GranFondo Campagnolo Roma, Part II

The Gran Fondo Campagnolo Roma, October 14th, has already recorded its first record: slightly more than a month away there are already 3,000 registered entrants to the first edition. No amateur cycling event in Italy has ever been able to gather such a large number of participants in the first edition.

Countries already represented besides Italy include Canada, United States, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, Denmark, Australia, China, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.

Among the confirmed guest riders are five-time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain, and two time world champion and Olympic champion Paolo Bettini

For more details see Part I.



Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Cipollini "BOND": Open Your Eyes

Introduced today at Eurobike, Wednesday, Aug. 29th, 2012.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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New Owner of Liquigas-Cannondale: BRIXIA SPORT

Announcement from Brixia Sport:

The new leader of Liquigas-Cannondale: BRIXIA SPORT
 
-The company has acquired Liquigas Sport guaranteeing the continuation of the sports project.

-Company president Paolo Zani is joined by managing directors Roberto Amadio and Paolo Papetti.

-19 reconfirmations starting Basso, Sagan, Moser, Viviani and Caruso.

-Three new signings at the moment: De Marchi, Wurf and Krizek

Brixia Sport SpA is the new sports company that has taken over the Liquigas-Cannondale Pro Cycling Team project, the professional cycling team led by team manager Roberto Amadio. With Paolo Zani as president and Amadio and Paolo Papetti as managing directors, Brixia Sport has recently acquired Liquigas Sport SpA which has managed the green and blue team since 2004. The wealth of experience from eight years of racing will be not be wasted though as Brixia Sport plans to reinvest it in the team’s future. During next weeks the company will announce also the sponsors and the technical partners that will support this new adventure.

«This sports project was created with passion and produces excellent results so it couldn’t end here, » explained President Paolo Zani. «Therefore I decided to take over the company to ensure this invaluable experience is put to good use. Liquigas-Cannondale has achieved a highly commendable level of sporting performance and professionalism. It has accomplished so many successes and we want just as many in the future. We shall never forget the importance of how these have been achieved: we shall always be guided by the principles of sports ethics and transparency. We will strive to strengthen the organisation by making it more international and comprehensive, bringing young riders to the fore and setting ourselves ambitious goals. From a sports perspective, confirming riders such as Basso, Sagan, Moser, Viviani and Caruso is the first major step forward. »

The genesis of Brixia Sport has solid foundations and focuses on renewal. «We want to continue being exponents of modern, professional cycling with a first-rate organisation, » said team manager Amadio. «We need to use what we have created up to now as our new starting point. We plan to pursue a project with maximum attention to detail in every aspect of competitive riding that ensures athletes have the right frameworks, facilities and professionals at their disposal. We’ll concentrate on building a well-rounded team with top and up-and-coming riders. The most intriguing challenge will be to renew our organisation while retaining our character, particularly when it comes to selecting athletes: we are renowned for the way we bring on talented young riders, and this will be our main concern. We would like to thank those who, like Liquigas and Cannondale, have believed in and developed this project with us, and to those who give us the opportunity to expand it in the future. »

In view of 2013 season Brixia Sport has renewed the contracts of 19 riders from the current team for the 2013 season. Ivan Basso, Peter Sagan, Moreno Moser, Elia Viviani and Damiano Caruso will be reference riders of the team and will be joined by Stefano Agostini, Maciej Bodnar, Federico Canuti, Mauro Da Dalto, Ted King, Kristijan Koren, Paolo Longo Borghini, Alan Marangoni, Maciej Paterski, Daniele Ratto, Fabio Sabatini, Juraj Sagan, Cristiano Salerno e Josè Cayetano Sarmiento.

Three, at the moment, the new signings: Italian Alessandro De Marchi (from Androni-Venezuela), Austrian Matthias Krizek (neo-professional rider from Marchiol-Emisfero-Site) and Australian Cameron Wurf (from Champion System) that already wear the Liquigas-Cannondale jersey in 2011. In addition to completing the squad, Brixia Sport’s plans for the immediate future also include focusing on maintain the team’s UCI WorldTour licence that team had already till 2014.



Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Campagnolo Electa in Titanium

The Campagnolo Electa saddles are standing the test of time based upon the prices they fetch. This is a rare titanium railed Electa.

Electa saddles were made briefly by Campagnolo in the mid-1980s. They feature the "Sella-Pneumatic System," which allowed the rider to fine-tune the firmness of the saddle by inflating and deflating a bladder sandwiched between the leather upper and the saddle shell. 

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Partnership: GF Campagnolo Roma and GFNY

We mentioned in our story about the GranFondo Campagnolo Roma that it will be an "active partner" of Gran Fondo NewYork. We reached out to Uli Fluhme, organizer of the GFNY, for an explanation of the partnership. His reply:

"The winners of both races combined (male and female) will be the Champions of the Two Worlds, old and new. Both win a trip to one of the races the next year (flight plus accommodation). Plus, the 753th finisher of GF Roma (753 BC as the year of Rome's foundation) receives a GFNY kit and the 1,453rd finisher at GFNY (height in feet of the Empire State Building) a GF Roma kit.

In addition, GF Roma and GF NY support the same charity, Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org). Operation Smile provides free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities for children around the globe. $240 changes a child's life.

GFNY will be present this October in Rome for the inaugural edition with its Gruppo Sportivo as well as many other GFNY finishers.

At the 2012 NYC Marathon Expo in November, both races share a booth where GFNY officially opens the 2013 edition while GF Roma will showcase its event to American and international visitors. The show includes the official jersey presentation, apparel fitting and merchandise sales.

Both GF Roma and GFNY intend to add other major cities to the Championship, such as Berlin, London and Rio de Janeiro."

Websites:
GranFondo Campagnolo Roma October 14, 2012 (first edition)
Gran Fondo New York May 19, 2013

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Armstrong to be Stripped of Tour de France Titles

Lance Armstrong will be stripped of his seven Tour titles, the bronze medal he won at the 2000 Olympics and all other titles (victories in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré and Tour de Suisse, etc.), awards and money he won from August 1998 forward according to the World Anti-Doping Code as a result of saying that he would not continue to contest the charges brought against him by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Armstrong was faced with a August 23rd deadline to inform the USADA if he would take the case to a full public arbitration hearing or accept the punishments.

"There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, 'Enough is enough.' For me, that time is now," Armstrong said in a statement. "I have been dealing with claims that I cheated and had an unfair advantage in winning my seven Tours since 1999. Over the past three years, I have been subjected to a two-year federal criminal investigation followed by (USADA's) Travis Tygart's unconstitutional witch hunt. The toll this has taken on my family, and my work for our foundation and on me leads me to where I am today - finished with this nonsense."

The charges by the USADA against Lance Armstrong can be read here (pdf).

Armstrong's decision to not contest the charges also means he will be barred for life from competing, coaching or having any official role with any Olympic sport or other sport that follows the World Anti-Doping Code.

The battle between Armstrong and the UCI may not be over. His attorneys have stated that the USADA cannot move forward with any punishment until the UCI's independent review panel sees the collected dossier of evidence against Armstrong and settles the dispute regarding its jurisdiction in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme has not yet commented on the possibility of having seven Tour podiums since 1999 altered.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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GranFondo Campagnolo Roma

The planned GranFondo Roma has now become the GranFondo Campagnolo Roma. Campagnolo, the historic Italian brand, is coming back to the GranFondo circuit. To do that, what a better occasion to organize the most exciting GranFondo in Rome, the eternal city that thanks to its ancient history and its treasures it is the one of the most beautiful place to visit in the world.

Rome and Campagnolo represent the best of the Italian tradition, innovation, uniqueness and prestige. The relation between Campagnolo and Rome demonstrate the strategy to invest in a global sport event, a unique arena for all the cycling enthusiast and a great opportunity to share the excellence of Italian sport culture and manufacturing.

For the first time in Italy, the center of a big city will accommodate the GranFondo, the rider's village and the departure/finish line. Fori Imperiali, the Coliseums and the Campidoglio will be the background of the first GranFondo Campagnolo Rome.

On October 14, 2012, thousands of cyclists will ride from Terme di Caracalla, passing thru the Rome city center, and will continue on the Appia Antica. Tworoutes, one of 91 kilometers and the other of 145 kilometers will take cyclists thru the hills of Castelli Romani, roads that during past years have seen champions like Moser, DeVlaemink, Fondriest, Tafi, Bugno, Bettini, Bartoli and Pozzato.

GrandFondo Campagnolo Rome will also include a time trial climb with a maximum grade of 15%.

But, that is not all. Starting with this first edition, GranFondo Campagnolo Rome will be active partner of GranFondo NewYork that will take place the next 20th of May.

Visit Rome and live one of the most exciting cycling experiences!

The event website is www.granfondoroma.it

Should you want the convenience of having everything organized for you can contact Eros Poli via www.eros-poli.com; his package here. Hanging out and riding with a TdF Mont Ventoux stage winner and Olympic Gold medalist is always fun.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Ciclismo Come Una Volta: CycleItalia

CycleItalia writes in to say that they are are celebrating their 15th year anniversary of offering cycling tours in Italy.

In the words of owners Larry and Heather, "CycleItalia was inspired by the culture of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, when "steel was real" and Campagnolo was on its way to being king. Major bike races were followed not only by those at the roadside but also the daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, and later by radio broadcast. With no video and few photos, the journalists and broadcasters of the day had to be creative and eloquent to capture the imaginations of their readers or listeners; they transformed the sport's heroes and villains into mythic characters of epic proportions.

We've never lost this romantic notion of cycling, though we're long past our own racing days. Now our desire is to recreate that "come una volta" ("like it used to be") atmosphere in which cycling and friendship are shared along with hearty meals in the countryside through which we pedal. Italy is still the best place in the world for this, as demonstrated by the explosion of vintage bicycle (bici di epoca) rallies, such as Tuscany's L'Eroica, where the food and wine and the sense of history are as important as the ride.

As the modern world of cycling moves toward electronically controlled machines of ever-more exotic materials, and fuel for cycling devolves into chemical goo squeezed from mylar packets, we look back to the era when cycling was less scientific, but more fun. Our tours are far from easy, but they embrace a spirit of enjoyment derived not from who can ride the fastest or who has the fanciest bike, but simply from the timeless joy of cycling in Italy "like it used to be."

To celebrate their anniversary they are offering a 100% merino wool, long-sleeved trainer/sweater to those that reserve a CycleItalia 2013 guided tour before December 1, 2012. Visit www.cycleitalia.com for more details.

Larry has shared some some  stories with us in the past:
First Hand Report: Colle delle Finestre
Why We Took Up Cycling in the First Place
CycleItalia Cortina Loop

A guest on one of CycleItalia's tours, Rich, wrote several stories for us; a couple of them here:
Training for Italy
The Most Beautiful Climb

Good time for a reminder: stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Campagnolo Pulls Out of Sportwear

Campagnolo has decided to end all their sportswear activities in order to focus on their core business. There were some discussions by interested parties to obtain a license or purchase the division in order to continue producing  sportswear but Valentino Campagnolo has decided not to sell the company or license the brand name.


Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Detour: the Making of Parmigiano-Reggiano

Every once in awhile we detour off cycling into another subject area, this time to a video of the making of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.


Other popular detours from the past:
How to Order an Italian Coffee in Italy 
Fiat 500 "Seduction"
The Birth of a Carbon Wheel

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF) to AG2R-La Mondiale

Basilicata's diminutive Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago-CSF) is said to be transferring to French team Ag2r-La Mondiale for the 2013 season. Pozzovivo had a great season winning the Punto Veleno stage (above) of the 2012 Giro del Trentino which catapulted him to overall victory; it was the first time the climb has ever been included in a professional race. He also went on to win stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia and finished 8th overall. The signing of Pozzovivo would help AG2R-La Mondiale retain its position as a WorldTour team next year.

Do you know the meaning of the winning gesture that Pozzovivo makes when he crosses the finish line?

The gesture dates back to  August 7, 2008, when Sebastian Giovinco, the Juventus midfielder, scored a beatuful goal at the 2008 Olympic games. Giovinco then ran to photographers, placing his thumb on his head and sticking his little finger into the air. What was the goal celebration about?

“It comes from the fact that I am not very tall and people always said that I would never make it as a player because I was too small,” Giovinco explained. “So every time I score a nice goal, I make the gesture which increases my height!"

Addendum: On September 14, 2012, AG2R confirmed that Pozzovivo had signed a two year contract. 

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,500 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.

Expo Season is Nearly Upon Us

The mega EUROBIKE, with its more than 1,200 exhibitors from 50 countries and more than 100,000 sq meters (1,076,391 sq. ft.) of exhibition space on the shores of Lake Constance in Friedrichshafen, Germany, gets things started from August 29th to September 1st. From Wednesday to Friday the expo is only open to the trade; on Saturday, September 1st it is open to the public. 40,000 industry visitors from over 100 countries are expected to attend.

The long held bike exposition of Milan now leaves Milan and moves to Verona for its 70th edition. It's a controversial move as it was scheduled for the week before the nearby ExpoBici in Padova; the Veneto region will have the two most important bike shows in Italy one week apart. The expo will be held at VeronaFiera September 15th-17th.

Paola Pezzo, two time Olympian gold medalist in MTBing (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000), will be present to ride with visitors. Expo details at www.eica.it

ExpoBici, at the Fiera di Padova, is being held September 22-24. This expo has been growing every since it began four years ago, last year there were 42,000 vistors and 500 exhibitors. Expo details at www.expobici.it

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,500 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 "Bubble" Van

My thanks to a reader that pointed me to the story behind the Campagnolo "bubble" van seen at races in the 70s and 80s in the U.S.

From the U.S. Cycling Hall of Fame website:

"Bill Woodul was a pioneer who created the concept of professional racing support in North America. Bill was the first person to see the need for a professional race mechanic and built the neutral support service industry in the process.

Following a stint as an apprentice mechanic in Amsterdam, he returned to the U.S. and started the Campagnolo Neutral Support Program. Bill and his silver-blue van with the bubble top was a staple at all of the major cycling events in the U.S. during the 1970's and '80's.

Hired by the USCF to serve as the Manager of National Team Support, Bill developed a program for the training and licensing of professional mechanics. A veteran of four Olympics and countless national and international events, it's been said that every elite cyclist in the U.S. during his lifetime, benefited from his technical expertise.

His involvement in cycling took him to 42 different countries in support of racers. Bill's lasting legacy is the USA Cycling Bill Woodul Race Mechanics Clinic at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Aspiring trade team and neutral support mechanics learn the proper methods of race support and professionalism as they embark on a career in professional cycling. In February, 1999, Bill received the USA Cycling Lifetime Achievement Award, for his contributions to cycling."

Woodul was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

 addendum: Buicks were part of the 1984 LA Games sponsorship.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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London 2012 Olympics: 1 Cycling Medal for Italy Comes in MTBing

The only cycling medal won by Italy at the London 2012 Olympics was that by Marco Aurelio Fontana, a bronze medal in mountain biking during the last day of events. It gives Italy the first medal in men's mountain biking ("cross country" is the Olympic name). This is the third Olympic medal for Italy in mountain biking in the Olympics after the two golds won by Paola Pezzo in Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.

Fontana was in contention for a gold or silver medal riding against Jaroslav Kulhavy (Czech Republic) and Nino Schurter (Switzerland) when with one kilometer from the finish both his saddle and seat post broke. "Since I've been cycling this has never happened to me," said Fontana. "It was very difficult riding the last kilometer, paradoxically it was more difficult uphill than downhill. At that point I thought only of defending defending third place and telling myself that I was skillful enough to do that."

Jaroslav Kulhavy won gold (ahead of Fontana in photo above), Nino Schurter won silver.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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CRAFT BIKE Transalp: Across the Alps in Eight Days

The 15th CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP, from Oberammergau, Germany, to Riva del Garda, Italy, was held from July 14 thru 21 this year. With a length of 612 km and 21,000 meters in elevation it once again made it the hardest mountain bike stage race in the world. Next year's event is scheduled for July 13 to the 20th. Registrations fill almost immediately, follow all announcements and see photos of this year's event at www.bike-transalp.de

Event video:


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Castelli: Dressing You in the Italian National Team Colors

Now you can dress in the Italian National Olympic Team colors:

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Giro di San Diego

GranFondo Cycling Tours owners Tobias and Carrie Panek have announced the inaugural Giro di San Diego Gran Fondo, a two day Bike Festival in Solana Beach California on September 15 & 16, 2012. Their goal “is to bring the heart and passion of Italian cycling to one illustrious event of international stature in the bike community. Our goal is create an event that will draw riders from all 50 US states and 7 continents across the globe.”

Events will be available for all levels of riders, recreational to professional, with 108, 65, 35 mile and mountain bike routes. They promise great roads, well stocked rest stops, timed KOM / QOM climbs and more. The long Gran Fondo route features Mt. Palomar. The Festival starts on Saturday at Fletcher cove in Solana Beach with the Giro di San Diego Bike Fest Expo and Gourmet Fondo – a Taste of Solana Beach restaurant walk.

The Giro di San Diego will donate a portion of all proceeds to their main charity – The Rivers of Hope Foundation (founded by Philip River of the San Diego Chargers) and to the USO.

All event information at www.GirodiSanDiego.com

Stories from Tobias that have appeared in Italian Cycling Journal:
Climbing the Zoncolan
Epic Stelvio
Passing Limoncello Land

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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High Altitude Training at Passo San Pellegrino

The nice people at www.passosanpellegrino.it write in to explain why Passo San Pellegrino is such a great place for training:

Passo San Pellegrino continues to be one of the most famous resorts for high altitude training.  Once again this year Team Liquigas-Cannondale has based their summer retreat in the wide ample valley located at 2000 metres a.s.l. in the heart of the Val di Fassa, transforming the Chalet Cima Uomo into their headquarters for more than two months.

“It’s a well known fact that training at high altitudes has beneficial effects on the development and performances of athletes at any level and in any sport, because it improves resistance and aerobic capacity while it supports intensive working rhythms even in the hottest months,” explains Paolo Slongo, Sports Director for the Liquigas juggernaut. “Still, we have to be careful when choosing the mountain resorts where to stay. In fact, at a physiological level, high altitudes are only effective from 1900 to 2500 metres.”

From this perspective Passo San Pellegrino is a perfect choice and the numerous successes obtained by Team Liquigas-Cannondale are the living proof: from Vincenzo Nibali, “the Shark”, who took third place in the Tour de France, to the fantastic victory of the young and talented Moreno Moser at the Tour de Pologne to the feats of Peter Sagan.

The right altitude, a dry climate, mild temperatures…and that’s not all. Passo San Pellegrino is located in paradise-like surroundings: wild nature, gorgeous landscapes and a wide choice of routes of varying length and difficulty. The most important Dolomite Passes are just a few kilometres away and at the same time there are plenty of flat areas. It’s ideal for daily evaluations of the quality and quantity of work performed.

"Passo San Pellegrino has become one of the most significant stages in our season," confirms Slongo. “In the months of June and July, the hottest and at the same time the most crucial for the team’s preparation, it is fundamental to move up to the higher altitudes. The athletes find the right environment to refine their conditioning without tiring themselves out too much, by undergoing training which would be prohibitive at sea level. Plus, the rarefied mountain oxygen spurs the body to take better advantage of breathing and develop a higher capacity of adjustment to more demanding situations.”

Whether you are a professional or cycling lover, it is fundamental to spend at least 15 hours a day for two weeks a year at high altitudes. The work load should be determined based on the objectives of individual schedule commitments: in fact, moving to higher altitudes can help improve performance, but it’s also a chance to rest and recuperate after expended efforts.

“In the first case,” continues Slongo “you have to start with a few days of light training (2/3 hours) to allow your body to adapt to the new atmospheric conditions. Then there will be two days of increased work (4/5 hours), a day of rest and another two intense days dedicated first to quality work (alternating SFR: Slope-Force-Resistance drills with base and medium rhythm drills)and then volume work (favoring longer yet less difficult routes, keeping a calmer pedaling frequency). Then there’s another day of rest and it’s back to the same program.”

Instead in the second case, the high altitude retreat is useful for the athlete to recuperate both physically and mentally. “In a wind down situation, the training will always be very light and alternated with times of rest. The objective is to maintain tone and avoid weight gain in preparation for successive competitive events", concludes Slongo.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,500 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.

For Farnese Vini Selle Italia Fans

Fans of Farnese Vini Selle Italia can now shop for products used by the yellow fluo team during the 2012 Giro d'Italia.

Thanks to an agreement with URSUS SpA the URSUS wheelsets used by Farnese Vini Selle Italia in the Giro are also now available, in addition to jerseys, etc., along with the special decaling used by some of the riders. For example, the URSUS Miura T45 used by Filippo Pozzato would have decaling saying, "Only God Can Judge Me", the same message he has tattooed on his body. "It is a phrase that represents me and has a special meaning for me," said Pozzato. "So, I decided to put it on my wheels, companions of many efforts in the race."

The URSUS T24 model (used by Matteo Rabottini in his exciting win on the stage 15 mountaintop finish), and the TS38 wheelset are also available. Visit www.farneseselleitalia.com and click on SHOP for more information and contact for questions.

If you want to learn more about URSUS, a Vicenza company, visit www.ursus.it/inglese/

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,500 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.

Sella Nevea, Fruili, for 2013 Giro d'Italia?

Cloaked in secrecy is the possibility that the 2013 Giro d'Italia will once again visit Friuli next year. There was big disappointment in Fruili in 2011 when the Monte Crostis portion of stage 14 was cancelled after riders protested it and the Panel of Commissaires agreed that it was too dangerous. See video here.

The 2013 Giro may make its first appearance at the ascent to Selle Nevea.  The ascent, perhaps coming at the end of a Fruilian stage, was recently tested by local riders who invited  Franco Pellizotti.

"I know the 18 km from Chiusaforte to Sella Nevea well because ten years ago on that climb I won the Giro del Friuli," said Pellizotti. "The grade is constant and you can ride fast but after the roundabout the trouble begins. For more than 1.5 km the grade is closer to 20% than 10%. The attacks would have to come here as the final 3 km are easier. The panorama at the finish is priceless."

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,500 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.

Tour d'Ortles Randonnée, Stelvio, Gavia, Tonale, Palade Passes

250 km, 5,500 meters of elevation gain, 15 hour cutoff. The Stelvio, Gavia, Tonale, and Palade passes. That was the challenge 152 starters faced in the July 7th event organized by the Athletic Club Merano. 



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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,500 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.