2013 Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaanderen), Tomorrow

The 2013 Tour of Flanders will be held tomorrow. One of the five "monuments" of cycling, and the first of the Spring classics, it has been held since 1913. A tough race, and tougher yet tomorrow with very cold weather expected. As Andrea Tafi once said, "Only those who are in top condition can say that the Ronde is not hard. For everyone else, it's the Way of the Cross."

Pozzato in Gp Harelbeke

The only Italian among the top favorites is Filippo Pozzato (Lampre-Merida) who will have as teammates Mattia Cattaneo, Davide Cimolai, Elia Favilli, Massimo Graziato, Andrea Palini, Alessandro Petacchi, and Davide Viganò. Pozzato, who finished second last year to Tom Boonen said, "My shape is good and it was good also in Gp Harelbeke and Gand-Wevelgem: unluckily, I suffered too much from the cold weather. When I come back to Italy from from Belgium, I could train in warmer weather and I'm satisfied with my training. I think I'm ready to make efforts at 110% and I will spur my teammates to do the same. I'm sure they all will give their best, we all know that in order to try to reach our goal we must be perfect. In addition, I have an additional request: I'd like the weather to be good, without too much rain or deep cold."

Pozzato continued, "Concerning the opponents, Sagan and Cancellara are first in line: they both showed they're at the top. Boonen is not at 100%, but he's motivated for this race. In addition, Omega Pharam-Quickstep is a very competitive team, they can support Boonen in the best way."

Alessandro Ballan (BMC), who finished third last year, will not be in the race. 

In race history Belgian riders have had the most victories, 68, with Italians following with 10 victories (Netherlands 9, France 3, Germany 2, Switzerland 2, United Kingdom 1, Denmark 1).

The first Italian victory came in 1949 with Fiorenzo Magni. Before WWII the race was usually held on the same day as Milan-Sanremo which kept Italians at home and the French riders preferred Milan-Sanremo as well. In fact, the there was only one non-Belgian victory before WWII (in 1923 by Heiri Suter of Switzerland). Fiorenzo Magni went on to win the next two editions, 1950 and 1951. The other Italian winners have been:
1967 Dino Zandegù
1990 Moreno Argentin
1994 Gianno Bugno
1996 Michele Bartoli
2001 Gianluca Bortolami
2002 Andrea Tafi
2007 Alessandro Ballan

Gianluca Bortolami's victory in 2001 set the record for the fastest Tour of Flanders at an average speed of 43.6 km/h.

If you don't have access to TV broadcast of the race check www.cyclingfans.com for links to streaming video.

Photo: Bettini

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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 now more than 2,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the upper right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button of the page.     

2013 Anjou Vélo Vintage

Go back…in time, pull up your socks and braces, head up the hill…

Imagine…moustaches in the wind, bursts of laughter over mischievously tilted berets, focused gazes under caps pulled tightly down, hands slipped into knitted cotton gloves, flowered dresses and hats from another era…

Share…unique moments alone, with a mate, your family, among friends and colleagues…

Enjoy…a stunning view of the Loire, breathtaking scenery, the silhouettes of majestic chateaus, a kingdom made to order for the bicycle…

Admire…the lightness of a Grand Bi, the elegance of an Hirondelle, the classiness of a Bianchi, the refined chrome of a Mercier…

Discover…the world of fans of vintage bikes, the latest vintage trends, the exclusiveness of a concours d’élégance…

Relive… the days of the “Convicts of the Road,” the adventures of Tour de France pioneers, the unrivalled atmosphere of a publicity caravan of yesteryear…

Savour…the unique atmosphere of an open-air café, the nobility of tiny bubbles at a jazzy Vintage Party…

It's time for a visit to France for the 3rd edition of Anjou Vélo Vintage which this year is also celebrating the 100th edition of the Tour de France. The dates are June 22 and 23 in Saumur, France.
Event website: www.anjou-velo-vintage.com

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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 now more than 2,800 stories in this blog. The search feature to the upper right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button of the page.

GF Giro d'Italia at Sea Otter, April 20

Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia Sea Otter Classic news:

On Saturday, April 20 as part of the most beloved cycling festival in the nation, The Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Sea Otter Classic will premier in Monterey, CA, adding its unmistakable Italian twist to this four-day outdoor sport and tradeshow event. The Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Sea Otter will start from the world-famous Laguna Seca Race Track and will offer two different routes, Carmel Valley (96 miles) and Coastal (49 miles), open to riders of all capabilities willing to experience a real “Italian style” Gran Fondo in one of the greatest cycling areas in the US. Look out for the original Giro d’Italia Trophy (Senza Fine) and get your picture with a backdrop of the Milan Duomo: bellissimo! Impress your cycling buddies with your own personalized bike number and the limited edition jersey by Santini!

With stunning views of the majestic Pacific Ocean and lush Californian farms, the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Sea Otter will be an experience like no other. Enjoy Italian cycling brands and Pasta Party on the newly created area, the Italian Island, where you can discover products that are sure to please!

Known as the ultimate in the “celebration of cycling,” Sea Otter is cycling’s North American season opener; it also happens to be one of the nation’s largest, attracting a total of 10,000 riders from multiple disciplines and about 50,000 fans. With both professional and amateur athletes alike make the annual pilgrimage to participate in some of the sport’s most competitive and enduring events. Hundreds of pro cyclists, including national, world, and Olympic champions attend Sea Otter to race and meet with fans. Not to be missed is the Expo, boosting a wealth of over 400 companies and featuring for the first time the Italian Island.

The Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia brings to America a top international appeal and the ultimate expertise in mass-participation productions of a true “Italian” Gran Fondo experience, with breathtaking scenic courses, and challenges that impart an atmosphere typically reserved for professional races, all in a fun “Italian style” environment that brings out the best of this sport. Upcoming signature events: Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Five Boro (May 5); Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Pasadena (June 2); Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Miami-Coral Gables (November 10).

Sponsors of the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia include: Vittoria, Selle Italia, Limar, Santini, Bianchi, Bicycling, Gazzetta dello Sport and Interbike. For additional information please visit www.gfgiro.com. Media inquiries please contact Daniela Puglielli at daniela@accentpr.com.

Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia is a worldwide series organized by RCS Sport, owner of high-quality sporting events including the Giro d’Italia, Milano – Sanremo, Tour of Lombardy, Tirreno – Adriatico, Strade Bianche (White Roads).


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"Be a Gladiator", Win URSUS Wheelset

The Ursus storytelling contest, "Be a Gladiator", for a pair of Miura T45 carbon wheels is open until April 15, 2013 (initially open until March 31, 2013).

Four "gladiator" stories deemed the most deserving will be awarded a pair of Miura T45, carbon top range wheels, the same wheels used by Team Vini Fantini Selle Italia. The simple rules as they suggest:
-access the Ursus Wheels Official Facebook Page (facebook.com/UrsusWheels) and click on "Like"
-then each candidate will have to click on the box "Be A Gladiator" and completely fill out the form and adding a message up to 500 characters and attaching an image as a "gladiator".

Entry to the contest also appears to be available at www.ursus.it

Good luck!

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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 now more than 2,800 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 Title Sponsor for GF San Diego

The Gran Fondo San Diego organizers have announced that Campagnolo is the title sponsor of the Campagnolo Gran Fondo San Diego, scheduled for April 14, 2013.

"Campagnolo has a rich history with Gran Fondo riding, and it stands for fine Italian innovation and quality. Their sponsorship brings us to a new level," said Tobias Panek, the owner of the event. "We couldn't be happier to welcome Campagnolo as our title sponsor. It's a perfect fit." Panek, whose company, Gran Fondo Cycling Tours, has ten years of experience producing Gran Fondo cycling tours in Italy and France and managing operations for various domestic Gran Fondos.

Campagnolo North America Director Tom Kattus agreed, stating, "We've been involved with the Gran Fondo in San Diego since its first year, because we believe in the fun and challenge of Gran Fondos. This is a hometown event for us. As its title sponsor, we look forward to increasing our connection with riders of all levels, from beginner to competitive enthusiast."

This year marks the 80th anniversary of Campagnolo, whose North American headquarters is in Carlsbad. In commemoration, it released an eagerly awaited 80th Anniversary Collection, and it increased its involvement with prestigious events. Its sponsorship of the Campagnolo Gran Fondo San Diego is the latest in a series that includes New York City (Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York, May 19) and Rome, Italy (Gran Fondo Campagnolo Roma, October 13).

Campagnolo's involvement as title sponsor includes providing neutral support on all three courses, as well as working with local shops to coordinate additional support. It is donating wheels for giveaways and will have a large booth at the Finish Line Expo, complete with demo products for registered participants. Additionally, Campagnolo will headline a VIP fundraising dinner to benefit Operation Rebound, the official charity partner of the Campagnolo Gran Fondo San Diego.

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Peter Sagan's Secret Revealed

Peter Sagan's secret revealed: He drinks espresso made with Wega Coffee Machines, the leading Italian company producing professional espresso coffee machines. When you drink Wega Coffee Machines made coffee you can win Gent-Wevelgem and cross the finish line like this:

Seriously,  Wega Coffee Machines has announced announced a new partnership deal with Team Cannondale Pro Cycling. Under the agreement the Wega brand will be able to boast the title of official supplier to the team that features Ivan Basso, Moreno Moser and current World Tour leader Sagan.

“The collaboration we've started with Cannondale is a strategic opportunity in terms of brand recognition," comments Paolo Nadalet, CEO for Wega Coffee Machines. “The agreement will allow Wega to increase their exposure in strategic markets, thanks to the international dimension of the team which, like us, operates on all five continents. This opportunity is doubly interesting in light of the company's hospitality activities during the Giro d’Italia which will allow company guests to experience a unique perspective at this important world class event.”

“We're happy we reached this agreement" comments Roberto Amadio, Team Manager for Cannondale Pro Cycling. “The tradition of Italian espresso coffee is recognized all around the world. We hope that our activities and our victories will offer visibility to this prestigious brand that is recognized internationally for its quality".

Related story:
Detour: How To Order an Italian Coffee in Italy

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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 now more than 2,700 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.     

Vini Fantini Selle Italia & Cipollini–Giordana–Galassia

The "giallofluo" (yellow flourescent) teams of Vini Fantini Selle Italia and Cipollini-Giordana-Galassia had some fun at their joint pre-season four day getaway in Peschiera del Garda. It included the usual training and technical meetings but also some fun on a "Dance&Bike" team building day. Watch the video:


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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 now more than 2,700 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 "Twitter Stage" at 2013 Giro d'Italia

The Giro d'Italia continues the use of social media to involve fans in the race. Another first is the "twitter stage" described as follows: 

For the first time in its history, the Giro d’Italia will give fans of all nationalities the chance to have a Twitter message written on the road of a key mountain pass of the Corsa Rosa.

The race dedicates the 10th stage of Cordenons to Altopiano del Montasio, which takes place on Tuesday 14th May, to messages posted on the Twitter social network that are dedicated to the Giro. The chosen "canvas" for the messages is one of the new uphill finishes of the 2013 edition: the climb to Altopiano del Montasio which has never been featured before. This will leave a reminder of the passing of the Giro, linking the great race to this climb and standing as a permanent monument to the Corsa Rosa.

In total, 200 tweets in either Italian or English will be chosen. In collaboration with the Stage Committee, the Alpine Association and the Civil Protection, they will be written on the final two kilometres of the Montasio climb.

To be eligible for selection, the tweet must be posted between 21st March and 1st April and contain the hashtag #montasiostage.

In addition to the fans, the teams racing the 2013 Giro are also involved in the project: each one will submit a tweet for the climb.

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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 now more than 2,700 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.     

Maratona dles Dolomites: 190 Charity Slots Open March 27

Didn't get into the 2013 Maratona dles Dolomites in the draw or with a package? There is a last chance:

190 registrations at an increased price which the surcharge destined for charity can be purchased with a credit card exclusively online on www.maratona.it on March 27th 2013 starting at 6 p.m. (GMT+1). The charity project will be implemented by "Insieme si può" ("Together we can") in Uganda to improve the quality of life of disabled people.

175 GOLD registrations at a price of 200,00 euro and 15 PLATINUM registrations at a price of 400,00 euro are offered. With the purchase of a charity registration you will get a small souvenir of the event in addition to a preferential starting grid (Platinum registrations in the first starting grid, Gold registrations in the second starting grid).

Photo: make sure you click on photo above and click again at the + to get a sense of scale

Related story:
Guide to Cycling the Maratina dles Dolomites 

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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 now more than 2,700 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.    
 

Oscar Gatto, "I didn't need the clothes"

With inclement weather in Italy for Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-Sanremo, and now the races in Belgium, cycling related websites have been abuzz with articles about inclement weather jackets, clothing, and related products.

So, here we had Oscar Gatto (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia) winning Dwars door Vlaanderen in short sleeves and shorts with everyone else bundled up. "The cold was no problem for me," said Gatto. "If you race then you don't feel the cold and in the finale we were going flat out. I didn't need the clothes."

Gatto became the first Italian to win this Flemish semi-classic.

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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 now more than 2,700 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 Great Climbs of Europe

Important addendum: after writing this a reader pointed out that there are misspellings in the poster. I've now heard from ELCYCLISTA who said, "I am Conor from the Elcyclista blog. We have been following you for a long time and regularly check the blog. Just a quick note on the poster. The shots up there were from a printers proof that did indeed include some typo's. These have been corrected before the finals went to print. We were a little too eager to get the posters up on the site. We would appreciate if you could add a note explaining this." 
 

From ELCYCLISTA EDITIONS:

"A while back I started thinking about doing a number of limited edition projects in a series of different formats. Short runs, that would allow me to work a little quicker and play around with the formats I love. I just got back the proof of the first of these projects, a poster titled THE GREAT CLIMBS OF EUROPE helping kick-off ELCYCLISTA EDITIONS. Since I was a kid I have loved maps, and could easily spend hours with my head stuck in an atlas taking imaginary trips along roads and up mountains all over the world. This progressed later in life to crossing off the climbs I traveled to around Europe, and highlighting the ones I still hoped to do next. All of this inspired the Climbs poster (click on the images for a larger detail view).

Interestingly, without ever tracing the boundary of a country, the climbs we all love still define the shape of the regions we gravitate to each year to challenge ourselves. I started out with the monuments, those climbs passed into cycling folklore through races and riders that have given them great stories. Then there are those mentioned in conversations with local riders, people we have met on the road, picked up in articles, or discovered through studying race routes. Key cities were added next, the places we travel in and out of, and the ranges and areas where all of these exist. Together these created a footprint that document the climbers playgrounds of Europe, and hopefully giving you some inspiration as to where your next ride might take you. The prints are available for order at our shop here.

The Posters are printed by SUPREME here in Brooklyn and are of exceptional exhibition quality. They are created using the Giclée inkjet printing process using archival inks to create fade-resistant prints, typically used for gallery printing. They are printed onto an enhanced 260gsm Matte paper. We are offering the prints in two standard sizes (unframed), printed to order with a 5 day turnaround:
SIZE 1: 18″ X 24″ print at $80
SIZE 2: 24″ X 36″ print at $140
The total first edition of all sizes will be 124 prints, all hand numbered. Why 124? Well Sean Kelly our fellow country man and all round great rider was know for his exceptional descending skills (check out this video at about 4mins of him coming down the Poggio in pursuit of Argentin). His fastest clocked decent was on the Joux Plane into Morzine at 124 KM/H. So 124 prints in honor of what goes up must go down.
The prints are available for order at our shop here."

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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 now more than 2,700 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.   

Tweed Ride in Rome, This Sunday

Prizes in several catogories: best dressed lady, best dressed gentleman, best bicycle, best moustache, and best picnic cake.

Event website: www.tweedride.it

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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 now more than 2,700 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.   

Fiorenzo Magni Giro d'Italia Tribute Jersey

A classic by Santini for this year:

 

In the pink circles, front and back, are the years Fiorenzo Magni won the Giro d'Italia, '48, '51 and '55; his signature underneath. Wool blend.

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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 now more than 2,700 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.  

Miss Maglia Rosa for 2013 Giro d'Italia, Part II

The contest to select Miss Maglia Rosa for the the 2013 Giro d'Italia is under way and open until 12 April. Balocco, the new Giro d'Italia Maglia Rosa sponsor (after the long run of Estathe' as sponsor), is holding the contest.  In Italian, the instructions for entering are here.

You can also vote (vota) on this same page once a day for your favorite entrant. Two of the current entrants:

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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 now more than 2,700 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 Monte Grappa Challenge

Just north of Bassano del Grappa in the Veneto is Monte Grappa. A favorite of the disciples of climbing (and descending) Monte Grappa features ten very challenging routes to the top. We've written about the Monte Grappa Challenge event in the past and one of our readers took the challenge last year. Gábor became the first Hungarian to start and finish the 261 km route with 7,241 meters of elevation gain over four of the climbs.

His video, with climb details in English, beginning with the start on the Ponte degli Alpini in Bassano del Grappa :


Thanks Gábor!

The event website is www.montegrappachallenge.org (under maintenance as I write this).


Other related stories in ICJ about cycling Monte Grappa:
Ride Report: 2010 Monte Grappa Grappa Challenge
Too Much Monte Grappa
Climbing the Jump of the Goat
Il Salto de la Capra (Pinarello video)
NFL Linebacker Tackles Gran Fondo del Monte Grappa

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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 now more than 2,700 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.  

You Rather Ride for 3 Weeks in Italy.......

.......instead of being in the Carovana for 3 weeks?

Eros Poli is seeking a few more riders for his possibly one-off adventure of a three week tour of Italy from September 1 to 25, 2013.  The program is as follows according to Eros:

"Come and ride with me Eros Poli and let me help you discover ‘La Dolce Vita’ Italian style as only we Italians know how!

We leave from Cinque Terre and cycle down the Mediterranean coast, through Tuscany and continue along the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea to Rome. Here we are going to visit the ancient Roman villas of antique Ostia before climbing back on our bikes and cycling on to Naples.

After crossing the Gulf of Naples by boat and visiting Pompei we ride south to Puglia where you will discover the Trulli of Alberobello and taste the real italian ‘Bruschetta’ made with the famous Altamura bread that will obviously be accompanied by one of their famous local wines!

From Altamura we will move on towards Vieste, abandoning the coast to climb north through the center of Italy to Chieti and L'Aquila where we take a well deserved rest day.

The last 5 stages we will pass through the beautiful historical towns of Spoleto, Assisi, Urbino and on the second last day we arrive in Cesenatico, the birthplace of Marco Pantani. Here I would like to take a few minutes to say hello by visiting is tomb..

After visiting Marco we will transfer immediately to Chioggia, a Venetian town that not only reminds us of what Venice would have been like 50-60 years ago but is also famous for its prosperous fishing in the Adriatic.

The last stage: the final parade into Venice, along with our bikes we will board a water taxi in Chioggia that will take us to the island of Pellestrina where for lunch we are expected for succulent fried seafood and a cold beer.

From Pellestrina on our bikes we ride to catch the ferry that takes us to Venice where to conclude our magnificent adventure I have been given special permission to have our photos taken as an awesome souvenir in Piazza San Marco.

In the evening we will have our gala dinner."

There are also possibilities of shorter versions within the schedule. All details, including day by day stage information, contact information, at www.eros-poli.com.

To those that have not been following the blog for a long time, Eros Poli is best known for his Mont Ventoux Tour de France stage victory of 1994. He is also an Olympic Gold medalist (LA 1984), World Champion, and National Champion. Eros lives in Verona.



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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 now more than 2,700 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.  

 

Want to be Part of Giro d'Italia Carovana?

La Carovana, the publicity caravan that proceeds the riders on the course, became part of the Giro for the first time in 1933. Now, it's also become a rolling party. If you want to be part of the Carovana for the 2013 Giro d'Italia you must apply before 10 April. Before getting into the details watch:


If you don't have a commitment for the month of May here are the details for the volunteers being sought by Giro organizer RCS Sport:

- photojournalist with own equipment
- steward and hostesses with entertainment skills
- drivers
- aspiring models

Applicants should be under 27 years old. Send your CV with a photo to giroditalia AT rcs DOT it specifying in the subject "Candidatura per Carovana Pubblicitaria - Hostess/Steward/Driver/Modella etc". The announcement for candidates is in Italian which suggests you need Italian language skills.

The selection proess will begin immediately after 10 April.

All costs of room and board will be provided by RCS.

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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 now more than 2,700 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 Milan-Sanremo Results

Cold, rain, sleet and snow had the effect of dramatically changing the 104th edition of Milan-Sanremo. A race, in two parts for survivors that produced a surprise winner on a shortened route of 245 km rather than than the normal 298 km .

To win in Sanremo you have to take risks or be prepared to lose: and that's how German Gerald Ciolek (MTN - Qhubeka) took advantage of Sagan and sneaked past him over the finish line. "It's incredible," Ciolek kept repeating. "An amazing win for me and my team. A great day. We were invited to the race and now we can bask in the winner's glory. I knew I had to tail the best riders up the Poggio and the plan worked out perfectly." Cancellara rounded out the podium saying, "We're all winners today".

Snow on the Turchino climb forced the race director to cancel the biggest, and first climb, of MSR. The race was neutralized from the 117km to 163 km points as cyclists bordered their team buses in Ovada to bypass the Turchino. At the time the race was neutralized there was a breakaway with a 7'10" lead that contained Matteo Montaguti (AG2R La Mondiale), Diego Rosa (Androni), Filippo Fortin (Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox), Maxim Belkov (Katusha), Lars Bak (Lotto) and Pablo Lastras (Movistar) leading the race.

See photographs by Jered Gruber of the conditions in Ovada here. Obviously, continuing to the Turchino was impossible. Taylor Phinney's photo of himself ice covered once on the bus:

The restart was then held in Cogoleto with the breakaway group being giving the start flag and the peloton being held for 7'10" before being allowed to start. Some riders would not start again, among them Tom Boonen.

The break was caught with 30km to go and before the Cipressa. Varrious attacks took place on the Cipressa and Poggio but with 2km to go the race was down to Ciolek, Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale, Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack Leopard, Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma Quick Step, Luca Paolini (Ita) Team Katusha, and Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Pro Cycling

The last 10km (in French):


The last 3km (in English):


Top 10 GC:

1 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN-Qhubeka 5:37:20
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Cannondale Pro Cycling
3 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) RadioShack Leopard
4 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team
5 Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha
6 Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Procycling
7 Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing Team
8 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha 0:00:14
9 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team
10 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Sky Procycling

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