Stage Two - Sunday 6 May
Herning-Herning
206 kilometres, flat stage
Bluffers guide: Jutland is the biggest of the islands which constitute the Kingdom of Denmark. Two of its greatest exports are electronics giant Bang & Olufsen and Lego. Copenhagen, the capital, lies some 200 pan-flat miles east, on Zealand. Cavendish cleaned up there, and logic suggests that he can look forward to another Danish benefit…
Buon appetito: Aside from producing (probably) the best lager in the world, the Danes are extremely partial to Akvavit, a spiced, cask-distilled licquor with a yellow tint. It’s usually flavoured with Caraway seeds, and often drunk as an accompaniment to… lager.
Local hero: Jakob Fuglsang (Saxo Bank) – Long touted as a potential major tour winner even back when he was still racing mountain bikes, the Dane possesses the skills to excel on every terrain but has so far proved inconsistent over three weeks. Fuglsang spent much of his youth in Silkeborg, 30 kilometres from Herning.
Bergonzi says: “In a word; wind. That, and the tension which traditionally causes crashes in the opening stages, are the issues here. Over 200 riders all hoping for the jersey, and given the time bonuses everyone will believe they’re in with a chance. Therefore the speeds will be very, very high. I think the Danish public will be a major protagonista and, as ever when the Giro begins abroad, the crowds will be huge.
