Shortest longest and lowest

Luigi Ganna was the winner of the first Giro d’Italia in 1909 which featured Geno(v)a, the city for today’s finale. When he and the other 48 survivors had finished the race in Turin, they had completed 8 stages, averaging >300 km each, the shortest of which was longer (206 km) than today’s Stage 12, which was the longest (204 km) of 2022, but the shortest longest stage for over 20 years.

The result of a big breakaway was once again fascinating racing, but few fantasy team selections in the top 10, and consequently the lowest-scoring day in the mini-league so far, an aggrgate of 750 velopoints fewer than yesterday. Top Banana Team of the Day on day 12 was David’s Thin Fat Boys, albeit with the lowest highest daily score to date! Here they are, with 6th placed Kelderman and the Trek’s young Lopez, still comfortably wearing the pink and white jerseys (he must’ve been really hot today) since about February – when was it they started?

Q. Why do I use Alpecin shampoo? A. Because I want to keep my sponsorship.

Mattieu van der Poel reading from a card.

Flag of the Day

Geno(v)a’s flag is a very familiar St George’s cross like Ing-err-land but since the historic port is the capital of Liguria, here is the regional flag instead, and very splendid it is. In the centre is a stylised boat (a caravel) with the St. George’s cross and four “mullets” (heraldic stars, not 1970s football stars) on the sail.

I have noticed that there appears to be less flag-waving on the Giro than in other grand tours, despite there being such strong regional identities, languages etc. in Italy. I wonder why?