History for Harrison in the Giro d’Italia

Not only did Torbay pro Harrison Wood finish the Giro d’Italia, his first-ever ‘Grand Tour’, but he did it in style.

The 23-year-old Mid-Devon CC rider exceeded all expectations, and potentially took his career to a new level, when he crossed the line in Rome on Sunday after 2,113 miles spread over three weeks in sunshine, rain and snow.

In the colours of his French team Cofidis, Wood was 65th of 142 finishers in the fastest Giro in history, won in sensational style by the brilliant Slovenian star Tadej Pogacar (Team UAE).

Another 35 riders, including two of Wood’s teammates, were forced to drop out.

But the former Torquay Boys Grammar School student overcame a bout of sickness at the end of the first week to deliver some eye-catching performances, especially in the Appenine, Alps and Dolomite mountains.

He is due to return home for a short rest this week, before returning to Europe for a one-day race in Switzerland next weekend.

Then, Cofidis managers will map out the rest of his 2024 season.

It’s not likely to include the Tour de France at this stage of his young career, but it may well feature Spain’s Vuelta in August.

Wood is only the third MDCC rider, after the late Colin Lewis and Jeremy Hunt, to ride and finish one of cycling’s Grand Tours.