The only real dampener on a fine send-off for the 97th Giro d’Italia in Belfast was the weather. It could not stop the crowds pouring onto the streets but it did make for very wet road conditions, with several riders hitting the deck over the weekend as a result. But it was nothing compared to what they experienced in Bari. The level of rainfall was probably no more, but on giant flag-stoned roads, slick with oil due to the normal lack of precipitation the road surfaces were extremely treacherous.

When the sun came out, there were some who questioned the need to continue the go-slow, but if there were any doubts as to the treacherous conditions the riders’ stance was soon proved perfectly correct when the final lap saw three separate crashes. For organisers, it was a day-long headache. With star sprinting attraction Marcel Kittel having already pulled out with illness, the stage was in danger of being reduced to a farce. The only consolation was it ended with a fine win from a great sprinter.