The Giro d’Italia often conjures images of the country’s beauty, but the first Grand Tour of the season can often be the most brutal, with super-steep climbs on mountains only just waking from winter slumber. These shoes from Lake pay homage to one of the wildest day’s in cycling’s history.
The shoes, Lake CX170’s in a Gavia edition colourway, are a tribute to Andrew Hampsten’s efforts over the Passo di Gavia on June 5 1988. The 120km stage from Chiesa in Valmalenco to Bormio took the peloton over the 2,621m pass, the highest point in that year’s race on a day when a blizzard descended on the Italian Alps.
Some riders tried to call a truce during the stage but Hampsten attacked at the foot of the 18km climb, riding through snow, sleet and rain to defy the weather gods. Johan Van Der Velde crested the climb first but was forced to stop on the freezing descent to Bormio to warm up, eventually losing 40 minutes, while Hampsten survived to finish second on the day behind Dutchman Erik Breukink, moving into the overall lead and going on to become the first – and still the only – American to win the corsa rosa.
Hampsten wore Lake shoes and the CX170’s, launched last year, celebrate the company’s association with the former 7-Eleven rider. The influence is unmistakably Italian, with flashes of red and green across the shoe, a hint of pink, and ‘1988 Gavia Edition’ printed alongside the Italian flag. A more understated black and silver version of the shoe is also available.
The shoe has a leather and mesh upper, with a moulded and vented heel counter, while the sole is made from fibreglass-injected nylon. Closure is taken care of by a BOA lacing system, which uses a steel lace, tightened and loosened by a knob on the heel. Sizes 39 to 48 are available and the shoes retail at £109.99. Watch out for a review of these Giro-inspired shoes soon.
