ProTeam From Nessebar to Rome: the Giro d’Italia is a logistical tour de force

We already know that Grand Tours are no strangers to starts far from home. The Giro previously started in Belfast and Jerusalem, the Tour de France visited Denmark not so long ago, and the Vuelta a España started in Italy last year. Great for the fans, an opportunity for tourism in the host country… and a gigantic puzzle for the participating teams.

In numbers, it looks like this: 2 team buses, 2 trucks, 1 refrigerated truck, 1 van carrying mattresses, 1 kitchen truck, 1 minibus and 5 team cars. A huge convoy therefore left the team’s Service Course in Temse, Belgium, over the past week. “The transfer was probably the hardest puzzle to solve,” says sports director Bart Wellens, who will help oversee the on-site logistics over the next three weeks. “From Western Europe, where the vast majority of the teams are based, the most logical route for the buses and trucks to Bulgaria would be through Serbia. However, Serbia is currently not a member of the European Union, so it’s better for us to drive via Hungary and Romania. But that immediately means an extra 400 kilometres of detour, plus endless roadworks along the way. Everyone already left earlier this week to make sure we arrive in Bulgaria on time.”

Not only is planning the journey of that gigantic fleet a challenge. After three days of racing, the entire caravan has to move back to Italy. The riders and several staff members can make the trip by plane, but part of the team still has to cover the more than 1,000-kilometre journey by road. “We have no choice but to work with two different crews: a Bulgaria crew and an Italy crew. One part returns to Belgium after the weekend in Bulgaria, while another group travels out for the Italian block. That’s why we need two buses and two trucks in total, for example. Otherwise, there’s no way to get those large vehicles to Italy in time on Monday’s rest day, which serves as a travel day. You basically need to duplicate almost all vehicles. In Bulgaria, however, we’re operating with a minimal fleet. Our kitchen truck and mattress truck will only join us once we’re back in Italy for that reason.”

So yes, organising the Grande Partenza has been a logistical tour de force. “After Bulgaria, the worst of the logistics will be behind us… although there are still many long transfers to come. This will be a demanding Giro for our staff.”

Picture: Cyclingmedia_agency