The Giro's fastest ever leadout train goes by the name of 'Endless Love'

The big pink train ferries VIPs alongside the race, with riders waving back as it 'toots'

Giro d'Italia train
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Trains are common in cycling. There are sprint trains, as teams try to perfectly position their sprinter on flat finishes; leadout rider after leadout rider peeling off in turn in order to hopefully give their fastman the best opportunity to win. These rose to prominence with Mario Cipollini in the 90s, and then were perfected by HTC Highroad and Mark Cavendish in the 00s.

In recent years, we have seen the rise of mountain train as well, as the big-budget general classification teams seek to control the pace on climbs. The art was introduced by Team Sky, then Ineos, then Ineos Grenadiers. The Sky train has returned at this year's Giro d'Italia, as the team attempt to give Richard Carapaz the support he needs to win the maglia rosa. Jumbo-Visma have also picked up the mountain train for Primož Roglič at both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España in the last few years.

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