More: 2013 Giro d'Italia

The the 3 weeks of the 2013 Giro d'Italia will look like this:
- 7 stages with sprint finishes,
- 5 stages over mid-height mountains,
- 5 stages over high mountains,
- 2 individual time trials; one an uphill TT; the two TTs total 92.4 km
- 1 team time trial; 17.4 km

The start will be in Naples on May 4 and finish in Brescia on May 26 having covered a distance of 3,405.3 km. It will leave Italy only once with a stage in France, stage 15, for the Col du Galibier, one of the classic climbs of the Tour de France.

The Giro will touch every region in the south of Italy except for Sicily, with a route from Naples to Basilicata and Calabria before heading back along the spine of the Adriatic coast through Puglia, Molise and Abruzzo. Then comes a 55.5 km individual time trial to Saltara (stage 8), the course where current Italian national team cycling coach Paolo Bettini became the Italian road race champion and where the time trial specialists could try to pull out a big enough gap to survive the final week of the Giro in the hope of staying in the pink jersey all the way to Brescia.

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks of Lavaredo), stage 20, will be back and will be the penultimate stage of the 2013 Giro d'Italia, on Saturday May 25; they were first included in the Giro in 1967 and last included in 2007. The day before, stage 19, will feature a stage that includes the Gavia and the Stelvio.

The finishing stage in Brescia will be for the sprinters, a departure from recent editions. Recent winners in Brescia have been Cipollini (2002), Bettini (2006), and Greipel (2010).

New stages for the Giro will include the individual time trial up to Polsa (stage 18) as well as the team time trial in Forio di Ischia (stage 2), where in 1959, an individual time trial was held (it had been anticipated of that the winner of that stage would be Jacques Anquetil but the surprise winner was Antonino Catalano (Bianchi-Pirelli team) from Palermo, Sicily). There are other innovations, such as the start in Busseto to honor Giuseppe Verdi, and the San Sepolcro-Firenze stage 8 to honor Gino Bartali .

The stages, in English, and using a five star rating with 5 stars being the most difficult:

1st stage - 4 May NAPLES - NAPLES 156 km  *

2nd stage - 5 May ISCHIA - FORIO (team time trial) 17.4 km ***

3rd stage - 6 May SORRENTO - MARINA DI ASCEA 212 km ***

4th stage - 7 May POLICASTRO BUSSENTINO - SERRA SAN BRUNO 244 km ***

5th stage - 8 May COSENZA - MATERA 199 km **

6th stage - 9 May MOLA DI BARI - MARGHERITA DI SAVOIA 154 km *

7th stage - 10 May SAN SALVO - PESCARA 162 km ***

8th stage - 11 May GABICCE MARE - SALTARA (individual time trial) 55.5 km ****

9th stage - 12 May SANSEPOLCRO - FLORENCE 181 km ***

                  13 May Rest Day

10th stage - 14 May CORDENONS - ALTOPIANO DEL MONTASIO 167 km ****

11th stage - 15 May TARVISIO (Cave del Predil) - VAJONT 1963/2013 (Erto and Casso) 184 km **

12th stage - 16 May LONGARONE - TREVISO 127 km *

13th stage - 17 May BUSSETO - CHERASCO 242 km **

14th stage - 18 May CERVERE - BARDONECCHIA 156 km ****

15th stage - 19 May CESANA TORINESE - COL DU GALIBIER (Valloire) 150 km *****

                   20 May Rest Day

16th stage - 21 May VALLOIRE - IVREA 237 km **

17th stage - 22 May CARAVAGGIO - VICENZA 203 km *

18th stage - 23 May MORI - POLSA (individual time trial) 19.4 km ****

19th stage - 24 May PONTE DI LEGNO - VAL MARTELLO/MARTELLTAL 138 km *****

20th stage - 25 May SILANDRO/SCHLANDERS - TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO (      Auronzo di      Cadore) 202 km *****

21st stage - 26 May RIESE PIO X - BRESCIA 199 km *

At a glance:

Rider comments tomorrow...

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2013 Giro d'Italia Stages

The stages of the 2013 Giro d'Italia (click on image above to enlarge), the race starts Saturday, 4 May:

sab 4  1a tappa Napoli - Napoli 156 km
dom 5 2a tappa Ischia - Forio (cronosquadre)  17,4 km
lun 6  3a tappa Sorrento - Marina di Ascea 212 km
mar 7  4a tappa Policastro Bus.no - Serra San Bruno 244 km
mer 8  5a tappa Cosenza - Matera 199 km
gio 9  6a tappa Mola di Bari - Margherita di Savoia 154 km
ven 10  7a tappa San Salvo - Pescara 162 km
sab 11  8a tappa Gabicce Mare - Saltara (crono)  55,5 km
dom 12  9a tappa Sansepolcro - Firenze 181 km
lun 13 riposo a Pordenone (rest day)
mar 14 10a tappa Cordenons - Altopiano del Montasio 167 km
mer 15 11a tappa Tarvisio - Vajont 1963-2013 184 km
gio 16 12a tappa Longarone - Treviso 127 km
ven 17 13a tappa Busseto - Cherasco 242 km
sab 19 14a tappa Cervere - Bardonecchia 156 km
dom 19 15a tappa Cesana Torinese - Col du Galibier 150 km
lun 20 riposo a Valloire (rest day)
mar 21 16a tappa Valloire - Ivrea 237 km
mer 22 17a tappa Caravaggio - Vicenza 203 km
gio 23 18a tappa Mori - Polsa (cronoscalata)  19,4 km
ven 24 19a tappa Ponte di Legno - Val Martello 138 km
sab 25 20a tappa Silandro - Tre Cime di Lavaredo 202 km
dom 26 21a tappa Riese Pio X - Brescia 199 km
Total: 3,405.3 km

The presenters decribed the route as "not cruel" but the big names all decribed it as "very hard". The 55.5 KM of stage 8 is supposed to be very hard and will put pressure on the pure climbers to attack on the later mountain stages.

Note: finish is in Brescia.

Rider quotes and more later....

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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2012 Il Lombardia: Results

Joaquin Rodriguez (Team Katusha), who finished second in the Giro this year, became the first Spanish rider to win the Il Lombardia (formerly Giro di Lombardia). Rodriguez finished in 6:36:27 with an average speed of 37.987 km/h. Finishing 2nd and 3rd were Spaniard Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel Euskadi) at 9 seconds and Colombian Rigoberto Uran Uran (Sky Procycling) also at 9 seconds.

On an autumn day with rain slicked roads and pouring rain in the final kilometers Rodriguez, who made the selection on the Muro di Sormano, was able to dispatch any of the remaining contenders on the climb of Villa Vergano and then cross the finish line in Lecco with his arms raised and by himself.

"I was overjoyed when I crossed the line", said Rodriguez. "Il Lombardia is a race that I have always dreamed of winning. I crossed the finish line and threw my water bottle in the air, it's a gesture of good luck and I like to do it when I win."

Rodriguez continued, "I really don't like the rain especially when descending because it's dangerous but in fact when it rains I go well. I am very pleased with my results this year (note: won Fleche-Wallonne, second in the Giro d'Italia, third in the Vuelta a Espana). I was fighting for a double goal today, to win this prestigious competition and to take the lead in the UCI World Tour rankings, and I managed both. So I'm really happy. As for 2013, I am looking forward to seeing the presentation tomorrow of the 2013 Giro d'Italia."

The rain and slick roads caused Philippe Gilbert to crash out of the race, and there were a number of other crashes including that of Vincenzo Nibali who has now crashed in the last two editions at key moments.

The last Italian to win Il Lombardia is Damiano Cunego, in 2008. 

Video summary:


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Buongiorno Il Lombardia

Newly crowned world champion Philippe Gilbert at the sign-in:

Felice Gimondi, celebrating his 70th birthday, starts the race of 197 riders from 25 teams:

Race favorites: World Champion Philippe Gilbert; Vuelta and Milano-Torino winner Alberto Contador;  Giro d’Italia winner Ryder Hesjedal; Joaquin Rodriguez (a specialist in steep climbs);  Vincenzo Nibali (splendid protagonist last year),  winner of Gran Piemonte Rigoberto Uran Uran; Samuel Sanchez, Ivan Basso, Damiano Cunego (three time winner of Il Lombardia-2004, 2007, 2008); Franco Pelizzotti (Italian Champion), Diego Ulissi and winner of last edition Oliver Zaugg who will start with No. 1.

The course:

Live streaming of the race by the Gazzetta dello Sport begins at 2:30 PM (Italy time), in Italian of course, here.

A time zone convertor you can use: www.timeanddate.com

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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Il Lombardia Live Streaming Video Information

Since there are readers of ICJ from all over the world let me mention that live streaming of the race by the Gazzetta dello Sport will begin tomorrow at 2:30 PM (Italy time), in Italian of course, here.

A time zone convertor you can use: www.timeanddate.com

Sometime in the past on the Muro di Sormano:

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Muro di Sormano, Video by Jered Gruber

Well known cycling photographer Jered Gruber chose the Muro di Sormano to undertake his first video:
Muro di Sormano from Jered Gruber on Vimeo.

One of Jered's photos was used for the 2012 Giro d'Italia poster:

More of Jered's photography at www.jeredgruber.com

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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Recon of Muro di Sormano by Team Lampre

Video here.

The recon of tomorrow's Muro di Sormano in the Il Lombardia was done by Lampre riders Anacona, Ulissi and Niemiec (they appear L-R in the start of the video; sport director Piovani is to far left). For the recon they mounted 36x29 but will decide what to use tomorrow after the recon. This portion of the video is the Muro di Sormano part of a recon day that was 90 km and included the climbs of Eupilio, Sormano, Muro di Sormano, Ello and Villa Vergano.

The video camera is mounted on Ulissi's bike. The Muro di Sormano begins when the riders turn left off the road at 3:52 mark in the video.

Ulissi's expression at the end says it all.

Enjoy the race tomorrow! If you are in a country which is not broadcasting it go to www.cyclingfans.com to find a streaming feed.

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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1952 Giro di Lombardia

The "Il Lombardia", the new name for the Giro di Lombardia, will be held on Saturday, September 29th. The 106th edition of the classic will be 251 km in length and will start in Bergamo (to celebrate Felici Gimondi's 70th birthday) and finish in Lecco. The terrible climb of the Muro di Sormano is back in the route exactly 50 years after the climb proved so difficult that many riders were forced to get off their bikes and walk.


PEZ Cycling News has an interesting story based on the program published 60 years ago by the La Gazzetta dello Sport for the 1952 Giro d'Lombardia. Read it here.

What gear changing looked like in the 1920s/30s at the race (read more about it in the story):

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 2,600 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.

Mario Cipollini at Miami Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia, Nov 11

The Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia has announced that Mario Cipollini will be in Miami/Coral Cables for the gran fondo on November 11, 2012. Will you miss the opportunity to meet and ride with a cycling legend?

Event details at www.granfondogiroditalia.com

Some of the more interesting related Cipollini stories in ICJ:
The Most Beautiful Milan-Sanremo Victory 
Cipollini Advises MCipollini Women's Team
I Wouldn't Give Him Time to Piss
The World of Mario Cipollini
1996 Mario Cipollini Cannondale Finally on the Road (a story of a special bike I own)
There are many more blog stories...use the search feature in the right coumn, upper right  

Cipollini at Interbike:

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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2013 Giro d'Italia Official Promo

Official presentation is Sunday, September 30th.



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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Italy's Medals at 2012 World Championships

Disappointing results for the men but the Italian women were able to bring two bronze medals home:

(L-R): Rachel Neylan (Australia), Marianne Vos (Netherlands) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy)

After five consecutive silver medals in the Women's Elite road race, Marianne Vos (Netherlands) was able to win gold. The only women able to go over the final climb of the Cauberg with Vos were Rachel Neylan (Australia) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Anna Strickler

Anna Strickler (Italy, from Alto Adige) finished 3rd in the Junior Women's road race behind winner Lucy Garner (Great Britain) and 2nd place Eline Gleditsch Brustad (Norway).

Photos: Bettini

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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2013 Gio d'Italia: the Unverified Stages

The official 2013 Giro d'Italia presentation is September 30th in Milan. As always there are leaks about the stages. If you are planning an itinerary best to wait for the presentation. What has been leaked:

4 May, Saturday: Napoli (prolog, TTT; officially announced, read here)
5 May, Sunday: Pozzuoli - Agropoli
6 May, Monday: Marina di Ascea - Cosenza
7 May, Tuesday: Sibari - Martinafranca
8 May, Wednesday: Altamura-Barletta (ITT)
9 May, Thursday: Foggia-Tortoreto Lido
10 May, Friday: Giulianova - Numana
11 May, Saturday: Senigallia-Città di Castello
12 May, Sunday: San Sepolcro - Firenze
13 May, Monday: rest/transfer day
14 May, Tuesday: Cordenons-Malga Montasio
15 May, Wednesday: Cave del Predil-Erto (Vajont Dam)
16 May, Thursday: Longarone-Treviso
17 May, Friday: Busseto-Cherasco
18 May, Saturday: Cervere-Bardonecchia (Jafferau)
19 May, Sunday: Cesana-Galibier (officially announced, read here).
20 May, Monday:  rest day
21 May, Tuesday: Ivrea-Bergamo
22 May, Wednesday: Clusone-Edolo
23 May, Thursday: Sondrio-Val Senales
24 May, Friday: Mori-Polsa (uphill TT)
25 May, Saturday: Bassano del Grappa-Marostica
26 May, Sunday: Vicenza-Milano

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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Team Lampre: Goodbye to Wilier, Hello to Merida

This surprised me! Press release:

MERIDA enters the UCI World Tour

Merida Europe GmbH is pleased to announce its commitment to the UCI WorldTour as per January 1st 2013. With the UCI ProTeam Lampre a both likeable and successfully established team has agreed to be supplied with MERIDA’s high-end equipment for the next three seasons and to compete under the official name “Team Lampre-MERIDA”. With the MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM, Taiwan’s second-largest bicycle manufacturer has been supporting one of the world’s most successful mountain bike racing teams since 2004; entering the UCI WorldTour thus was a long-awaited and logical next step in order to get the best showcase possible for the brand’s premium road products as well.

As per 2013, the new Team Lampre-MERIDA will be competing on state-of-the-art equipment: The SCULTURA SL is setting benchmarks in terms of stiffness, agility and vertical compliance, thus making sure that the Team Lampre-MERIDA can participate not only at the big races such as the Giro d’Italia, the Vuelta a Espana and the Tour de France with legitimate aspirations. On top of that, early in 2013 a time trial bike that has been developed from scratch to meet the demands of time trialling with the world’s elite is going to be presented. More team bikes tailor-made to suit the needs for cobble-stone classics such as Paris-Roubaix or particularly aerodynamic models for long escapes and building a lead-out train for a sprinter are going to be presented throughout the next year.

MERIDA is the private brand of Merida Industry Co., Ltd, Taiwan’s second-largest bicycle manufacturer. The company had been founded in 1972 by Ike D.H. Tseng in Yuanlin, Taiwan. After the founder’s death in January 2012, his son Michael Tseng took over. At its three production facilities in Yuanlin, Shenzen and Shandong (the latter two based in the People’s Republic of China), about 3500 employees produce about 2.5 million bicycles per year that are being distributed in 70 countries around the world. MERIDA’s world-wide workforce sums up to about 52.000 people. Ever since 2004, MERIDA has been participating in international competitions with great success with the “MULTIVAN MERIDA BIKING TEAM”, a team that has Olympic and World champions in its line-up with riders such as Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesja, Ralph Näf and José Hermida.

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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Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia: Miami/Coral Gables Edition

L-R: Bruce Hildenbrand, Consul Giuseppe Perrone, Michele Acquarone, Pat Hus

Las Vegas – The Giro d’Italia chose Interbike, the premier cycling trade event in North America, as the stage to announce the upcoming, tropical edition of the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia in Miami.

An emotional short movie about the history of the “toughest race in the world’s most beautiful place” set the mood for the press conference. Pat Hus, Managing Director of Interbike, in his welcoming remarks stated: “There is a long-lasting relationship between our show and Italy, a country that represents so much of what cycling is all about. It is only natural for Interbike to further this synergy with Giro d’Italia and Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia: a logical association for us.”

Gran Fondos are the new obsession of American riders, with thousands of participants pouring from all over the States to elite cycling destinations. It’s undisputable that an authentic Italian touch to these signature events makes them worth the experience. “We hosted a Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia in Pasadena last July and it was an excellent showcase of our Made in Italy products“ said Giuseppe Perrone, Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles. “For Italians, the Giro is not just a sport, but an iconic event, engraved in our history and surely part of our soul,” Perrone added, echoed from Miami by the Consul General Adolfo Barattolo in a note: “We look forward to welcoming the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia in Miami/Coral Gables, where Italy is regarded as a synonymous of design, elegance and technology.”

The press conference special guest, Michele Acquarone, director of the Giro d’Italia (RCS Sports), talked about the love story between cycling enthusiasts, Giro d’Italia and its champions. “As organizers, we want to reinforce the relationship between cycling fans and the mystique of the Giro. To grow the importance of Giro d’Italia in the world, we decided to bet on the United States, where the romance of this sport and Italy is strong. We had a pilot edition in Pasadena, and now we look forward to the upcoming Miami edition.” At the end, Acquarone revealed the exciting new Col du Galibier mountain stage summit of the 2013 Giro d’Italia.

The Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Miami/Coral Gables, will be held on Sunday, November 11, 2012: a perfect wrap up of the cycling season with a blast of pink! For additional information visit: www.granfondogiroditalia.com

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2013 UCI World Championships-Toscana, Italy

The website for the 2013 UCI World Championships-Toscana (Tuscany), Italy, has been updated today with a promo video and a video with the course information. The Regione Toscana is a partner in the project with these Tuscan cities playing important roles in the championships: Firenze, Lucca (where Mario Cipollini hails from), Pistoia, Montecatini Terme, and Fiesole. The dates are September 22-29, 2013.

The website is www.toscana2013.it (not all sections are finished).

Also noted on the website with interest was this piece about Alfredo Martini:

"You cannot talk about cycling, especially an event in Tuscany, without mentioning Alfredo Martini, born 1921 in Firenze (Florence). A life for cycling, from race driver to coach with an unequaled career record. His career as a cyclists lasted from 1941 to 1957. The clever domestique won the Giro dell’Apennino 1947, Giro del Piemonte 1950, the stage to Florence of the 1950 Giro d’Italia, which he finished as an overall third behind Koblet and Bartali, wearing the pink jersey for one day, he won one stage of the 1951 Tour de Suisse, finishing another time third behind Kubler and Koblet. After his career as a cyclist, he became coach of the national team, leading to their World Championship titles Francesco Moser 1977 in San Cristobal (Venezuela), Giuseppe Saronni 1982 in Goodwood (Great Britain), Moreno Argentin 1986 in Colorado Springs (USA), Maurizio Fondriest 1988 in Renaix (Belgium), Gianni Bugno 1991 in Stuttgart (Germany) and Benidorm (Spain) in 1992, along with other seven silver and seven bronze medals. He is one of the outstanding characters of Italian cycling, an extraordinary person, historic memory of the “Giro” and untiring narrator of anecdotes related to cycling. Since 1998 he is supervisor of all national teams and honorary president of the Italian Cycling Federation FCI."

The promo:


The courses:


Tomorrow, at the 2012 World Championships, the Elite Women's Road Race (129 km) will be held. That will be followed on Sunday with the Elite Men's Road Race (267 km). The men's Squadra Azzurra will go on the offensive in Sunday’s world championships road race in Valkenburg. Italian coach Paolo Bettini promised that his riders will break open the race. Designated to go for gold is Vincenzo Nibali. "You won’t see the team playing catenaccio (defense). We don’t have a Gilbert or a Valverde, so we can't afford to wait.”


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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Liquigas-Cannondale Becomes Cannondale Pro Cycling Team

Back in August it we wrote that Brixia Sport had acquired Liquigas Sport (read here). The next step in the team's future was announced today in the following press release.


Bethel, Conn. – September 20, 2012 – Cannondale, a premium brand of Dorel Industries, announced today that it is significantly increasing its investment with Brixia Sport to become the title sponsor of their pro cycling team, newly named "Cannondale Pro Cycling Team." The relationship is effective January 1, 2013. For 2013 and beyond, Cannondale and the team will focus on the development of a young stable of incredible talent including Peter Sagan, the winner of the Green Jersey at the 2012 Tour de France, Moreno Moser and Elia Viviani. These riders will, in turn, be guided by committed veterans like Ivan Basso.

"Cannondale is excited to partner with Brixia Sport to be the title sponsor of the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team. Innovation leadership is part of our DNA. For the past six years, it has been a thrill to watch the team push their limits on our bikes as we push the boundaries on what those bikes can do," said Bob Burbank, General Manager, Cannondale. "With the title sponsorship, our dealers and consumers can expect to see us really challenge the status quo and develop programs and opportunities that demonstrate our continued commitment to professional cycling in new and exciting ways that will be undeniably Cannondale."

Cannondale began its relationship with the team in 2007 as the technical sponsor for the Liquigas Pro Cycling Team. In January of 2010, Cannondale became a co-sponsor of the Liquigas-Cannondale Team. Since 2007, the team has won: three Grand Tours including the Giro d'Italia in 2007 and 2010 and the Vuelta a Espana in 2010; two Tour de France jerseys, including the 2009 Polka Dot and the 2012 Green Jersey; and, countless prestigious individual races.

Throughout the relationship, the team has ridden the race-proven line of Cannondale road bikes including the SuperSix, Slice, Slice RS, Synapse and the recently named "Best Bike in the World" SuperSix EVO Ultimate.

"Fans of the sport and Cannondale can expect to see one of the world's best race teams riding on the most exciting bikes available," said Burbank. "It's truly a partnership in innovation and excellence."

"We are incredibly pleased with Cannondale's decision to continue and increase its partnership with the team," said Paolo Zani, President, Brixia Sport. "We share the same goal of furthering a sports project that has produced exciting results in recent years. We are convinced that the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team will be one of the most competitive teams in international cycling. Combining the Italian tradition of cycling with the naturally innovative spirit of a brand like Cannondale will initiate the genesis of an international team that will always be a main contender wherever it competes."

"The qualities with which the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team sports partnership begins will provide great motivation for the entire organisation at Brixia Sport," said Team Manager Roberto Amadio. "The experience and expertise we have gained since 2005 form a solid foundation on which to build the future of the new team. We have ambitious goals and the right structure to ensure we achieve them. We'll have a sound squad with a focus on young riders and a strongly international influence. We will repay Cannondale's trust in us with the utmost commitment and professionalism. The team is thrilled to know that they continue to ride on the best bike in the world.


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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2013 Giro d'Italia: Col du Galibier, Stage 15

It will be the first time and it will be special. On Sunday 19th May, 2013 the Giro d’Italia will raise its flag on one of the sacred mountains of cycling, the Col du Galibier.

The stage will end at the top of the climb (2,642 meters) where the mountain divides the French departments of Savoy from the Hautes-Alpes. It will be the first time in the history of cycling that a race, climbing from Valloire, will finish at the top of this monumental mountain.

Stage 15 of the ‘Corsa Rosa’ will start from Cesana Torinese, and take riders towards Susa where the Colle del Moncenisio climb will begin, then downhill towards the Val D’Arc. At Saint Michel de Maurienne the race will climb the Col du Télégraphe and then, from Valloire, the last 18km will head upwards towards the glory of the summit of the Col du Galibier.

Everyone remembers Marco Pantani’s legendary stage in the 1998 Tour de France as the climb that sealed his overall victory of that year’s edition of ‘Le Tour’. Fittingly at 4km before the summit, where Pantani started his attack, there’s a stone monument that remembers his achievement.

All these ingredients will give fans the spectacle of one of the most dramatic stages ever – a stage that promises to remain in the history of the Giro d’Italia forever.

The Galibier recalls, among its rulers, giants like Henri Pélissier and Eugène Christophe, a flea Vicente Trueba ("the Flea of the Pyrenees"), an eagle Federico Bahamontes ("the Eagle of Toledo") , the angel Charly Gaul ("the Angel of the Mountain") and a cannibal (" the Cannibal ") in Eddy Merckx. Among the Italians, the winners have been Bartolomeo Aimo in 1924, Francesco Camusso in '32, Gino Bartali in '37, in '38 Mario Vicini, Fermo Camellini in '47, in '52 Fausto Coppi, Franco Chioccioli in '92, Marco Pantani in '98, and Stefano Garzelli in 2003.

Galibier related story in ICJ here.  Use the search feature in the upper right to find more!

Click on images to enlarge.

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: L'Eroica Travel

In the near future it will be even easier to ‘live’ the L’Eroica experience. Riding on the roads of L'Eroica in a supported structure will be possible at any time thanks to a new service that is being implemented. With the 2012 edition of the L'Eroica comes L'Eroica Travel, the ideal way to combine the unique features of the L'Eroica throughout the year using the permanently marked route.

A number of services covering all the needs of those who want to enjoy cycling tourism will be just a click away at www.eroica.it website: selected farm holiday accommodations, immersed in nature; accommodation in small towns, or even in the heart of Siena. From the site you will be able to build build your own dream on two wheels, in structures offering all the services you will need: bicycle storage, repair kits/workshop, route information, adequate dining facilities, laundry, bicycle leaning, bike rental, escorts and guides, internet access, and emergency services.


The services of L’Eroica Travel will be presented in more detail during this year's L'Eroica weekend, October 5, 6, and 7.

Note: During the weekend the weekend there will be a photo exhibit by Angelo Ferrillo. We have featured some of his photographs in the past here.

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 2,600 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.

Tan Lines

The Cyclepassion calendar for 2013 is now available. Details at www.cyclepassion.com

Interesting photography this year. Italian rider Julia Innerhofer is in the calendar but I like this photo of Hungarian Barbara Benkó.

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 2,600 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.

2013 Giro d'Italia: Stage in Ischia Still Possible

Meetings between the Giro d'Italia organizer (RCS Sport) and Ischia local government officials who desire to hold a stage have continued since November, the latest being this past week. Ischia, at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, presents many challenging logistical issues in bringing a massive event like the Giro to a small island. With the official 2013 Giro d'Italia presentation scheduled for September 30th a final deadline for making a decision about Ischia has been set for Tuesday, September 18th.

The only time the Giro has visited Ischia was in 1959 for a 31 km time trial stage, Stage 8. It had been anticipated that the winner would be Jacques Anquetil but the surprise winner was Antonino Catalano (Bianchi-Pirelli team) from Palermo, Sicily.

Related story:  Ischia Hopes to Host 2013 Giro d'Italia Stage 

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. 

Il Lombarda (Giro di Lombardia) News, Part II

As we reported in Part I, the terrible climb of the Muro di Sormano is back in the route of the 106th edition of the Il Lombardia (formerly named the Giro di Lombardia), exactly 50 years after the 15.8% average, 25-27% max, climb proved so difficult that many riders were forced to get off their bikes and walk. This year the Muro di Sormano, the short but very steep climb near Lake Como, comes after 165km of racing and will be followed by the climb to Madonna del Ghisallo and the short climb to Villa Vergano, where Oliver Zaugg attacked to win the 2011 edition of Il Lombardia.

See this video of the Muro (wall):

Muro Di Sormano from brokenp87 on Vimeo.

The last time the Il Lombardia climbed the Muro di Sormano was in 1962 when Johannes de Roo of the Netherlands won the race. Fausto Coppi is the most successful Il Lombardia winner of all time, winning consecutive race in 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950.

The 2012 edition of Il Lombardia will be held on Saturday, September 29, and celebrates Felice Gimondi’s incredible career in the year of his 70th birthday with the start in Bergamo. The race will be bookended with a gala dinner in Bergamo on Friday evening which will be attended by many champions and on Sunday with the GIMONDIBIKE mtb race. Gimondi (far right in photo) said, "I am honored and excited for all that has been organized to celebrate my birthday. Il Lombardia is a great race, one of the five classic "monuments" and who wins here is a champion with a capital "C". I managed to win it twice, in 1966 and 1973. They brought me two great satisfactions and two wonderful memories I carry in my heart."

If you are in Bergamo for the weekend, or in the future, don't forget to visit the only Bianchi concept store in Italy; details previously posted here.

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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2013 Giro d'Italia Presentation: September 30th

The 2013 Giro d'Italia presentation will take place in Milano on Sunday, September 30th.

The cycle begins again!

We already know that the Giro will start in Napoli (Naples).

Dates: May 4 to May 26.

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.