2014 Giro d'Italia Stage 10 preview

LOCAL HERO
We're at the foot of the Po Valley today, in one of the strongholds of Italian cycling. In that sense we can take our pick from any number of champions, but you can read about them anywhere. Instead let's turn our attention to one of the also-rans, Parma's Erminio Rizzi. You won't find his name in any list of Giro stage winners, much less in a cycling hall of fame, and that's precisely the point.

Erminio rode professionally for just two years, 1982 and '83. He finished 27th and 80th respectively, and never once finished top ten in a stage. Those giri were won by Messrs' Hinault and Saronni, and he's the first to admit he wasn't remotely in their class. All fine and well, but for the likes of Erminio merely getting round was a huge undertaking, harder probably than for super-champions like Hinault to win it. He accomplished it twice, and for that we salute him, and all his creed.

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