OK, as a viewer, I think this year’s Giro has been great theatre and an enjoyable experience, but I don’t have to drag my Magnus Backstedt over the mountains and through the woods with long hours caught in traffic and traveling in buses from place to place between stages.

The cats in the saddles are none too happy about the difficulty and the traveling accommodations of the 2008 Giro d’Italia, and British champ David Millar of Slipstream-Chipotle was quoted by Velonews as calling it “insane” and “ridiculous” while Germany’s answer to George Hincapie — that would be Jens Voight — called it a “stupid race.”

The uphill time trial Monday following back-to-back grueling high mountain stages apparently set some folks off. Velonews.com’s Andrew Hood has the coverage.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, the lads are off today, but there’s a four-hour transfer to the next start town.

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