Thousands gather in Jerusalem for start of Giro D’Italia bike race

Thousands of people line the streets of downtown Jerusalem to watch world-class riders whizzing down the city’s streets for the first stage of the 101st Giro D’Italia, one of the most prestigious road cycling races in the world.

The first three stages of the 21-day race are taking place in Israel. The first day is a 9.7 kilometer time trial in central Jerusalem. The 176 riders will leave at 1-minute intervals starting at 1:50 p.m. The fastest rider will start the second stage of the race wearing the coveted pink jersey, denoting the first place rider.

Crowds gather at some of the major intersections in Jerusalem where the race will pass, though the 10,000 spectators estimated to come out are much less than the race’s draw in Europe.

“I came for this especially from Holland,” says Ron Eisenmann, a lawyer who was waiting to cheer on the Dutch team. “Two years ago the Giro start was in Utrecht, Holland, and there were 1.5 million people watching. Holland has cycle mania.”

Waiting along a steep curve near Bezalel Street, he says it was strange to watch the prestigious race with so few people around him. “It’s very relaxed,” he notes. “I don’t think Israel comprehends what the enormous impact of this race is,” he says. Eisenmann says Dutch TV reported that the riders were complaining about not being able to have milk with their meat meals, since they are staying in kosher hotels.

“I came here to watch also for the Formula One races,” says Jay Regosin, a 21-year resident of Jerusalem. He says that while a lot of people were frustrated with the road closures, he supports the race. “It’s necessary for Israel to have these things,” he says. “[Mayor] Nir Barkat and others are trying to bring Jerusalem into the 21st century. They can’t do it politically so they might as well do it through sports.”

Many Jerusalem residents are frustrated by the race, which has effectively shut down the center of the city for most of today.

— Melanie Lidman