2012 Giro d'Italia: Alpe di Pampeago

This is unconfirmed: Friday, May 24, 2012, the day before the Mortirolo, Stelvio summit stage 20 (yesterday's blog, here) will feature Alpe di Pampeago, and perhaps an unprecedented route that would take riders up the L'Alpe di Pampeago a second time.

The route would begin in Treviso and first ascend the Val di Fiemme. The riders would then ride along Valsugana, a valley, before arriving at the Passo di Manghen. The approach would be from the difficult side from Borgo Valsugana. The 23.4 km 23,4 climb has an average of 7% but the final 7 km have an average of 9.5% with a maximum of 15%.

From Manghen the descent would be towards Molina di Fiemme on a beautiful road. Then Molina to Cavalese to Tesero and from here would begin the climb of the Alpe di Pampeago to 7,650m. The Alpe di Pampeago has been used four time previously in the Giro: Pavel Tonkov won in 1998, Marco Pantani in pink at the time in 1999, Gilberto Simoni in 2003 and Emanuele Sella in 2008.

The possibility of ascending the Alpe di Pampeago two times depends upon the permission of South Tyrol authorities to use certain roads to approach Alpe di Pampeago differently after the descent. Discussions are ongoing.

Again, this is unconfirmed.

The official presentation for the 2012 Giro d'Italia takes place on Monday, October 16, in Milano.

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2012 Giro d'Italia: Stelvio & Mortirolo

Mark it on your calendar: Saturday, May 26th, will be the queen stage of the 2012 Giro d'Italia featuring the Mortirolo followed by a summit finish at 2,757 meters on the Stelvio.

Stage 20, 218 km long with a total elevation gain of about 5,900 meters, will begin in Caldes, pass through the Val di Sole and, after the Tonale, will face the Aprica Pass. At the end of the descent the race will run along a ring with the tough climb of Teglio da Bianzone (with slopes of up to 14%) to descend to Poggiridenti and to Tirano. It is there that the final part of the race will start.

From Tovo di Sant'Agata an unusual ascent to the Mortirolo will begin (11.4 km, 10.4% on average, 21% maximum) up to 1,718 m.a.s.l. A fast and technical descent to Grosio will be followed by the approach to Bormio, to conclude with the long climb to the Stelvio (22.4 km at 6.9% on average, 12% max).

This will be the fourth time there will be a summit finish on the Stelvio, previously used in 1965, 1972, and 1975. The possibility of snow always exists even in Summer on the Stelvio. This was the case in the 1965 edition when volunteers had to shovel a path by hand to allow the riders to reach the summit.

Related photo series: Climbing the Passo dello Stelvio (note: this is the 48 switchback side from from the Prato dello Stelvio; the 20th stage next year will be from the Bormio side)
Related story about the Stelvio during a July ride: Epic Stelvio
Related story about the Mortirolo: The Mortirolo, Marco and Me.
Use the search feature on right margin to find many more stories and photos of the Stelvio.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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.

2012 Giro d'Italia , Denmark Stages Presentation

Details of the first three stages of the 2012 Giro d'Italia, stages which will take place in Denmark, will be presented on Wednesday, October 5th in Herning, Denmark.

What has been previously reported: The Giro will start on Saturday, May 5, with an individual time trial starting and finishing in Herning. Stage 2 will also start and end in the city, after a road stage through Jutland. Stage 3 will start and end in Horsen. That same day, Monday, May 7,the Giro peloton will transfer to Italy.

The official song of the Giro d'Italia, sung by Danish jazz singer Malene Mortensen, will also be unveiled. Here is Mortensen singing "Another Day":


The official presentation for the the entire race will be held on Monday, October 16th, in Milano.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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.

Lampre Recon of Giro di Lombardia New Route

Marco Marzano, Damiano Cunego, Michele Scarponi, Diego Ulissi and Mattia Cattaneo (blue and white kit, signed for the next season) have just finished a reconnaissance of the new Giro di Lombardia route (new route information here). Starting from Carpino Bergamasco they rode the final 178 km to the finish in Lecco.

First they tackled the Valcava climb, then Colle Brianza and Colma di Sormano. After the demanding downhill of Sormano (where Nibali crashed last year) , the riders covered Ghisallo’s climb past the chapel and then the new climb of Villa Vergano.

Cunego and Scarponi had the same thoughts about the new course: “It will be a very tough Giro di Lombardia. The Valcava climb is demanding, even if it’s in the early part of the race. It will be very important to pay attention on the descent of Colma di Sormano and then to Villa Vergano, a perfect place to attack in view of the finish line”.

Recon video, in Italian, approximately 15 minutes here.

Last year the race started under dry conditions but became cold and wet at Lake Como making for absolutely dreadful riding conditions. How bad was it? 195 riders started but only 34 arrived at the finish in Como.

Next appointment for the Giro di Lombardia: October 15th.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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.

Cavendish Sprints to World Championship Victory

Great Britain's Mark Cavendish launched a searing sprint to win the men's road World Championship in Copenhagen beating Australia's Matt Goss and Germany's André Greipel.



"We knew three years ago when this course was announced, that it could be good for us," said Cavendish, "We put a plan together to come with the best group of guys to this race and to come away from it with the rainbow jersey. It's been three years in the making. The guys have worked so hard throughout the season to get points so that we could have eight riders here and, as you just saw, they rode incredibly. I feel so, so proud."

Daniele Bennati, the sprinter for Italy, finished 14th. That is the worst placement since 1983. Bennati's teammates were separated from him in one of the final roundabouts, leaving Bennati behind and forcing him to ride the last 2km without them. "I was bottled up," said Bennati. "We were unable to organize ourselves. It's a sin since I had the legs."

C.T. Paolo Bettini's analysis: "Great Britain had the strongest team and won with a great sprinter. It is useless to deny it. They knew the route perfectly and built a team in which they believed in."

Bettini is likely to once again going to come under criticisim as the Italian national team only came away from the championships with one medal, the gold medal for Giorgia Bronzini. The medal results:


Great Britain: Gold (2), Silver (2), Bronze (2) = 6
Australia: Gold (2), Silver (1), Bronze (2) = 5
France: Gold (2), Silver (1) = 3
Germany: Gold (2), Bronze (3) = 5
Denmark: Gold (1), Silver (1), Bronze (1) = 3
Italy: Gold (1) = 1
New Zealand: Silver (2) = 2
Switzerland: Bronze (1) = 1
Belgium: Silver (2) = 2
Netherlands: Silver (1), Bronze (1) = 2
Switzerland: Bronze (1) = 1

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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.

Giorgia Bronzini: "My thanks to all my teammates"

Giorgia Bronzini won her second consecutive road World Championship in Copenhagen today. Bronzini, the 28 year old from Piacenza, duplicated her 2010 success in Geelong by once again beating Holland's Marianne Vos in a sprint.

Monia Baccaille, the Italian champion, protected Bronzini in the last kilometers avoiding a crash with 2 km to go that took out Elena Cecchini. On the final uphill stretch to the finish line Bronzini was glued onto the wheel of Baccaille who was keeping pace with the Vos train. Bronzini timed her sprint perfectly and beat Vos by only a few centimeters.



For Vos, who won in 2006, it was her 5th consecutive 2nd place finish. She was absolutely shattered.

For the C.T. of the women's team, Edoardo Salvoldi, it was his fourth championship victory in five years with Bastianelli in 2007, Guderzo in 2009, Bronzini in 2010 and 2011.



Top 10:
1 Giorgia Bronzini (Italy) 3:21:28
2 Marianne Vos (Netherlands)
3 Ina Teutenberg (Germany)
4 Nicole Cooke (Great Britain)
5 Julia Martisova (Russian Federation)
6 Chloe Hosking (Australia)
7 Elizabeth Armitstead (Great Britain)
8 Ludivine Henrion (Belgium)
9 Rasa Leleivyte (Lithuania)
10 Aude Biannic (France)


The world championships end tomorrow with the 266 km men's road race. The Italian team will be working to bring Daniele Bennati to victory.

Photos: Bettini; podium photo: Sirotti

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What Eros Poli Always Says

Photo: courtesy of Bianchista (link below).

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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.

ExpoBici, Padova, September 24-26

ExpoBici gets under way Saturday and continues through Monday at PadovaFiera. More than 500 exhibitors will be present in six exhibition halls, and more than 40,000 visitors are expected at the ever growing bike show.

Hours: Saturday and Sunday 0900-1900, Monday 0900-1800

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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.

Italian Steel and Carbon

Italian steel and carbon spotted at Interbike, Las Vegas. Click on photos to enlarge.

Bottecchia in Italian national colors:


Cicli Montante:

Fondriest SF1 (stainless steel with etched downtube) and SF2 (chromed lugs), and TF3:




Pegoretti, Luigino model (where did the double flat crown fork go?)



Bianchi


Pinarello

Gios

Scapin

Cinelli


Photos: by Dale Brown of Classic Rendezvous, used by permission

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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.

Complete Route for 2011 Giro di Lombardia

Here is the new route for the 2011 edition of the Giro di Lombardia, October 15th:



The traditional Madonna del Ghisallo ascent remains (of course!) but the race will now have the ascent of Villa Vergano (3.4 km ascent) only 9 km from the finish in Lecco; of these 9 km there are 6km of descent.

The following teams will be in the race: Acqua &Sapone, AG2R La Mondiale, Androni Giocattioli CIPI, BMC Racing Team, Colnago CSF Inox, Europcar, Euskaltel – Euskadi. Farnese Vini – Neri Sottoli, Francaise des Jeux, Geox TMC, HTC Highroad, Katusha, Lampre – ISD, Leopard – Trek, Liquigas Cannondale, Movistar Team, Omega Pharma – Lotto, Pro Team Astana, Quick Step, Rabobank, Saxo Bank – Sungard, Sky Procycling, Team Garmin – Cervelo, Team Radioshack and Vacansoleil – DMC representing 18 Pro Tour and 7 wild card teams. There will be 8 riders to each team.

Philippe Gilbert has won the last two editions and will be certainly trying for a historic triple.

Click on photos to enlarge.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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 New Cinelli Laser

The new limited edition Cinelli Laser on display at Interbike, Las Vegas. Apparently, the edition is almost sold out already.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Photos: Cinelli Laser on display at Interbike; photos by Dale Brown of Classic Rendezvous, used by permission

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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...Now January, 2012?

The word out of Interbike, Las Vegas, is that the long awaited Campagnolo electronic gruppo will be available in January. We will have to wait and see.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Photos: Campagnolo on display at Interbike; photos by Dale Brown of Classic Rendezvous, used by permission

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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 L'Eroica Last Minute Entry and Program

At 9:00 o'clock on Saturday, 1 October, at the old Ricasoli winery in Gaiole the last 100 L'Eroica entries will be available at 100 € each. The funds collected will be allocated to a new primary school in Dissin, Burkina Faso.

Here is the complete program from Thursday to Friday, in Italian, for 2011 L'Eroica:

GIOVEDI (THURSDAY) 29 Settembre
Siena – parcheggio Circolo Arci Coroncina Via Cassia Sud
ore 9:00 - partenza escursione guidata in bicicletta sulle strade dell’Eroica
Madonna a Brolio ore 14:30 – trekking in Chianti, escursione con guida
Gaiole in Chianti ore 21:00 - auditorium ex Cantine Ricasoli "Racconti a Pedali" narrazione teatrale a cura di Matteo Marsan, con Massimo Poggio, Gualtiero Burzi e Davide Iacopini.

VENERDI (FRIDAY) 30 Settembre
Castelnuovo Berardenga – Piazza Marconi
ore 9:00 - partenza escursione guidata in bicicletta sulle strade dell’Eroica
Gaiole in Chianti ore 9:00 - apertura mostra scambio biciclette e accessori d’epoca
registrazione accrediti invitati
ore 15:00 - ex Cantine Ricasoli apertura mostra fotografica "Scatti di Campioni"
apertura iscrizioni Registro Bici Eroiche
verifiche iscrizioni e consegne pettorali
ore 18:00 - auditorium ex Cantine Ricasoli presentazione libri
ore 21:00 - auditorium ex Cantine Ricasoli "L’altro Coppi" narrazione teatrale di Emanuele Arrigazzi.

SABATO (SATURDAY) 1 Ottobre
Gaiole in Chianti ore 9:00 – apertura ultime 100 iscrizioni a 100,00 € pro Burkina Faso
apertura mostra scambio biciclette e accessori d’epoca
registrazione accrediti invitati
verifiche iscrizioni e consegne pettorali
apertura iscrizioni Registro Bici Eroiche
ore 10:00 - partenza escursione guidata in bicicletta "…la prima volta" aperta a tutti ma soprattutto per quelli che non conoscono l’Eroica
ore 12:00 - auditorium ex Cantine Ricasoli – presentazione "Protocollo per la salvaguardia delle strade Bianche" con la presenza del Presidente della Provincia di Siena Simone Bezzini.
ore 14:30 – partenza passeggiata ecologica con guida "Gaiole nascosta"
ore 15:30 - partenza della Mini-Eroica, manifestazione non agonistica riservata ai giovanissimi, Nutella party all’arrivo.
- prenotazione "Cena degli Eroici"
ore 20:00 - Cena degli Eroici

DOMENICA (SUNDAY) 2 Ottobre - L’Eroica
Gaiole in Chianti ore 4:45 - ex Cantine Ricasoli verifica iscrizioni e consegna numeri
ore 5:00 - 7:00 partenza percorsi km 205 e 135
ore 8:30 - 9:30 partenza percorsi km 75 e 38
ore 10:00 - apertura mostra scambio biciclette e accessori d’epoca

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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.

Passione Celeste for Android

Bianchi has released an app for the Android platform. Find out all about ranges, models, technical features and news form the Celeste world.

Previously, in May of this year, Bianchi launched their app for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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.

Jiro Belts

Jiro Belts has added some nice selections to their belts made from tires. Visit www.jiro-belt.com or on Facebook here.

Photos: a sampling from the many tire belts available.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,100 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.