“Glory Ride” is a musical about the famous Italian cyclist Gino Bartali, who won the Giro d’Italia three times (in 1936, 1937 and 1946) and the Tour de France twice (in 1938 and 1948). Until recently very little was known about his role in saving the lives of the persecuted minorities and refugees, many of whom were children.
The main Willesden peloton are planning to do the “Glory Ride” en mass sometime in July. However, a small “Stage” breakaway group formed, mainly fuelled by cheap tickets, to take the Charing Cross stage last Friday night!
It is good to see another play about cycling making its stage debut. “Glory Ride” is a musical that focuses on Gino Bartoli’s help in saving the lives of the persecuted, using his fame as a Grand Tour winner to ride unchallenged, whilst conveying key documents to the resistance and even to smuggle small children out of Italy. Despite the serious nature of the subject, the production has managed to include some comic scenes as well as portraying what everyday life was like living under a Mussolini dictatorship.
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Breakaway Riders
