Introduction

2006 was an incredible year of riding in Italy, and also Corsica and France. So many adventures! Climbing the Stelvio; climbing Mont Ventoux with the 1994 winner of that stage, my friend Eros Poli from Verona; racing in 3 granfondos (GF Maratona dles Dolomites, GF Avesani, GF Italia), a one week Tour of Corsica, riding in the "raduno" events in Verona province, attending the Milan bike show and meeting Eddy Merckx, Felice Gimondi, Mario Cipollini, the De Rosa and Pinarello families. Meeting Rasmussen and Cunego on the roads of Valpolicella was very nice as well.

For as incredible as all of that was, the best aspect of the year was the friends I made at the "Gruppo 1" cycling club of San Massimo, Verona. They are a tremendous group and I'm fortunate to have found them, and fortunate that they have "adopted" me. So many rides, so much fun!

For 2007 I'm going to attempt to write and post photos about cycling in Italy and the riding culture, and take a few trips back into 2006.

Ciao

NOTE: WE LIVED IN ITALY FROM AUGUST, 2005 TO JUNE, 2008. I BEGAN THIS BLOG ON JANUARY 1, 2007 FOR THE PURPOSE OF KEEPING MY FRIENDS BACK IN THE UNITED STATES INFORMED OF MY CYCLING ADVENTURES. UPON RETURNING TO THE U.S. IN JUNE, 2008, I DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE BLOG SO MY FRIENDS IN ITALY AND BLOG READERS AROUND THE WORLD COULD SEE WHAT CYCLING HERE WAS LIKE.

I can be contacted at veronaman AT gmail DOT com