With the sunshine forecast for this bank holiday weekend, it’s time to pull that cycling clothing out of the wardrobe and get back on the road. Alternatively the first of the three European Tours begins this weekend with the Giro d’Italia, surprisingly enough The Tour of Italy. Three of Britain’s best are competing, but with this race being described as The Tour de France’s “grittier and rather more brutal brother”, what are there chances of success.

The race itself will be the 96th time it has been run, and begins in Naples on Saturday and finishes in Brescia on May 25th, a mere 3,405km later. The organisers have been a little sneaky as they attempted to lure a world class field for this year’s race by adding extra time trials. However, the overall feel of the race is one of mountains and steep climbs, especially in the latter stages which some feel makes this race harder to win than the Tour de France.

The British cycling god that is Sir Bradley Wiggins is competing in this event once again, and hopes to better his best ever finish, a lowly 40th., but he has won a stage. Even so he is one of the favourites for this year’s race, probably something to do with his wins in 2012, a little matter of Olympic Gold in the time trail and winning the Tour de France. Mark Cavendish is also racing, aiming for the red jersey awarded to the rider with most points achieved at finishes and intermediate sprints. He lost last year by a single point.

So maybe that cycling clothing needs updating ready to follow in these great racers tyre tracks, check out the latest additions on the website, get yourself kitted out and get on your bike!! Only in a friendly and polite manner that is!