On the eve of the Giro d’Italia, here’s a great film about an edition of the race from over forty years ago.
Stars and Watercarriers is a film from Jorgen Leth who also directed the classic documentary about Paris-Roubaix, A Sunday in Hell.
In Stars and Watercarriers, Leth turns his attention to the 1973 Giro d’Italia. It was the 57th edition of the race, which started in Verviers, Belgium. A total of 140 riders from fourteen teams entered the 20-stage race, and amongst the favourites for the win were Eddy Merckx, the Italians Felice Gimondi and Giovanni Battaglin, and Spaniard Jose-Manuel Fuente.
In addition to focusing on the favourites, Leth also pays a considerable amount of attention to his compatriot Ole Ritter. The film also goes behind the scenes as bicycles are repaired and the cyclists rest up in their hotels.
This will get you in the mood for the race which starts tomorrow in San Lorenzo al Mare with a 17.6 km team time trial.
This is a cool coincidence. Earlier this morning I got itinerary for upcoming bike tour, which includes watching parts of stages 12-15, and a rude of our own up Madonna Campiglio. So psyched!