Black jersey comes back to Giro! - Page 2

I've read stories of guys fighting for the Lanterne Rouge in the Tour de France where they would just stop before the finish line to make sure they kept the honor of being last and still in the race.

I think it adds a touch of levity to a grueling 3 weeks for the riders at the bottom of the standings. Also they are working their asses off for their team, often at the beginning of the stages so rarely seen on TV, so this gives them a chance to get some publicity. It's a good thing.

You know it's weird but i can't think of any other sport where i'd be happy/proud to be the last placed guy in a competition. I would actually be proud of myself if I finished last in the Tour de France or Giro. Just finishing a grand tour is an amazing feat.

The thing is, usually, they're not fighting to keep the jersey. But the guy with the jersey is usually struggling, so it's harkens back to the essence of endurance athletics: the struggle.

If they've got the jersey, it means they're struggling to stay in the race.

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"Bait in 08" --nns1400

I think that is a good point and the reason they should have the jersey. Suffering and struggle is a part of aerobic endurance sport. The man who is barely hanging in there should be celebrated. The jersey makes it easier for commentators to talk about him.

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"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates

A bloke I know rode that Giro. They had a race the day after the official finish called the Epilogue, which was a 400km one day (!!)race from Rome to Milan IIRC. All the big hitters didn't ride but 90% of the field did. This bloke was on a good day and nearly won it, chasing the break and just missing out on catching them in the final to run 10th or thereabouts. He also tells some stories from that Giro about DeVlaeminck and how impressive he was on the bike.

Which assumes that the person who is in the jersey is struggling...and not just holding back deliberately to get some publicity for his team.

Given the amount of deliberate limping that goes on in stages where a particular domestique is not required...you can't convince me that the jersey holder will be just "hanging on" in the race. More like "hangin on" to the TV camera....

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