Milano Prepares For Giro d'Italia Return

Today begins the one month countdown to the return of the finish of the Giro d'Italia to Milano, the city that more than any other in the 102 years of the race's history that has been the last act of the race. The race will finish on May 29 in an individual time trial from Piazza Castello to Piazza Duomo.

The race finish was moved to Verona last year, some 26 years after the historic 1984 edition won by Francesco Moser at the Arena in Verona, and now returns to Milano. The Giro d'Italia had finished in Milano every year since 1990 with the exception of the 100th anniversary edition in which it ended in Rome.

Milano's Mayor, Letizia Moratti (above), was on hand yesterday in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II wearing a maglia rosa and announcing the initiatives that will turn Milano pink over the next month.

The 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy ("il Risorgimento"), and will start in Torino (Turin) on May 7th. Torino was the first capital of unified Italy. Torino has only once hosted a Giro start, in 1961.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,900 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

New Bianchi SEMPRE Limited Edition in Matte Black

Bianchi is launching a limited edition of the Sempre model in matte black with SRAM Red, blacked out components and customized Vision deep dish carbon clinchers. The bicycle will be available in limited quantities in June at authorized U.S. Bianchi dealers. MSRP is $6,399.00.

Note that a limited edition Oltre model in matte black was offered earlier, see information here.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,900 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Coming: Campagnolo 80mm Profile Bora Wheelset

Campagnolo is going to be adding a 80 mm profile Bora Ultra wheelset to their high profile model line. 16 spokes front/21 spokes rear. Weight 1,540 grams (715 + 825). Note "Dark" logo. Ceramic bearings. etc.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,900 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Win Autographed "The Story of the Giro d'Italia"

Note: Contest has been won, click here to learn who the winner is.

With the run-up to the Giro d'Italia starting to get into full swing I thought it would be nice to have another Giro d'Italia related contest. Thanks to Bill & Carol McGann they will be providing an autographed, with a dedication to the winner, of "The Story of the Giro d'Italia", A Year-by-Year History of the Tour of Italy, Volume One: 1909 - 1970".

You can read the preface here.

Bill has provided 15 questions to challenge you. The rules are simple: first 15 correct answers (which Bill has provided) receives the book. Email replies to my address below. If you don't like contests but want a copy of the book, or the kindle version, it can be ordered from several sources including at amazon.com.

Questions:

1. Who won the most stages in a single Giro?

2. Who did the first "sunrise to sunset" (taking the lead in the first stage and keeping to the end) Giro?

3. Who were the other three riders to accomplish this feat?

4. Who was the "Human Locomotive"

5. What was the name of Fausto Coppi's blind masseur?

6. What is a "fuga di bidone"?

7. Who was the youngest rider to win the Giro?

8. Who was the oldest Giro winner?

9. Three riders have won the Giro five times. Who are they?

10. Who holds the record most career Giro stage wins?

11. What was the first year the maglia rosa (Pink Jersey) was presented to the Giro's leader?

12. What Giro edition had the fewest finishers?

13. In what Giro did Fausto Coppi wear the Pink Jersey for the last time?

14. The 1954 Giro is infamous for its slow riding, especially over a particular pass. What is the pass and the name it gave to the 1954 Giro?

15. Armando Cougnet was the first Giro boss. Who succeeded him?


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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,900 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

How a Vittoria Tubular is Made

Vittoria expanded their Thailand manufacturing facility in 2010, they were expecting to be producing 7 million premium road race and MTB tires, and 1 million tubulars annually. This is a good video as to how a tubular tire is made at Vittoria:
YouTube - How a Vittoria Tubular is made

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,900 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

So.....Italian!

Italian national champion Monia Baccaille in her latest all Italian kit and MCipollini frame.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,900 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Contador On Monte Crostis Descent, Zoncolan Ascent

Alberto Contandor has been on undertaking the recon of several Giro d'Italia stages. In this video, Contador is studying the Monte Crostis climb and descent, and the Zoncolan climb of stage 14 of May 21st. Of Monte Crostis, Contador says, "It gives me fear". The announcer describes the descent as impressive. The video ends with clips of the ascent of Zoncolan.



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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,900 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Italy at Iditarod Trail Invitational

Ausilia Vistarini became the first female Italian to finish the Iditarod Trail Invitational and she did it on a Crisp singlespeed snow bike. Sebastiano Favaro, her boyfriend and companion for the adventure, participated for the second time in this event, also on a Crisp singlespeed snowy. Both came in with Ausilia’s record-setting time of 5 days 5 hours 50 minutes.

Darren Crisp is a American framebuilder specializing in Ti who lives full time in Italy (maybe I should say he is an Italian framebuilder now), read his story here. His website is www.crisptitanium.com

Auslia's blog, in Italian, is here.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,900 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

The Movie: IL LOMBARDIA

Coming in October, 2011, is a new Dutch movie, "IL LOMBARDIA" featuring Robert Gesink, Paolo Bettini, Karsten Kroon, Michael Boogerd, Johnny Hoogerland, and Jo De Roo. The teaser website is www.illombardia.com; this is the dutch trailer, there will be a trailer (and the movie) with Italian and English subtitles as well.

The Giro di Lombardia professional race, one of the five "monuments" of the one day classics, is also known as the "Race of the Falling Leaves" ("classica delle foglie morte") as it is normally held in October. Originally called the Milano-Milano when it was first held in 1905, it became the Giro di Lombardia in 1907. The only years when it has not been held were 1943 and 1944, when it was interrupted by World War II.

Photos: © Philip van der Ploeg

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,900 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2011 Giro d'Italia Start List

The Giro d'Italia has announced the start list of 207 riders on 23 teams. In honor of the Italian national championship jersey and the celebration of the 150th year of Italian unification, the Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti will be wearing number 150.

Acqua & Sapone
1 Stefano Garzelli (Ita)
2 Massimo Codol (Ita)
3 Claudio Corioni (Ita)
4 Alessandro Donati (Ita)
5 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita)
6 Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro)
7 Danilo Napolitano (Ita)
8 Cayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col)
9 Fabio Taborre (Ita)
D.S. CENGHIALTA Bruno

AG2R La Mondiale
11 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita)
12 Julien Berard (Fra)
13 Mikael Cherel (Fra)
14 Cyril Dessel (Fra)
15 Hubert Dupont (Fra)
16 John Gadret (Fra)
17 Ben Gastauer (Lux)
18 Yuriy Krivtsov (Fra)
19 Matteo Montaguti (Ita)
D.S. BIONDI Laurent

Androni Giocattoli
21 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col)
22 Emanuele Sella (Ita)
23 José Rujano Guillen (Ven)
24 Alessandro De Marchi (Ita)
25 Giairo Ermeti (Ita)
26 Roberto Ferrari (Ita)
27 Carlos José Ochoa (Ven)
28 Jackson Rodriguez (Ven)
29 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa)
D.S. SAVIO Gianni

BMC Racing Team
31 Alessandro Ballan (Ita)
32 Chad Beyer (USA)
33 Mathias Frank (Swi)
34 Martin Kohler (Swi)
35 Alexander Kristoff (Nor)
36 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita)
37 Johann Tschopp (Swi)
38 Danilo Wyss (Swi)
39 Simon Zahner (Swi)
D.S. BALDATO Fabio

Colnago - CSF Inox
41 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita)
42 Manuel Belletti (Ita)
43 Sacha Modolo (Ita)
44 Stefano Pirazzi (Ita)
45 Filippo Savini (Ita)
46 Federico Canuti (Ita)
47 Simone Stortoni (Ita)
48 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita)
49 Manuele Caddeo (Ita)
D.S. REVERBERI Roberto

Euskaltel-Euskadi
51 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa)
52 Daniel Sesma (Spa)
53 Miguel Minguez Ayala (Spa)
54 Inaki Isasi Flores (Spa)
55 Pierre Cazaux (Fra)
56 Javier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa)
57 Jorge Azanza Soto (Spa)
58 Juan José Oroz Ugalde (Spa)
59 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa)
D.S. GLEZ DE GALDEANO Alvaro

Geox-TMC
61 Denis Menchov (Rus)
62 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa)
63 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa)
64 David Blanco Rodriguez (Spa)
65 Giampaolo Cheula (Ita)
66 Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus)
67 Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo (Col)
68 Mauricio Ardila Cano (Col)
69 Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa)
D.S. ZANINI Stefano

HTC-Highroad
71 Mark Cavendish (GBr)
72 Marco Pinotti (Ita)
73 Patrick Gretsch (Ger)
74 Craig Lewis (USA)
75 Lars Ytting Bak (Den)
76 Frantisek Rabon (Cze)
77 Alex Rasmussen (Den)
78 Mark Renshaw (Aus)
79 Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr)
D.S. PIVA Valerio

Katusha Team
81 Filippo Pozzato (Ita)
82 Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver (Spa)
83 Danilo Di Luca (Ita)
84 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita)
85 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa)
86 Luca Paolini (Ita)
87 Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa)
88 Juan Horrach Rippoll (Spa)
89 Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr)
D.S. PARSANI Serge

Lampre - ISD
91 Michele Scarponi (Ita)
92 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita)
93 Marco Marzano (Ita)
94 Diego Ulissi (Ita)
95 Danilo Hondo (Ger)
96 Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol)
97 Adriano Malori (Ita)
98 Daniele Righi (Ita)
99 Simon Spilak (Slo)
D.S. MAINI Orlando

Leopard Trek
101 Daniele Bennati (Ita)
102 Dominic Klemme (Ger)
103 Thomas Rohregger (Aut)
104 Tom Stamsnijder (Ned)
105 Bruno Pires (Por)
106 Davide Vigano (Ita)
107 Fabian Wegmann (Ger)
108 Wouter Weylandt (Bel)
109 Oliver Zaugg (Swi)
D.S. GUERCILENA Luca

Liquigas-Cannondale
111 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita)
112 Valerio Agnoli (Ita)
113 Eros Capecchi (Ita)
114 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita)
115 Tiziano Dall'Antonia (Ita)
116 Fabio Sabatini (Ita)
117 Cristiano Salerno (Ita)
118 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol)
119 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita)
D.S. VOLPI Alberto

Movistar Team
121 David Arroyo Duran (Spa)
122 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita)
123 Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc)
124 Vasili Kiryienka (Blr)
125 Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa)
126 Sergio Pardilla Belllón (Spa)
127 Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez (Spa)
128 Branislau Samoilau (Blr)
129 Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa)
D.S. ARRIETA Jose Luis

Omega Pharma-Lotto
131 Jan Bakelandts (Bel)
132 Adam Blythe (GBr)
133 Francis De Greef (Bel)
134 Bart De Clercq (Bel)
135 Gert Dockx (Bel)
136 Olivier Kaisen (Bel)
137 Sebastian Lang (Ger)
138 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin)
139 Klaas Lodewyck (Bel)
D.S. DAMIANI Roberto

Pro Team Astana
141 Roman Kreuziger (Cze)
142 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita)
143 Francesco Masciarelli (Ita)
144 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro)
145 Maxim Gourov (Kaz)
146 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa)
147 Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe)
148 Evgeny Petrov (Rus)
149 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo)
D.S. MARTINELLI Giuseppe

Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli
150 Giovanni Visconti (Ita)
151 Francesco Failli (Ita)
152 Leonardo Giordani (Ita)
153 Oscar Gatto (Ita)
154 Matteo Rabottini (Ita)
155 Luca Mazzanti (Ita)
156 Diego Caccia (Ita)
157 Andrea Noe (Ita)
158 Davide Ricci Bitti (Ita)
D.S. SCINTO Luca

Quickstep Cycling Team
161 Marco Bandiera (Ita)
162 Dario Cataldo (Ita)
163 Gerald Ciolek (Ger)
164 Marc De Maar (AHo)
165 Addy Engels (Ned)
166 Davide Malacarne (Ita)
167 Jérôme Pineau (Fra)
168 Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel)
169 Kristof Vandewalle (Bel)
D.S. BRAMATI Davide

Rabobank Cycling Team
171 Theo Bos (Ned)
172 Rick Flens (Ned)
173 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned)
174 Thomas Leezer (Ned)
175 Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned)
176 Bram Tankink (Ned)
177 Jos Van Emden (Ned)
178 Dennis Van Winden (Ned)
179 Pieter Weening (Ned)
D.S. VERHOEVEN Nico

Saxo Bank Sungard
181 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa)
182 Laurent Didier (Lux)
183 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr)
184 Jesús Hernandez Blazquez (Spa)
185 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den)
186 Gustav Larsson (Swe)
187 Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa)
188 Matteo Tosatto (Ita)
189 Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa)
D.S. MAUDUIT Philippe

Sky Procycling
191 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe)
192 Michael Barry (Can)
193 Kjell Carlström (Fin)
194 Dario David Cioni (Ita)
195 Russell Downing (GBr)
196 Davide Appollonio (Ita)
197 Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor)
198 Serge Pauwels (Bel)
199 Morris Possoni (Ita)
D.S. YATES Sean

Team Garmin-Cervelo
201 Tyler Farrar (USA)
202 Julian Dean (NZl)
203 Jack Bobridge (Aus)
204 Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra)
205 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra)
206 Cameron Meyer (Aus)
207 David Millar (GBr)
208 Peter Stetina (USA)
209 Matthew Wilson (Aus)
D.S. MARIE Lionel

Team RadioShack
211 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr)
212 Robbie McEwen (Aus)
213 Tiago Machado (Por)
214 Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn)
215 Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por)
216 Philip Deignan (Irl)
217 Ben Hermans (Bel)
218 Robert Hunter (RSA)
219 Ivan Rovny (Rus)
D.S. GALLOPIN Alain

Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
221 Matteo Carrara (Ita)
222 Borut Bozic (Slo)
223 Maxim Belkov (Rus)
224 Michal Golas (Pol)
225 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned)
226 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb)
227 Alberto Ongarato (Ita)
228 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita)
229 Frederik Veuchelen (Bel)
D.S. VAN DER SCHUEREN Hilaire


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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Book signing, Herbie Sykes' "Maglia Rosa" - 27th April in London

With James Straffon's Gran Corsa d'Italia exhibition on show at London's Frameless Gallery, Rouleur, publishers of the world's finest cycle racing reportage, are hosting a special book signing event at the same venue on Wednesday 27th April. Meet the author, and grab a signed copy of Herbie Sykes' Giro-magnum-opus - Maglia Rosa – Triumph and Tragedy at the Giro d’Italia.

Giro legend Italo Zilioli will also be on hand.

Wednesday 27th April 2011. 5.30-6.30pm.
The Frameless Gallery
20 Clerkenwell Green
London EC1R 0DP

Peroni & Prosecco available.

More about the "Maglia Rosa" book here:
-the book,
-interview with Herbie Sykes

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Gran Fondo New York: 200 Spots Remaining

There are only 200 spots remaining for the Gran Fondo New York with less than three weeks to the event day. Register now if you plan to participate.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Pegoretti Rally in Siena

The following courtesy of Darren Crisp. I first met Darren in 2007 in Milan. Darren is a American framebuilder specializing in Ti who lives full time in Italy (maybe I should say he is an Italian framebuilder now), read his story here. I'll have more about Darren in the future but in the meantime you can visit his website, www.crisptitanium.com





"I had a spectacular weekend. My family and I were kindly invited to the Dario Pegoretti Raduno, a rally for Pegoretti owners which was organized by Nicola Vezzaro from Rome and some friends of the BDC Forum. When Dario told me that it was to be held in Asciano, a small hilltown near Siena (and about 45km from my home), I knew that it would be a great setting for such an event.

The weekend at the Podere Alberese was filled with a host of great food, pleasant talk (not only about bikes!), and an opportunity to meet some great folks from around the country who came to find other passionate Pegoretti owners. What struck me the most was the quality, not only of the bikes (obviously), but also of the guys and gals who were nice enough to include me in their weekend event.

My family and I had a chance to hang out in a beautiful place, relax for the weekend, and even take a dip in the hot therapeutic waters of San Giovanni Terme as the sun set over the Senese hilltop afar. I wish I had my camera around for that one. I couldn’t get my new road bike finished in time to pedal with the group, so I was forced to kick back with a few bottles of prosecco and chat about the business and art of framebuilding with Dario and Pietro while our kids were enjoying the first signs of spring. What an event..

Thanks again Nicola, Dario, Pietro and friends for letting us get to know you and participate in this extraordinary event. Hope to see you at ExpoBici 2011 and at the Raduno Pegoretti 2012!"

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Team Gios-Torino at 2010 L'Eroica

Team Gios-Torino at 2010 L'Eroica:


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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Veneto Region Seeks Tour de France Stage

The Veneto has a dream painted yellow. It's called the Tour de France and could materialize in the coming years. The organizing committee of the initiative is VeneTour, a group of young and enterprising trevigiani (persons from Treviso), united by their passion for cycling and their land.

On March 8, VeneTour officially submitted their candidacy to host a future Tour de France stage. The project has already obtained the patronage of the Regione Veneto. It would be the first time the Tour would visit the Veneto.

Veneto is made up of seven provinces: Province of Belluno, Province of Padova, Province of Rovigo, Province of Treviso, Province of Verona, Province of Vicenza and the Province of Venezia.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Anjou Vélo Vintage

Bernard Thévenet, Pierre Salviac, Christian Prudhomme, Guy Roux, Pierre Fulla, Jean-Paul Ollivier, François Pêcheux, Bernard Diomède, and Christophe Béch, Président du Conseil général de Maine-et-Loire and 80 other officials and friends of sport, cycling and journalism were at the recent official presentation for the first edition of "Anjou Vélo Vintage" event. The idea merging vintage bicycles, heritage, food and good atmosphere as part of a popular day in the Loire Valley region of France, shared with family, has been widely acclaimed.
The event will be held on June 19th, starting in Saumur. Routes of 29, 70 and 104 km will be available.

Event website: www.anjou-velo-vintage.com


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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Cinelli Fan: Dario Pegoretti

In the words of Dario Pegoretti as told to Lodovico Pignatti of Cinelli:

"When I first met Cino, he made the immediate impression, as one sometimes does, of being a man of other times. I was just a junior rider at the time, this was in around 1972, and I was riding with the Unione Sportiva Aurola Trento and I showed some amount of promise so they decided to get me a new race bike that year; a Cinelli. Back then I had a Legnano, a good bike but already, in those days, a little below a Cinelli. So Vittorio Brocaldo, the director of the association, took me by car from Trento to the old Cinelli headquarters at Via dei Folli, Milano to get fitted.

Now the first thing I remember noticing walking in was the mountains and mountains of handlebars all intertwined amongst each other; the business of course, then, being focused on handlebars, stems and saddles. Of course I was very nervous, Cino was there to take my measurements, an imposing figure, very smartly dressed, seemingly half Milanese half English gentlemen with a calm authority; nervous because at that time for cyclists going into via dei Folli was like going on a pilgrimage to see the Madonna; a Cinelli, was, in those days, the most expensive and desirable bicycle available, along with Masi, with a little behind them Colnago, who was still just beginning to come to prominence.

I remember then there was the very great rivalry between Faliero Masi and Cino Cinelli; two very different, very personal styles of building that made a very strong impression compared to other frames of the time; Cinelli you could already have described as a little old fashioned, with his classic round tubes, distinctive fast back seat-stays, three-point lugs, heraldic font and crest, while Masi more modern with his lower ovalised chain stays, pressed tube shapes and seat collar arrangement.

Back then you had what you called “Le Tre C” (the three Cs): Columbus, Cinelli and Clement; that was apex of professional cycling, the finest build money could buy, as well as of course the campagnolo gruppo. When my bicycle arrived, grey paint and red decals with black outlines, it was built up in this classic style, but that is not what I remember most, what I have never forgotten is the distinctive smell of the factory; the indescribable smell of some kind of special oil; my bike, when it arrived in Trento, had this same indescribable smell and to this day, for the life of me, I have never found the smell anywhere else.

A few years later, after growing a couple more centimetres, I sold my bike to a famous Italian Olympic figure skater who used to ride as training in the summers and went to see a young frame builder from my parts who was had developed a good reputation: a certain Mario Confente, still in his 20s, working in Montorio, this before he had gone to the States to build for Masi and made his legend. I had him build me a new frame in his already distinctive style, but that is a whole other story…"

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Theme: Spoiled Riders and No Machismo

A theme has been bubbling up from the old guard: today's riders are spoiled and lack machismo.

Here is Cipollini commenting back in December, 2010:
Mario Cipollini has launched a stinging attack on what he called the lack of machismo in modern cycling. The Italian, who recently joined the Katusha team as a consultant, said that he is bemused by the reaction of certain riders in the current peloton to defeat.

“I lived a very different cycling,” Cipollini told L’Equipe. “At the beginning of a sprint, I felt like a gladiator, ready to do anything to keep my place. And when I lost, I wasn’t capable of going to congratulate whoever had beaten me, like Andy Schleck did at the Tour. Me, I’d hate him because he’d taken the bread from my mouth.”

The friendship between Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador is something that Cipollini finds difficult to fathom and he echoed the thoughts of the late Laurent Fignon on the aftermath of the “Chaingate” incident.

“Seeing Schleck and Contador embrace on the Tourmalet after crossing the line and then seeing Contador affectionately pinch Schleck’s cheek during his interview was unreal for me,” Cipollini exclaimed. “Logically, Schleck should have been raging, he had just lost the Tour after all.

“After the chain slip incident on the Port de Balès, he should have attacked the Spaniard day after day, in front of the microphones and on the air too, without giving him time to piss!”

Nor did Alberto Contador escape Cipollini’s criticism. “Machismo is disappearing, I can’t find it in Contador,” he complained. “Contador has the anonymous face of a surveyor or an accountant.”

Cipollini was also left bemused by the reaction of Italian leader Filippo Pozzato at the end of the world championships road race in Geelong.

“Pozzato has just been beaten for third place and a second later he has only one idea in his mind, to congratulate the winner,” Cipollini said incredulously. “What can be going on in his head? Has winning become so incidental at this point that there is no joy or disappointment? Are they only working men now?”

“I read an interview with Umberto Veronesi, a scientist, a reputed oncologist and Minister for Health,” Cipollini continued. “In five hundred years or more, human beings might have both sets of genitalia, male and female. I don’t want this evolution to have started already in cycling…”

Cipollini admitted to being far more expressive when he was defeated and he believes that the riches now on offer to top cyclists mean that the edges have softened on many rivalries.

“At the end of Milan-San Remo in 2003 I threatened to strangle Bernhard Eisel while shaking my fist because he had blocked me with 300 metres to go,” Cipollini recalled. “And I was really frightening. I could see it in the eyes of the spectators.

“I had the meanness in me and it was necessary. The others weren’t going to give me any gifts. In Flanders, on the Koppenberg, the gregari would throw themselves under your wheels to block your route. And if you were in a bad position 3km from the line, Kelly and Vanderaerden would start an echelon straight away to put you in the ditch. That was the rule.”



Kuiper comes out of retirement to prove a point...
Dutch legend Hennie Kuiper, the former Olympic and world professional road race champion, held a press conference on April 1st, 2011, in Amsterdam to announced that at nearly 63 years of age he is returning to the sport that he loves, not as a DS but as a rider – he said it a result of unfinished business, and to prove a point about some of what he calls "today’s crop of softies!".

The winner of four out of the five “Monument” classics and having ridden the Tour de France 12 times, finishing second twice and winning the stage to Alpe d'Huez on two occasions. Kuiper used the conference to announce his return and alongside the launch of the new Dutch team which he says will be made up of riders who in his words “are old enough to know how to suffer properly”. The squad, known as Vindmill Rossin, will be using the legendary Rossin bikes.



Here is Roger De Vlaeminck, four time Paris-Roubiax winner, in a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport (as reported by Stephen Farrand in www.cyclingnews.com):
Tom Boonen could win Paris-Roubaix for a fourth time on Sunday, equalling the record of Belgian classics legend Roger De Vlaeminck. But that is where the similarities between the two Flemish riders go, according to De Vlaeminck in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, who predicts that Fabian Cancellara, rather than Boonen, could be the first to match his record.

Just like during his career in the 1970s, De Vlaeminck is not afraid to speak his mind about the current generation of ‘spoilt’ riders. He described Filippo Pozzato as ‘too good looking to be a rider’ and revealed he prefers French-speaking Philippe Gilbert to fellow Flandrian Boonen.

“It’s about time, considering the record has lasted for 34 years,” De Vlaeminck said bluntly about Boonen’s chances of winning a fourth Paris-Roubaix.

“But I think Cancellara will beat the record before Boonen does. He can win on Sunday by dropping Boonen. I like Cancellara, he attacks and races with panache. Everyone rode against him at Flanders, even the mechanics of the other teams who wouldn’t give him a bottle. That was scandalous. But he was the strongest. Boonen is a good rider but he’s not as strong as he once was.”

De Vlaeminck refutes the idea that he and Boonen are very similar as riders.

“How can you say that? He can’t climb and can’t time trial. Cancellara is good at time trials but can’t climb, so neither of them are like me. I was more like Merckx…

“I was a bandit. If Boonen is the God of Belgian cycling, then I’m the devil.

“Our generation was classier, too. Look at Saronni? He won the Giro at just 21. We always raced to get a result and me and Merckx fought even for the criteriums. These days they use 50 races a year as training. We were more complete and could win in a sprint, on a climb or in a time trial. And there were far stronger rivals. At Roubaix I was up against Moser, Maertens, Kuiper, Raas and Hinault. Today, apart from lucky cases like Nuyens at Flanders, there’s just Cancellara and Boonen.”

Despite being Flemish to the bone, De Vlaeminck admits he’s a fan of Philippe Gilbert, from the French-speaking Walloon part of Belgium, even if the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider always avoid the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix.

“I like Gilbert far more than I do Boonen. He’s a nice guy, kind and not at all big-headed. He races all year, right up to Lombardy and can win alone. I wish he’d try Paris-Roubaix. I’ve nothing against Boonen but you can’t be a fan of both of them in Belgium and I’m not going to change my mind.”

Gazzetta also asked De Vlaeminck about Filippo Pozzato. He dismisses the Italian with some hard truths and blunt criticism about owning a Ferrari.

“Pozzato was a champion when he was young and had more class than Boonen. I don’t know his problem but he’s lost a lot of time. He should be able to easily win Paris-Roubaix. His problem is that he’s too good looking to be a rider.”

“A Ferrari is not the car for a rider, it’s for a footballer. The boss of Brooklyn (Giorgio Perfetti) gave me a Ferrari when I won Milan-San Remo but I couldn’t get my bike in the boot and had to take the saddle off, which I then forgot at home. I sold it after a year.”

De Vlaeminck won 249 races during his 16-year career. He won all five monumental Classics but dismisses the idea that Cancellara can pull off the same achievement. He also has some choice words for modern-day directeur sportifs. His only involvement in cycling was as a mentor for some rider from Zimbabwe but watched the Tour of Flanders at home, claiming he had not been invited by the organisers.

“Cancellara better hurry up because he’s already 30. I think it’ll be hard for him, especially at Lombardy and I don’t think he can beat Gilbert at Liege,” De Vlaeminck said.

“I’m not interested in the ‘politics’ of cycling and I was tired of driving a team car at 30km/h behind the riders. I’m against race radio because the races are better without all the tactics but perhaps the directeur sportifs are scared of falling asleep.”

PARIS-ROUBAIX is SUNDAY

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2011 Giro d'Italia, Stage 17 Finish: Changed

The 17th stage finish, of Wednesday, May 25th, has been moved from Sondrio to Tirano in order to guarantee the safety of riders and the caravan. Therefore, it will no longer be the longest stage of this year's Giro.

Riders will now face a 230 km stage from Feltre to Tirano involving the the Tonale Pass (1883 meters) at 64 km to go and the Aprica Pass (1173 meters) at 18.5 km from the finish.

The longest stage for this year now becomes the second stage from Alba to Parma at a length of 244 km.

New stage details (click to enlarge):
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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Giro d’Italia per Bici d’Epoca

The most recent entries about the field limit at L'Eroica (for 60 and under) and the nice retro jerseys from DeMarchi brings me to the "Giro d’Italia per Bici d’Epoca" vintage cycling series.

The Giro d’Italia per Bici d’Epoca is a series of events to promote Italian vintage cycling. The series is a result of a collaboration between the leaders and organizers of Italian vintage bike events.

For 2011 the Giro d’Italia per Bici d’Epoca will be a series of twelve events (an increase of 1 from 2010) that will take place from 17 April to 8 October, 2010.

The events in the series are:
17 April: La Storica (www.lastorica.it) at Pietra Ligure (Sv);

15 May: L'intramontabile (www.ciclomuseo-bartali.it) at Ponte A Ema (Fi);

29 May: Medicea at Quarrata (Fi);

12 June: La polverosa (www.lapolverosa.it) at Monticelli Terme (Pr);

19 June: I forzati della strada (www.iforzatidellastrada.it) at Montottone (Fm);

9-10 July: K2 Ciclostorica (www.gsk2.it) at Udine (Ud);

19 July: Le valli della lana (www.levallidellalana.com) at Cossato (Bl);

31 July: L’alpina (www.alpinasport.prestabici.it) at Maso Spitz (Tn);

28 August: Coppi e Bartali at Apparita di Vinci (Fi);

4 September: Vacamora (www.vacamora.it) at Schio (Vi);

11 September: La leggendaria (www.laleggendaria.it) at Buja (Ud);

18 September: Strade bianche di Romagna (www.stradebianchediromagna.it) at Mordano (Bo);

8 October: re: L’epica (www.granfondoepica.it) a San Nicolò (Pc)

Last year the series had these rules and such: At the conclusion of the series trophies will be awarded to individuals and to one team (the basis of scoring system was not yet specified). Participants for the awards must enter at least four "ciclostoriche". The award ceremony will take place in Gaiole in Chianti October 2, 2010, during the L'Eroica. The participation in the "Giro" is open only to amateur cyclists and collectors of vintage bikes of all types that were built before 1985. Bikes should have on-frame shifters (no modern day brake/shifters), external cables, and pedals with toe straps. Enrollment is open to cyclists of all ages and all nationalities. Riders must wear wool cycling shorts and jerseys in accordance with the period of the bicycle.

I'll publish more information as I learn of it.

If you missed getting into L'Eroica don't despair, there are plenty of opportunities to participate in interesting events. On a smaller scale, of course.

Photos: riders at the 2010 La Storica which will be held on April 17th this year

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Atala and Wilier Retro Jerseys by DeMarchi

DeMarchi has introduced several authentic and authorized retro jerseys. My favorites are the Atala (1949) and Wilier (1951) with the old style front pockets (above). The collection also includes the Filotex (1975), Mainetti (1967), Salvarani (1972), and SCIC (1969).

100% pure Merino wool, French double zippered collar with three back buttoned pockets with real mother-of-pearl buttons, doubled cuffs, reinforced stitches and YKK nickel-free zipper; Wilier and Atala jerseys have two additional front pockets Original Cornely embroidery. Made in Italy.

Price: about $146.00

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

L'Eroica: Under Age 60 Registrations Closed

This announcement appeared today: "ISCRIZIONI CHIUSE PER GLI UNDER '60 ITALIANI E NON!" (Registrations closed for Under 60 for Italians and non-Italians).

We reported in January that L'Eroica would be implementing field limits. Registration opened February 1st.

2010 Le'Eroica video here. Other L'Eroica stories:
Martin Appel's L'Eroica adventure in three parts: Part I, Part II, and Part III

Riding L'Eroica on a 3 speed Pashley (includes a link to a video)

Riding L'Eroica on a fixed gear

You can find even more here at ICJ by using the custom search feature over to the right.


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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Tirreno-Adriatico Charity Project for Haiti

RCS Sport and La Gazzetta dello Sport in collaboration with the Fondazione Francesca Rava – N.P.H. Italia Onlus are auctioning Tirreno-Adriatico autographed jerseys to benefit Haiti earthquake victims.

The auction is taking place on Italian ebay, click here. The jerseys being auctioned are:

Maglia Azzurra / BMC Racing Team ( signed by Cadel Evans)

Maglia Azzurra – Classifica generale (signed by Lars Boom, Tyler Farrar, Robert Gesink, Cadel Evans)

Maglia Rossa – Classifica a punti (signed by Alessandro Petacchi, Juan José Haedo, Tyler Farrar, Michele Scarponi)

Maglia Verde – Classifica GPM (signed by Javier Aramendia, Davide Malacarne)

Maglia Bianca – Classifica miglior giovane (signed by Robert Gesink, Damiano Caruso)

At the moment there are 5 days remaining in the auction. Bid often for a good cause!

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Mystery Giro Zoncolan Jersey

This image of a 2011 Giro d'Italia "Zoncolan" jersey made by Santini has surfaced. It has not appeared in any of the official announcements so it is not known if it's destined for the winner of the Zoncolan stage, or for merchandising. There is also a version for Etna.

Time will tell....

Related story: A mere mortal climbs Zoncolan

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Vintage Bicycle Exhibition at Rossignoli in Milano

A vintage bicycle exhibition will be held at Rossignoli in Milano on April 14th. See video from last year's exhibition:


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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Campagnolo for Time Trial and Triathlon

Campagnolo announced today a preview of their new 2012 products dedicated to Time Trial and Triathlon:
- bar-end controls
- TT cranksets
- TT brake levers
- "U Brakes"

With the the introduction of these new components it is possible to equip your time trial bike with a complete 11 or 10-speed Campagnolo drivetrain.

Click here for all the details.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Campagnolo Electronic at Tour of Flanders

The Movistar team has been using Campagnolo's electronic group on Pinarello bikes in the runner-up to an eventual production release. Note the design of the rear derailleur, the shifter tabs, and what appears to be a charging port on the battery.

Photos courtesy of www.bikerumor.com; click here to see all photos and text.

Related stories here at ICJ:
Video of first Movistar Campagnolo electronic install
Movistar Pinarello at Tour Down Under
Unveiling at Giro d'Italia presentation in 2010

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

“Giro d’Italia. Fight for Pink. 150° Italia Unita”

The 2011 Giro d'Italia campaign officially gets underway today with the slogan "Giro d’Italia. Fight for Pink. 150° Italia Unita", and the graphic pictured above.

The graphic was created by the McCann Erickson agency.

The four jerseys shown:
Maglia Rosa (EstaThe sponsor), pink jersey worn by race leader

Maglia Verde (Banca Mediolanum spoinsor), green jersey worn by KOM leader

Maglia Bianca (Ministero dell’Ambiente sponsor), white jersey worn by best young rider

Maglia Rosso (Passione Saint Gobain sponsor), red jersey worn by best sprinter

The pink jersey was designed by Jonny Mole and features a tricolor collar and a tricolor stripe on the front with "150".

The start of the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia will take place in Turin on May 7th with a 22km team time trial. The race, one of the three nationally designated events for the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy, will touch 17 Italian regions, more than 60 provinces and 550 municipalities. The final action will take place in Milan, Sunday, May 29, with an individual time trial.

Image: click to enlarge

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.