7 memorable moments from the first two weeks of the Giro d’Italia

There’s less than a week to go in the incredible 2023 edition of the Giro d’Italia, and it’s bound to get even better. Geraint Thomas has the pink jersey, but with some tough stages ahead and a Saturday time trial, anything can happen.

This year’s Giro has had plenty of ups and downs, along with some famously terrible weather.

Here’s a rundown of just a few of the incredible moments so far.

1. Derek Gee’s second place

Canada’s Derek Gee stunned when he achieved the biggest result of his life, placing second on Stage 8. EF Education-Easypost’s Ben Healy won solo, confirming his rise from the Spring Classics.

Canadian Derek Gee the runner-up in Saturday’s Giro d’Italia stage

2. Remco Evenepoel withdraws

The cycling world was shocked when the Belgian, clad in his pink jersey after a victory earlier that day in the TT, had to quit the race due to COVID-19.

Remco Evenepoel called Geraint Thomas to say he was quitting the Giro d’Italia

3. Derek Gee’s second second place

Only two stages after his first second place, Gee had another incredible ride. Stage 10 was a cold, nasty, shortened stage, which saw the opportunists go from the gun. The Canuck just missed out on a win because of the impressive Magnus Cort, who now has a win in all three Grand Tours. “This one hurt a little more, just ’cause you can see the win right there,” Gee said.

Once more Derek Gee is runner-up from a 2023 Giro d’Italia breakaway

4. The UCI chirps Remco for using a chopper

After Stage 7, Evenepoel wanted a quick exit from the crowded finish and got a lift in a helicopter. Evenepoel and Soudal Quick-Step were not the only team to call in the choppers for a quick departure that day, but the UCI decided to call them out.

Remco Evenepoel chartered a helicopter off Campo Imperatore and the UCI is not happy

5. Derek Gee’s third second place

So close! Gee led the chase and caught the break that had been dangling out in front of him and was just nipped at the line for the third time. He also moved way up in the points, sitting second overall behind sprinter Jonathan Milan, representing Bahrain – Victorious.

The Escape Artist: Derek Gee comes within centimetres of winning first Giro stage

6. Geraint Thomas calls out the old guard

When social media, including several former pros, called the current generation of cyclists soft for wanting to reduce the length of Stage 13 because of the weather, Thomas had a one-liner for the ages.

Geraint Thomas sassed pros from the ‘80s and ‘90s bigtime at the Giro d’Italia

7. Pinot’s burn on Twitter to Vaughters

Speaking of sassing former pros, check out this absolutely home run on Twitter by the Frenchman.

Of course Jonathan Vaughters had to say something about Thibaut Pinot’s breakaway outburst

Honourable mention: Geraint Thomas’s loo

Yikes.

Geraint Thomas’s Giro hotel toilet shows the unglamorous side of pro cycling