Thursday, May 28, 2015

Best Private Bicycle Collection?


More than 600 track and road bikes, more photos and the story here. It's fun looking through all the photos and trying to identify all the brands, how the bikes are built up, etc. It's amazing. 


A roomful of Colnagos

A rare, complete, Bianchi C4

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories 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.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Campagnolo, the revolution continues



Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories 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.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

DIVO bikes from Verona


DIVO bikes designed by Pietro Caucchioli from FilMotion // Luca Carton on Vimeo.

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories 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.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

2015 Giro d'Italia Jerseys


​For the last 20 years Santini Maglificio Sportivo, this year celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, has developed the jerseys for the Giro d’Italia, guaranteeing that all the apparel of the Corsa Rosa continues to have a true Italian soul.



This year the jerseys were designed by Lebole, a menswear fashion brand synonymous with elegance and Italian style, whilst being produced by Santini.

This year sponsorship of the four classification jerseys are as follows - the Pink Jersey, distinguishing the overall leader, is sponsored Balocco; the Blue Jersey, denoting the leader of the mountains classification is sponsored by Banca Mediolanum; the Red Jersey denoting the leader of the points classification is sponsored by Algida and the White Jersey reserved for the best young rider under 25 is sponsored Eurospin.

Aside from all four classification jerseys, Santini has created a special capsule collection of jerseys dedicated the Giro d’Italia. This collection features one very special garment: the legendary Maglia Nera - Black Jersey.


There was a time in the history of the Giro d’Italia when the competition to finish first was not the only prize on offer. The honor and glory justly reserved for the race winner was at one point curiously also handed out to the race loser. The rider who obtained this “reverse” result was granted the honor of wearing the Black Jersey; an award that was instituted in 1946 and continued until 1951 (Giovanni Pinarello won it in 1951). Within its short lived existence the race for the Black Jersey provided countless surprising and often charming strategies to obtain this prize. It was commonplace for riders to fake punctures, contrive mechanical problems and employ various other underhanded strategies designed to enable them to cross the finish line last. The blurred line between truth and legend doesn’t matter, what is certain is that the Maglia Nera will always remain a true symbol of cycling history. An era that Santini wanted to honor by creating a version of the Black Jersey for all fans of cycling.

In addition to the legendary Black Jersey Santini wanted to include in its new capsule collection a series of jerseys that paid homage to specific stages of the 2015 Giro d’Italia; basing the designs of these four unique garments around the history and landscapes associated with these special stages of the 2015 race.


In the first stage from LORENZO AL MARE to SANREMO, riders will be faced with a very challenging team time trial - running along 17.6 km of beautiful Ligurian coastline from San Lorenzo al Mare to San Remo. As such Santini has devoted a jersey specifically to this stage, referencing the colors of the sea while celebrating the unique and inimitable Italian Riviera.

The first uphill finish of the 2015 Giro, stage five from LA SPEZIA to ABETONE, will see the athletes tackling 17.3km of climbing, the last part of which will see them face a finish into town of Abetone, sitting at a height of 928 meters above sea level. The jersey commemorating the finish into Abetone not only references the beautiful mountain landscape but also notes the town’s relationship to Giacomo Puccini, the famous Italian composer who in 1903 whilst living in the area wrote a large portion of his masterpiece Madame Butterfly; referenced on the jersey by the red butterfly and subtle tree pattern.

The third jersey celebrates the return after 23 years of a Giro stage into Imola, centred on the truly prestigious venue of the Autodromo Ferrari. Stage ​eleven from FORLÌ to IMOLA will not be easy; before entering the velodrome the riders will have to negotiate the same roads as used for the 1968 World Championships won by Vittorio Adorni. The flame red jersey that celebrates this stage exudes references to true Italian style and speed, perfectly capturing the essence of the Giro d’Italia.

Finally, the fourth jersey, is dedicated to stage ​fourteen, TREVISO to VALDOBBIADENE - the punishing individual time trial that covers 59.2km in total. The setting of this stage will leave you breathless. A combination of flat and hilly sections that wind through the vineyards of the beloved Prosecco landscape; a true symbol of Italian identity worthy of being celebrated. Therefore, the jersey dedicated to this stage plays on the colors associated with a bottle of Prosecco.

For more information please visit:  www.santinisms.it/giro15

After a rest day yesterday the Giro resumes today with Stage 10, Civitanova Marche - Forlì, 200 flat kilometers. The race jersey holders at the start:

MAGLIA ROSA – BALOCCO – Alberto Contador (TINKOFF SAXO)
MAGLIA ROSSA – ALGIDA – Elia Viviani (TEAM SKY)
MAGLIA AZZURRA – BANCA MEDIOLANUM – Simon Geschke (TEAM GIANT - ALPECIN)
MAGLIA BIANCA – EUROSPIN – Fabio Aru (ASTANA PRO TEAM)



Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories 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.      

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Passo dello Stelvio Events


Several events are on the 2015 calendar which involve the Passo dello Stevlio, from the Granfondo Stelvio Santini (7 June) to the Scalata Cima Coppi (29 August):



1. Granfondo Stelvio Santini, 7 June





2. Passo dello Stelvio/Golazo, 11-13 June






3. Re Stelvio Mapei 2015, 12 July






Valtellina Extreme Brevet 2014 Slideshow from KY on Vimeo.
4. Valtellina Extrême Brevet, 20-21 June





5. Stelvio Challenge, 26 June






6. Scalata Cima Coppi, 29 August

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories 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.    

Monday, May 11, 2015

Ride with Miguel Indurain June 22-26 in the Dolomites



As part of inGamba's partnership with Pinarello and Hotel La Perla, inGamba is offering an exclusive opportunity to ride with Miguel Indurain this summer June 22-26, surrounded by the splendor of the Dolomites.

The package Includes:

• Miguel Indurain (5-time Tour de France Winner) led daily ride
• Pinarello Dogma F8 bike with Shimano Di2 and Zipp wheels
• A professional mechanic to fine tune and wash your bike daily
• Team car support on rides with mechanic
• Professional cycling soigneur for post ride massages
• Daily prepared ride food including energy drinks, bars and gels
• Garmin 810 with pre-downloaded routes or files for your GPS
• Pocket size ride map with daily ride and elevation profile
• Recovery drink and light lunch upon return to Pinarello Dogma lounge
• A Giordana FR-C Cycling kit with jersey and bib shorts
• Daily wash & fold service for your riding kit

You can find out more about this unforgettable experience here.

La Perla in Corvara

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories 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.    





Thursday, May 7, 2015

Get Ready for the 2015 Giro d'Italia!

The 98th Giro d’Italia, organized by RCS Sport/La Gazzetta dello Sport, begins on Saturday, 9 May and lasts until 31 May, 2015.

The philosophy behind the race route is balance, in line with recent years, with fewer transfers and an approach geared up for modern cycling. In summary: 1 team time trial, 1 individual time trial, 5 high mountain stages, 7 flatter stages and 7 medium mountain stages. Tthe 2015 Giro starts near Sanremo in Riviera dei Fiori (Liguria) and finishes in Milan.


THE 98TH GIRO D’ITALIA IN NUMBERS

1 – National border crossing (Switzerland)
2 – Rest Days (Monday 18 May, Monday 25 May)
4 – Giro race starts in Liguria (Genoa 1980, 1992, 2004; Sanremo 1987)
5 – Mountain stages (Fiuggi-Campitello Matese, Marostica-Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo-Aprica, Gravellona Toce-Cervinia, Saint Vincent-Sestriere)
7 – Sprint stages (Albenga-Genova, Montecatini Terme-Castiglione della Pescaia, Grosseto-Fiuggi, Civitanova Marche-Forlì, Montecchio Maggiore-Jesolo, Tirano-Lugano, Turin-Milan);
7 – Medium mountain stages (Rapallo-Sestri Levante, Chiavari-La Spezia, La Spezia-Abetone, Benevento-San Giorgio del Sannio, Forlì-Imola (Enzo & Dino Ferrari Autodrome), Imola-Vicenza (Monte Berico), Melide-Verbania)
7 – Uphill finishes (Abetone, Campitello Matese, Vicenza (Monte Berico), Madonna di Campiglio, Aprica, Cervinia, Sestriere)
29 – Overall Giro d’Italia wins by non-Italians
68 – Overall Giro d’Italia wins by Italians
76.8 – Kilometres of time trials (17.6 km “Riviera dei Fiori” team time trial, 59,2 individual time trial Treviso - Valdobbiadene)
136 – Length of the two shortest road stages in kilometers (Rapallo-Sestri Levante, Tirano-Lugano)
152 – Kilometers in the stage dedicated to Gino Bartali, La Spezia – Abetone
263 – Kilometers in the longest stage (Grosseto – Fiuggi)
1,854 – the altitude, in meters, of the Mortirolo, the Montagna Pantani in the 2015 Giro
2,178 – the altitude, in meters, of the Colle delle Finestre, the Cima Coppi in the 2015 Giro
3,481.8 - the total length of the Giro, in kilometers
43,000 – vertical meters climbed during the 2015 Giro




TELEVISION COVERAGE

The Giro will be televised around the world in 171 countries.

Italy

Long-standing host broadcaster Rai (Radio Televisione Italiana) will dedicate many hours of airtime to the Giro d’Italia, starting with three hours of live programming for every stage.

Rai’s live coverage will be in three parts: “Anteprima Giro” on RaiSport Uno from 14:00 to 15:10 CEST, “Giro in Diretta” on RaiTre and Rai HD between 15:10 and 16:15, and, for the final hour of racing, “Giro all’arrivo” until 17:10. Post-stage commentary and analysis follows in the traditional “Processo alla Tappa,” finishing at 18:00.

90 minutes of edited highlights from each stage will be shown at 22:45 on RaiSport Due, at 06:00 hours the following morning on RaiSport Uno and again at 08:00 on RaiSport Due.

Most days, Rai’s coverage of the forthcoming stage will start with “Giro Mattina”, an hour and a half of live programming from the start village which includes a feature portraying the places of touristic and cultural interest along the race route of the day, and the stage start.

Finally, RaiSport Uno will end the day with two programmes: “TGiro” at 20:00 and “Giro Notte” at 00:30 hours.

In addition, the Corsa Rosa will be streamed live via the internet at www.rai.tv.

Worldwide
The Giro d’Italia will be shown live in 52 territories throughout Europe, Italy included, starting at 14.15 (all times CEST), with live links, on-site interviews and race commentary in 19 languages. In the Old World, the race will also be shown subscription-free in Belgium on the Flemish language channel VRT, in Denmark on TV2, in Spain on TVE, in Switzerland via SRG SSR, in the Netherlands on NOS.

Televisa Deportes Network will show the Giro d’Italia in Mexico and five other Central American nations. ESPN Sur will serve Spanish-speaking South America, working in tandem with its sister channel ESPN Brasil. Canada will be served in English by Sportsnet and in French by RDS.

beIN SPORTS has exclusive TV rights to the Giro d’Italia in France, the United States of America, and the Middle East and North Africa, with SuperSport serving fans in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In Asia, Eurosport Asia-Pacific will broadcast the Giro d’Italia in 16 territories. J Sports will serve Japan, LeTV will cover the Corsa Rosa in China, while SonyTV will show race highlights in India and seven other nations. TrueVisions will show the race in Thailand and FPT Telecom will do the same in Vietnam.

The Australian public service broadcaster SBS will broadcast all 21 stages live. Fox Sports will show highlights in Australia, while Sky New Zealand will broadcast the race live for viewers on the other side of the Tasman Sea.

News footage of the Corsa Rosa will be distributed by SNTV (Sports News Television) and Sport24, the 24-hour sports channel for aircraft and cruise ship passengers.



ON-BIKE FOOTAGE AT THIS YEAR'S GIRO


RCS Sport and the Velon group of WorldTour teams today announced an agreement according to which Velon will deliver on-bike footage at this year's Giro d’Italia.

Footage will be recorded for RCS Sport in eight of the Giro d’Italia’s 21 stages: the team time trial on stage 1, stage 2, a possible sprint finish, the hill stages 4, 9, 12, and 15, and the mountain stages 16 - the Queen Stage, with the forbidding Mortirolo - and 20, with the spectacular Colle delle Finestre.

Velon consists of roughly two thirds of the 17 WorldTour teams. All 11 member teams will be at the Giro d’Italia: BMC Racing Team, Etixx - Quick-Step, Lampre - Merida, Lotto Soudal, Orica GreenEDGE, Team Cannondale - Garmin, Team Giant - Alpecin, Team Lotto NL - Jumbo, Team Sky, Tinkoff - Saxo and Trek Factory Racing.

The teams carrying cameras on each stage will be announced throughout the race.

The agreement allows on-board camera footage to be shown during Giro d'Italia TV coverage and on the event website, digital media sites and social media profiles. The Velon teams may show race highlights on their websites and digital media channels, with images also appearing on the organisation website velon.cc.

RCS Sport's Giro d’Italia Director, Mauro Vegni, said: “It has always been important for us to bring fans close to the action and new technologies are making it possible to bring them into the peloton and show the Giro d’Italia, the hardest race in the world's most beautiful place, in a whole new perspective to fans all around the world.”

Graham Bartlett, CEO of Velon said: “RCS Sport have really got behind this project and we’re delighted to work with them on such an important race. The eight stages chosen will give a great insight into what it takes to win both stages and jerseys in a Grand Tour and we can’t wait to see the results.”

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories 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.    

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Passo delle Erbe, Car Free on June 28th




For the first time, during Börz-Plose Bike Day, the beautiful Passo delle Erbe will be open to cyclists car-free. This is a non-competitive event.

"Börz"» is the original Ladin name for Passo delle Erbe, which is located at the foot of Mount Putia with its magnificent view. The different access roads to it from Antermoia in Badia valley, Luson, S. Pietro in Funes valley and S. Andrea create a perfectly round circuit.

The most challenging climb starts in Luson towards Passo delle Erbe with a height difference of 1.023 m in 14 km and a maximum gradient of 15 %.

The roads will be closed to all motorized vehicles for 61.8 km between 9.30 am and 3.00 pm. Everyone is invited to take part in this cycling event and is free to choose where and when to start. The only suggestion is to cycle possibly clockwise.


 Passo delle Erbe photo: by PatitucciPhoto (take a look!)

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories 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.    

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Cipollini Bike Academy in Sardinia



Forte Village Resort, the pearl of southern Sardinia. Mario Cipollini one of the best sprinters ever.

What do they have in common? A combination that will be successful, two appointments not to be missed for those who love cycling: the Forte Village Bike Academy by Mario Cipollini.

From 13th to 19th and from 20th to 26th June, participants will be guided by the champion in the best methodologies of training, nutrition and technique.

It will also be possible to rent a MCipollini bike.

Since I happen to own a Max Lelli "Team" bike (great bike btw) I should mention that Max will also have a camp there September 20 to 23 and September 24 to 29.

Registration and contact information here.

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is now based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories 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.