Tickled pink as Giro rides on

Hundreds of thousands of people lined highways and byways in Ireland to bid arrivederci to the Giro D’Italia.

One of the world’s most famous cycle races crossed the border from Armagh into Louth around lunch time then whizzed its way along the east coast towards Dublin.

Along the way, young and old lined the streets of Castlebellingham and Drogheda in Co Louth, as well as Skerries, Swords, Malahide, and Clontarf in Dublin for a glance of the speeding peloton and the famous Maglia Rosa — the leader’s pink jersey.

Many were kitted out in pink ponchos, raincoats, and headwear to protect them from the forecasted rain.

However, despite threatening weather in the capital earlier in the day, the sun came out to welcome the 200 odd top-level cyclists at the end of their 187km route.

Marcel Kittel was in the pink as he celebrated his 26th birthday in style by clinching victory in the stage three Irish leg.

The German rider collapsed off his bike at the end of a gruelling sprint finish after arriving into a thronged Merrion Square where crowds roared on the competitors.

“It was close,” he said at the finish. “Actually I thought I lost the race already because I was really in a not good position, but when I saw the finish line I thought, ‘You don’t give up now, you give everything you have’. I’m so happy that it was still enough.”

The three-week race, which was won in 1987 by Stephen Roche, now heads back home to Italy.

Senior church figures gave blessings to the riders ahead of yesterday’s start.

Cardinal Seán Brady delivered his in Italian. He was one of the few not clad in pink but, pointing to the red belt around his robe, stressed: “This was the nearest I had to pink.”

The cleric added: “It’s a great joy to welcome these superb athletes here and to wish them well. We are delighted they have chosen Northern Ireland to begin the Giro.”