Giro-mania

Giro d'Italia is the lesser-known cousin of the Tour de France. Both have pre-race trials in other countries, I assume to generate interest in the big event.

Giro is having its Big Start in Belfast this year. If you scroll through the photos on the link above, you will see an awesome photo of Belfast City Hall lit in pink (color of the lead rider's jersey).

Belfast has gone mad over the race, which will have three stages that include the heavenly Antrim Coast and Giant's Causeway. If you click on the link above, you will see a sheep dyed pink.

You will also read of Belfast's heartache: the loyalists (i.e. loyal to the queen) who are aggrieved about any perceived slight. Picture a tattooed Tea Party member waving a Confederate flag and spoiling for a fight. Catholics air grievances too, but not with the same aggressiveness.

Here's a photo I took this week of the Duke of York, which I featured earlier (note the Guinness in the cyclist's hand):