May 6th is the second earliest start to the Giro. Only
the May 2nd start in 1967 beats it. The Giro also started
on the 6th in 1913 (Giuseppe Santhià) and 1933 (Learco
Guerra).
The Giro has begun in Belgium once before with the 1973
start in Verviers. That year the prologue was an unusual
two person TTT, won by Merckx and Roger Swerts.
A few riders have an opportunity to join the short list of
people that have taken stages in all three Grand Tours.
Included are Jan Ullrich, Viatcheslav Ekimov, Michael
Rasmussen, and Roberto Laiseka. Petacchi, Simoni, and
Bettini have already turned the hat trick.
Giovanni Lombardi is working on an impressive streak of Grand
Tour starts, having finished all three last year.
Paolo Savoldelli is already one of the oldest Giro winners.
Winning at age 32 last year he is one of only 6 riders to take
a Giro at that age or older. It is a pretty select list,
including Coppi (twice), Moser, Gimondi, and 34 year old fatty
masters Toni Rominger and Fiorenzo Magni.