Let's begin by placing a piece of gum in your mouth. Now chew. Your surroundings fade.

Chew. You're on a mountaintop. Chew. An eagle lands on your shoulder.

Choo.

The eagle introduces himself as Eduardo.

Choo.

Eduardo tells you to take life one chew at a time.

Choo, the world is filled with wonder.

Chu, I'm talking eagles apparently.

Extra gum.

Chew, good. The lapping water water's of the tyranny in sea. We have made it to Ligoria for stage

four of the Giro Italia. And this is familiar territory for anyone like me and

Matt who are very familiar with Milan San Ramos since we come here every March

for La Prima Verra.

But this is the first time I've ever visited Ligoria for the Girod Italia.

The temperature is a good 5, 6, 7, 8 degrees warmer than it always is,

Formulan San Ramo.

And it just looks slightly different now.

From where I am sitting in Andorra,

I am looking down along the race route, the palm trees, the Italian flags just

fluttering in the breeze. I'm seeing the sun lounges being put to use by elderly Italian

couples wearing very little, both the men and the women topping up their all year round tans.

And on the wooded hillsides above I can see the terracotta roofs and the cypress trees and on the ridge just to the south of Andorra I can see the

...