mountain

Most people that passed, would stop and take pictures of the banners, then move on. A few people set up near us, so I gave them wristbands. Deborah, a very nice Italian girl that fortunately spoke English better than we spoke Italian, ended up being our friend for the day. She was a big Lance fan and we were able to explain the LiveStrong effort to her.

Angie shared a pom-pom with Deborah, our Italian friend of the day and a big Lance fan.

The riders passed by soon and Lance shouted “Hey” as he rode by on Popo’s wheel, with Popo laughing along the way. Seems he always has a grin. When Chechu passed and Angie shouted his name, he stuck out his tongue then laughed.

Lance and Popo pass the banner!

We broke down Camp LiveStrong and packed up and headed for our hotel in Gubbio. I didn’t realize Gubbio is a walled in medieval city, super cool. Ealier in the evening they had an event, which was called, The Race of the Candles, if we understood it correctly. It seems the city divides up in teams and they carry giant 12’ (900 lb.) candles and race with them. Hard to explain without pictures, but a very Mardi Gras type party. We walked the streets and had some gelato before ascending back to our hotel peak in the castle. A shame we only had one day here.

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