Giro d'Italia Rest Day FAQ

As the Giro d'Italia riders enjoy a rest day prior to Wednesday's team time trial, I thought this would be a good opportunity to address some of the questions undoubtedly on the mind of the Giro dilettante:

Why is the race leader's jersey pink?
The race was originally conceived to promote the Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, which is printed on pink paper. (La Gazzetta dello Sport is pink because white paper was not invented until 1959.)

What do the racers do during the rest day?
Believe it or not, they ride their bikes. If they were to actually rest they might come to their senses and go home.

Which is harder, the Giro d'Italia or the Tour de France?
This question is impossible to answer. It's like asking, "Which weighs more: a pound of provolone or .4536 kilograms of Brie?".

Why isn't the sport of cycling more popular in the United States?
Generally, Americans are uncomfortable watching athletes in helmets and tight-fitting Lycra clothing. This is why the sport of football is also unpopular and why the Superbowl fails to attract viewers year after year.

Why do the podium girls hand strange stuffed animals with Italian tricolor horns to the winners at the end of each stage?
To haunt their dreams.

Why was the jersey for the leader of the points competition changed from the "Maglia Ciclamino" to the "Maglia Rosso Passione" this year?
Because "Maglia Ciclamino" did not sound enough like a brand of cheap wine you'd drink in a hot tub.

Are all the riders on performance-enhancing drugs?
Absolutely not. Sure, cycling has had its share of doping scandals in the past, but unfortunately not all sports can be as squeaky clean as Major League Baseball.