ITALIAN CYCLING JOURNAL

Colombia Coldeportes' Climbers Try Punta Veleno

2012-01-30T07:25:00.000-08:00

Team Colombia Coldeportes, the Colombian (but Italy-based) professional Bianchi-riding team led by General Manager Claudio Corti, began a one week training camp on January 27th in the Trentino region. Their base is in Torbole sul Garda, at the northern end of Lake Garda.

Today, they rode the Punto Veleno climb which will be in the 2012 Giro del Trentino, being held April 17th-20th; Punto Veleno will be on stage 3 on April 19th. It will be the first time a professional race features the Punta Veleno (Poison Point), rated one of the toughest climbs in Europe. It was first considered for inclusion in a stage for the Giro d'Italia in 1972 by Vincenzo Torriani, director of the Giro d'Italia from 1949 to 1989, but after visiting it he decided it was too hard. The 8 km climb begins near Lake Garda in Castello di Brenzone, between Bardolino and Malcesine. Steep sections can be from 15% to 18%, and even more than 20%. See video here we published earlier; Eros Poli recounted his experience here.

The riders could not ride all the way to the top today as the summit was blocked by snow. Gibo Simoni, who accompanied the Colombians, said, "I didn't know this climb, I did it for the first time today. I was really impressed with it. I am sure that here at the Giro del Trentino we will see a beautiful stage, and that one day soon the we could see it in the Giro d'Italia."

Photos: Colombia Coldeportes training in Torbole

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,300 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.

Tutte Le Maglie Rosa, dal 1931 ad oggi

2012-01-29T16:17:00.000-08:00

Tutte Le Maglie Rosa, dal 1931 ad oggi: All the Pink Jerseys, from 1931 to today.

This is the project begun by Fiorenzo Magni to collect a pink jersey from every Giro d'Italia since 1931 for the Museo del Ghisallo . Why 1931? The pink jersey was introduced that year as the race leader's jersey and the first to wear it was Learco Guerra.

The latest pink jersey to be donated is that of Giovanni Battaglin who won the 1981 Giro d'Italia. Battaglin is only one of three riders that have won the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta in the same year, joining Eddy Merckx and Alberto Contador in that achievement. Keep in mind that back in 1981 the Vuelta preceeded the Giro d'Italia and the Giro started only 3 days after the Vuelta finished.

The jersey was contributed by Loriano Gragnoli (below), founder and president of the Ivan Basso Fan Club. He had obtained the jersey from his friend Alfredo Chinetti.

Twenty-seven jerseys have now been collected for the museum.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Pavarotti's " Nessun Dorma" vs. Mortensen's "Beautiful Italy"

2012-01-28T15:13:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the correct title should be "How Much Has Changed from the 1980s to 2012"?

My thanks to Larry and Heather, CycleItalia, for mentioning an old promo for the Giro which featured Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma with a rider riding off into heaven. The promo, from the 1980s, does live on on youtube:

If you missed the blog entry from Thursday, this is official music video of the 2012 Giro d'Italia, "Beautiful Italy", sung by Danish jazz singer Malene Mortensen:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Photo: 2012 De Rosa Protos

2012-01-27T20:03:00.000-08:00

A photo of the new top of the line ("top di gamma" in Italian) Protos was unveiled today. More to come....

Click on photo to enlarge.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Sneak Preview: MCipollini-Giambenini-Gauss Women's Team Jersey

2012-01-27T13:36:00.000-08:00

Sneak preview of the new jersey design, I presume without the tuxedo jacket, for 2012:

The first appointment for the team on the racing calendar is the Ladies Tour of Qatar, 1 to 3 February.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Giro d'Italia 2012 Music Video "Beautiful Italy"

2012-01-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

You're hearing/seeing it here, probably, first: The official music video of the 2012 Giro d'Italia, "Beautiful Italy", sung by Danish jazz singer Malene Mortensen:

Ironic: Stefano Garzelli is in the video but his team wasn't selected.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 Strade Bianche: 14 Teams Invited

2012-01-26T07:29:00.000-08:00

Fourteen teams have been invited to the 2012 Strade Bianche professional race on March 3rd. The start is in Gaiole in Chianti and the finish is in Piazza del Campo in Siena.

Each team will have 8 riders, the teams as follows:

UCI ProTeams:
Astana Pro Team (KAZ)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Garmin – Cervelo (USA)
Lampre – ISD (ITA)
Liquigas – Cannondale (ITA)
Movistar Team (ESP)
Radioshack – Nissan (LUX)

UCI Professional Continental Teams:
Acqua & Sapone (ITA)
Colombia – Coldeportes (COL)
Colnago – CSF Inox (IRL)
Farnese Vini (GBR)
Project 1T4I (NED)
Rusvelo (RUS)
Team Type 1 - SANOFI (USA)

Past winners of the race:
2007: Alexandr Kolobnev
2008: Fabian Cancellara
2009: Thomas Lovkvist
2010: Maxim Iglinskiy
2011: Philippe Gilbert

Use the search feature on right margin with "strade bianche" to find past stories and photos.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Origin(s) of Bianchi Celeste, and more, Part II

2012-01-26T05:51:00.001-08:00

If you read the comments in yesterday's entry about the origins of Bianchi celeste you would have discovered that the "Ugly Truth" Bianchi ad was a spoof by prollyisnotprobably.

Today, Rory, who writes an excellent blog, posted a scan (above) of the original Bianchi ad from 1984 in which Bianchi asked if they should keep celeste, color #227, or change it. Rory also provides another version of the origin of celeste and a few a couple of more Bianchi ad scans.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Origin(s) of Bianchi Celeste, and more

2012-01-25T02:39:00.000-08:00

BikeRadar recently had an article about a visit to Bianchi in Treviglio, outside Milan. I found the section about the origin of Bianchi "celeste" interesting:

"This Bianchi celeste green has many stories behind it. One tale spins it as the turquoise color of the Milan's sky, another suggest that it was the eye color of the former queen of Italy for whom Edoardo made a bicycle. The latter story is likely pure myth as there was never a queen Tiffany of Italy—and neither Queen Margherita of Savoy (for whom the actual Margherita pizza is in fact named) nor her daughter-in-law Elena of Montenegro had turquoise eyes.

The truth is less inspiring, but no less interesting. The most likely origin of the paint is that it was a mixture of surplus military paint from the First World War, it was cut with white in order to tone down its martial nature. Regardless, this color continues to evoke the tradition that is Bianchi, and in that is quite inspiring for riders of the famous bicycles."

While not mentioned in the article, at one point Bianchi considered changing their famous color (click to enlarge):

And, while we are at it here is a short video showing how Bianchi assembles bikes (virtually all bike production is in Asia now), not an assembly line process but each one is assembled individually; also, some frame testing:

Bianchi Movie from Bianchi on Vimeo.

By the way, frame testing in 1981:
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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

EU Studies "Parasitic Copying"

2012-01-24T17:33:00.000-08:00

"The rapidly growing number of frame copycats was a much discussed topic at last December’s Taichung Bike Week. In particular carbon frame makers are faced with more and more patent infringements and outright copies. To fight such unlawful competition the European Union published a report on the existing legal protection in the EU member states against “parasitic copying”.

One of the aims of this study, conducted by Hogan Lovells International LLP, was to identify whether the current protection available to brand owners to prevent parasitic copying is sufficient to ensure free and effective competition.

According to this study the differences in the legal regimes between EU member states allow parasitic copying to flourish in some countries better than others where it is more controlled. Such legal differences exist despite the harmonization of the registered trade marks and industrial designs since the establishment of the EU internal market in 1993.

Even though the protection available in all member states should be identical in respect of trade mark law the approaches to deal with common problems differ across the EU. The reasons why they differ may depend on how such an issue was historically dealt with in each country but also on how EU law has been interpreted.

As a result of the legal diversity the rights of trade mark holders are inconsistent and lead to different results in different Member States. The study, published mid January, provides the basis for a new reflection on the adequacy of the current legal framework throughout the European Union.

The study recommends that any parasitic copying legislation should include a clear and precise indication of its aims and objectives to make it entirely clear to a member state when the approach it had previously adopted is insufficient and/or inapplicable. Next to that specialist courts should be the only judicial arena in which claims relating to parasitic copying claims are heard."

Source: BIKE EUROPE

Pinarello is one of the most respected brands that has a huge problem, we've written here about it. FAKE:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Mud and More Mud in Namur

2012-01-24T06:13:00.000-08:00

4ème Manche de CDM cyclo-cross from Petitesreines on Vimeo.

Women's cyclocross racing in round 4 of the 2011 UCI World Cup in Namur, Belgium. Won by World Champion Marianne Vos with glimpses of the Italians in this muddy race. The highest placed Italian was Eva Lechner in 6th. Also racing for Italy were Vania Rossi (Riccardo Rossi's partner) and Alice Maria Alzuffi.

A "Bravo!" to "Petitesreines" for his video and editing skills. Don't forget to turn up the volume.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Fuctional Artistry

2012-01-23T08:26:00.000-08:00

Vintage Cinelli track stem.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Lampre-ISD Training in San Vincenzo, New TT Bikes

2012-01-23T05:02:00.000-08:00

Fourteen Lampre-ISD riders (Cunego, Scarponi, Bertagnolli, Ulissi, Stortoni, Niemiec, Bono, Possoni, Pietropolli, Marzano, Buts, Mori, Spezialetti and Righi) that have been training in San Vincenzo (Livorno), staying at the Residence Riva degli Etruschi, concluded a seven day training camp yesterday.

The training was split into two groups: one group, which includes Scarponi and Ulissi train with long rides (up to 175 km/6 hours); the second group, with Cunego, focus on intensity. Both groups have also been working on strengthening their climbing.

In addition, everyone worked on their position on the new Wilier "Twin Foil" TT bikes that the team will use this year:

Closeups of the Twin Foil design, the name comes from twin fork blades (more photos here):

Michele Scarponi is focusing his training on preparing for Tirreno-Adriatico and the Ardenne Classics. He hasn't yet decided if he will race the Giro d'Italia or Tour de France saying, "The choice is still open. I'm training in order to prepare for only one of these two appointments, my friend and champion Contador recently asserted that is very difficult to be competitive in both races."

The team's first competition in Italy will be the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria, February 11 and 12.

Photos: Lampre-ISD training courtesy Roberto Sardelli , used with permission, photos ©

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

L'Eroica 2011: The Boys from Sheffield

2012-01-21T12:24:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Marco Mori for his video of the 2011 L'Eroica in which he participated with friends from Sheffield, England. After a career in the travel industry he decided to start his own cycling tour operation, GustoCycling, in 2009.

The video starts with a narrow screen into but soon goes widescreen so stay with it...

Marco had previously written in with his story of "In Search of a L'Eroica Bike".

Registration for the 2012 L'Eroica opens March 1st, read more here. GustoCycling L'Eroica offering for this year 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, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Cicli Paletti and Cervélo

2012-01-20T06:01:00.000-08:00

There has been lots of buzz about Cervélo's new P5 time trial bike. Much of the buzz is about the hydraulic brakes and how brake caliper is integrated inside an aerodynamic shroud (on the tri-specific version of its new P5).

Back in 2009 I wrote about Cicli Paletti's "Integrated Brake System" and published these photographs:

Paletti also had a rear brake shroud but it was not nearly as elegant as the front brake implementation, see here.

Expect to see the new Cervélo P5 in the Tour de France under the Garmin-Barracuda team.

Photo: Cervélo: Tom Ballard / Future Publishing

First Tour Victory for Campagnolo "EPS"

2012-01-19T06:05:00.000-08:00

Although there have been tour victories before with Campagnolo electronic shifting the first victory with the production version, EPS (Electronic Power Shift), came this week on the first stage of the Tour Down Under.

Andre Greipel, rider for the Lotto-Belisol team, was able able to win the final sprint ahead of Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD); Petacchi was also using EPS.

The only other WorldTour team using Campagnolo is Movistar. Of the 18 WorldTour teams the gruppo use is:
Campagnolo: 3
SRAM: 5
Shimano: 10

Several Campagnolo EPS videos in this previous blog entry, Campagnolo EPS, the Videos

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 ExpoBici

2012-01-18T06:17:00.000-08:00

2012 BiciExpo: September 22-24, 2012, at the PadovaFiere, Padova

Last year confirmed that ExpoBici had become "the" fair of the cycling industry in Italy: 42,000 visitors represented a 20% growth over the previous year and a 120% growth since the first edition just four years ago. The number of exhibitors have tripled since 2008, now numbering 500 between companies and brands; the exhibit space has tripled form 10,000 to 30,000 square meters and the outdoor demo space has increased to 7,000 square meters.

Photos: 2011 ExpoBici

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Milan Bicycle Exhibition Moves to Verona

2012-01-17T18:44:00.000-08:00

The "International Bicycle Exhibition" (or Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo e Accessori) as it is officially known, held in Milano for seemingly forever, will be moving to Verona at the Veronafiere grounds for at least for this year. The dates are September 15th to the 17th. The EICA (formerly EICMA) has said it has been working since 2010 on a new vision for the show.

The following have already committed to participating: Atala, Bianchi, Carrera-Podium, Campagnolo, Campagnolo Sportswear, Carraro, Cicli Montante, Cinelli, Colnago, Deda Elementi, Dedacciai, De Rosa, F.lli Masciaghi, Focus Italia, FSA, Fulcrum Wheels, Giant Italia, Gruppo, Limar, Kuota, Mic-Shimano, Mario Schiano, Montana, Nalini, Olmo, Santini Maglificio Sportivo, Selle San Marco, Selle Smp, Scott Italia, Specialized Italia, Trek Italy, and Wilier Triestina.

Plans are to allow road bike test rides directly from the exhibition grounds to a loop on the "Torricelle", a hill that overlooks Verona; the hill road was used in the 1999 and 2004 World Championships. There will also be a mtb demo area at the Torricelle.

The Milan Exhibition has seen much greater competition from the new expo-kid on the block: the BiciExpo in Padova. I think the EICA was finally compelled to do something new to respond to the growth of BiciExpo. BiciExpo is projecting to have 500 exhibitors this year at their show the weekend following Verona, from September 22nd to 24th.
If you like bike shows it might be a good time to visit the Veneto region for the shows and some riding.

More about ExpoBici tomorrow.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Driven by Marketing the Giro Points to Globalization

2012-01-17T12:59:00.000-08:00

Interesting, perhaps troubling, comments as they relate to German team NetApp being selected as the last wild card team for the 2012 Giro d'Italia, made by race director Mauro Vegni (see Michele Acquarone, Managing Director at RCS Sports, comments here).

"For some years now the Giro d'Italia has been aiming to be an international product: we need the Giro to be loved not only in Italy but also in the rest of the world. If we go somewhere in Europe, for example, the Giro d'Italia means little or nothing.

This year the wild cards protected the Italian heritage from the point of view of the presence of Androni-CIPI, who had won the Italian Championship last year, Farnese-Selle Italia and Colnago CSF. The selection of the fourth team was based upon a criteria related to marketing areas that are important to us, such as Germany. There was anger about the exclusion of Acqua&Sapone: from a purely technical point of of view the team is more capable than NetApp but in terms of the German market that NetApp opens to us we decided to invite NetApp. We received fourteen requests for invitations to the Giro. There were other teams that from a sporting point of view deserved to be selected more than NetApp but we wanted to select a team not only from a sporting view but also one that followed our marketing logic to make the Giro more international."

Team NetApp:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

A Short Morning Ride to the Sea

2012-01-16T06:04:00.000-08:00

Thanks to JJ for contributing this story of his ride yesterday, January 15th, from Siena to Grosseto.

A Short Morning Ride to the Sea

"Today I took a ride to the sea with Riccardo. The plan was very simple - meet in Siena with our bikes, take a gentle stroll downhill from Siena to Grosseto. Siena being about 300 m above sea level and Grosseto on the coast it should be a gentle downhill trot for about 60 miles, taking in the old Siena-Grosseto road. There is a new Siena-Grosseto road which is a superstrada (motorway) but the old road was built many moons ago, well I think somewhere around 30 years ago and in some places is excellent. In other places it is terrible and single carriageway, there are places where work carries on slowly and my Riccardo tells me that this work seems to have been going on for 25 years or so with great promises that one day all will be dualed. However, after taking in this old road I now appreciate the benefit of this road, also for some of it you can see the Siena-Grosseto superstrada from below, pinned up in the air some 200 metres up and now I see the majesty of it.

It certainly started very well, we met at 09:00 with the sun shining, despite plenty of frost on the ground and temperatures around freezing.Overnight I had changed my wheels. My Scott Addict SL, full carbon with Dura Ace and carbon Mavic SSC wheels was starting to feel really unstable in the wet/cold. I changed the front wheel for a Shimano RS-10, changed tyres on both the front and the back, and instantly the bike feels much much more stable. Go figure - I changed a pair of 800 GBP wheels for a pair of 80 GBP wheels and instantly they feel better - I think I need some work and testing on my set up!

It certainly started very well, we met at 09:00 with the sun shining, despite plenty of frost on the ground and temperatures around freezing. Overnight I had changed my wheels. My Scott Addict SL, full carbon with Dura Ace and carbon Mavic SSC wheels was starting to feel really unstable in the wet/cold. I changed the front wheel for a Shimano RS-10, changed tyres on both the front and the back, and instantly the bike feels much much more stable. Go figure - I changed a pair of 800 GBP wheels for a pair of 80 GBP wheels and instantly they feel better - I think I need some work and testing on my set up!

So, with new tyres and front wheel, plus ice and road water (guazze!) I was taking it slowly. The route started well, taking in some beautiful countryside over towards Casciano di Murlo and where I took my massive spill on my second trip on my Scott.

Further down the road we found some trees that had been stripped for cork - presumably the cork oak. Apparently they strip the bark off the trees and process it. You can see the trees with the brown bits showing above. Apparently it doesn't damage the trees and grows back quickly. I had never seen it before.

Corks here in Italy are almost exactly the reverse of the UK. In the UK, the better wines have swapped to either plastic corks or screw caps, and the only ones that you find with "real" cork seem to be the cheaper wines. Apparently, there is a high risk of tainting or spoiling from cork, and this is much reduced with screw caps or plastics. I guess this is an example of not increasing the mean, but reducing the standard deviation. Here in Italy, the reverse is still true. All decent wines have cork and the only ones that have screw caps or plastic corks are the very cheapest available. I guess this is reflective of both the traditional methods that are preferred by the Italians and the trend. I know full well that expensive Italian wines in the UK can be supplied with plastic corks, so maybe it is just a trend and that the importer or purchaser can define to the vinery which material can be used.

Further on we stumbled across Bagni di Petriolo. I had heard about it many times, there is a big hotel spa which I have absolutely no interest in, but I had heard that there were places where you can just sit in the river and enjoy it. We had looked for it when we were on the superstrada to Grosseto but never succeeded, and here it is - on the old Grosseto road. As we were approaching we starting to smell the familiar egginess and then it really hit us. Of course we had to get off and have a look.

So, I'm very happy to have found this - and only 23 miles from Siena too. I prefer them at this time of year. Last year I was in one in January for a management course and it was excellent - swimming and paddling with a view of the snow on Mont Amiata. Plus about 10 years ago I was in one of the famous ones in Budapest (where Bobby Fisher used to play chess) in February, and it was great to be there outside in the warmth with snow falling on your face!

Climbing out of Bagni di Petriolo we hit some brutal climbs, and we hit them hard! The signs were saying 20% climb, and we hoped it would be 500 m or so, but it carried on and on for about 5 km before calming down a little. It was icy too, and a little wet so it was tough. Really tough. I would say that these were the toughest climbs that I have ever ridden and that includes the full L'Eroica and Mount Etna. My Italian swearing was coming to the fore!

I think I learned something along the route too. When you bomb in the UK we normally say "I'm toast" and during these tough climbs Riccardo told me that the Italians say "dura" or "toste" - so now I am wondering if "toast" comes from "toste" - I shall claim that it does, even if it doesn't!

We carried on as the road slowing winds it's way towards Grosseto, after a while it runs parallel to the main road, but still climbs and descends hard. Finally we arrived into Grosetto feeling pretty pooped, with a very poor average pace. We wanted to sit by the sea, enjoy some spaghetti with sea food, and get on the train back. Then we found out that Grosseto requires a further 10 km to get to the sea, which we just could not face. Then we sauntered over to the train station only to find that there are limited trains on Sundays, so had a 2 hour wait till the next train. Bugger.

We cycled around Grosseto trying to find somewhere nice to eat. But this was 3 pm on a Sunday afternoon and everywhere was shut. I still find it hard to believe that restaurants in Italy close when there are paying customers desperate to eat. Again it is the yin and yang of Italian life that has good and bad points - it can be hard to get things, but then you do not get battered by the relentless commercialism of other places. Yin and yang - there's a balance in there somewhere.

When I have been to Grosseto before I have been going there on the way back from the coast or from the Maremma national parks. We have never stopped long as we cannot find anything nice there, it is quite spectacularly ugly compared to other major Tuscan cities. We found a nice small cathedral and only one cafe that was open, and that was not serving any hot food, except for sandwiches. Anyway, we polished off some toasted (!! I was toast/toste) sandwiches, a hot chocolate and a great pasta for dolcino - almost a creamy choux pastry - happy creamy choux days.

Eventually we got on the train, which pretty much went back the same route we came in on. And it was slow, took over 90 minutes to do the 56 miles we had done. And we had a small run in with the ticket inspector as apparently the kiosk woman in Grosseto had sold us the wrong bike tickets - in Italy you have to buy a bike ticket to take the bike on a train, and then stay in the bike wagon. We had some that were €1.20 but they should have been €3.80 - and we were not in the bike wagon - maybe he was having a bad day?

Anyhow, a great day's riding, but next day we will plan better for the trains, less hills, and look for somewhere a little more populous so that we can eat properly when we arrive - the trip we did on the old road from Florence to Bologna was amazing.

Ciao for now!"

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

A Peek at De Rosa Protos-Black Label

2012-01-15T08:15:00.001-08:00

In addition to this photo (above) from 5 January we now have a few more images courtesy of bikeadelic, the blog dedicated to De Rosa. The Protos, the new top of the line ("top di gamma" in Italian) is supposed to be announced this month.

In this photo we have from left to right the King RS, the to be announced Protos, and a Merak (click on photo to enlarge).
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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Video: "Liquigas-Cannondale, Our Story", Part I

2012-01-13T12:43:00.000-08:00

Liquigas-Cannondale has launched a multi-part video project specially created to give fans and followers of the team an exclusive insight into life with the team. Italian language with English subtitles. Part I, just released:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Win a Formigli Frameset

2012-01-13T07:55:00.000-08:00

Formigli USA is once again having a drawing for a free Formigli frameset from Florence, Italy. The contest open to USA residents only. Entry form 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, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Liquigas-Cannondale Presentation

2012-01-12T16:39:00.000-08:00

The official presentation of the 2012 team took place today in Milan at the headquarters of Citroën Italia. Citroën the car French car manufacturer? Yes, the French car manufacturer is a new partner and will supply the team vehicles for 2012.

If you must know the the Citroëns being provided are ten Citroën C5 Tourer as race cars, two Citroën Jumpy Atlante for transporting the team, and two Citroën C-Crosser as official team cars. I digress...

This year marks the eighth season for Liquigas and which will will open in a few days in Australia at the Tour Down Under, January 17-22.

The team has three leaders: Ivan Basso, Vncenzo Nibali and Peter Sagan. Basso and Nibali will point to stage and overall wins in the grand tours while Sagan, from Slovakia, will point to victories in the one day classics but as part of his development he will start in the Tour de France (he won three stage victories in the Vuelta last year).

For most of the races the riders will use the Cannondale SuperSix EVO. For time trials the team will use the new Slice Aero RS. For the pavé classics, where comfort plays a key role, the team will use the Synapse Hi-MOD with SAVE PLUS, the newly redesigned micro suspension system.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Unione Sportiva Italiana, New York, NY

2012-01-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

An interesting excerpt from the New York Times about the ethnic cycling clubs that existed in New York City in the early part of the last century with reference to the Unione Sportiva Italiana. Founded in 1908 the USI's existence preceded the first Giro d'Italia by one year.

"In the 1880s and 1890s, growing middle-class participation in cycling led to the formation of hundreds of clubs across the United States. The first to form was the Boston Bicycle Club, created on Feb. 11, 1878. The following February saw a club formed in Buffalo, and the first New York City club came in 1880, also in February (something about the cold seemed to drive riders to associate in those days, perhaps for the warmth of the pack).

As the numbers grew, clubs began to develop along ethnic, racial and class lines. This was particularly true in New York and other urban centers, where recent immigrants divided into Italian, German, Belgian and Irish clubs. There was a Harlem Cycling Club, one for Mongolians and even a Norseman’s club, “which I saw somewhere advertised as ‘limited to the sons and daughters of Harold the Fairhaired,’” said Evan Friss, a doctoral candidate in history at the City University of New York, whose dissertation is focused on this period in the history of cycling.

“I’ve seen references to Chinese, Japanese, Polish — almost every ethnic group,” Mr. Friss said.

Of New York’s early ethnic cycling clubs, one of the few remaining today is the Unione Sportiva Italiana. Founded in 1908, U.S.I. became an important booster for amateur bicycle racing in the city and around the country. Though its storefront clubhouse at 37th Street and Eighth Avenue is long gone, the club organizes rides from its current headquarters in Scarsdale (New York)......

......If some clubs served as a marker social class, others proved to be vehicles for assimilation, said Mr. Friss, offering “an opportunity to participate in what was an American phenomenon. They were wheelmen first, cycling like everybody else.”

For example, U.S.I. sponsored Italian immigrants arriving in America, providing them with “the work which had become required for entry into the United States,” according to Ed Cangialosi, one of the club’s current officers."

Full article here.

Photo: Members of the USI outside its storefront headquarters on Eighth Avenue in 1915; the motorcycles were most likely used for pacing.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 L'Eroica Registration Opens March 1st

2012-01-11T07:13:00.001-08:00

Put it on your calendar: Registration for the ever increasing in popularity L'Eroica is set to open on March 1st. Like last year there will be field limits so I recommend registering as soon as the website, www.eroica-ciclismo.it, opens for registration.

The most recent L'Eroica story here was "2011 L'Eroica: Riding with the Heroes". Use the search feature on the right margin to find many more.

Photo: Angelo Ferrillo, more photos 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, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Michele Acquarone Blogs About Wild Card Decision Making

2012-01-11T06:24:00.000-08:00

Michele Acquarone, Managing Director at RCS Sports, writes a blog in Italian in order to provide more transparency into the decision making processes involved in the races that RCS Sports manages (Giro d'Italia, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-Sanremo, and Il Lombardia). An English translation of Acquarone's entry on the wild card process is on www.cyclingnews.com and is as follows:

"January 10 arrived and, as promised, RCS Sport assigned the wild cards for its own races on the UCI WorldTour.

I'd like to make two points to start:

1. I’m very proud to have arrived at a decision in double quick time so that all of the teams involved are now able to plan their own seasons in the best possible way.

2. In theory, there should be a WorldTour calendar for the WorldTour teams and a continental calendar for the second-tier teams. The WorldTour wildcards should be an extra bonus for Professional Continental teams. When I hear it said that there are top-flight teams who “put up” with participation in our races and second-tier teams who threaten to leave cycling because they have received “only” three wildcards and are thus excluded from the Giro d’Italia, it seems clear to me that something is wrong with the system and that it needs to be looked at by those responsible for the sport.

That said, let’s go behind the scenes a little bit to reveal how the wild card invitations were decided. The projects which Mauro Vegni judged to be of the highest value from a sporting point of view were: Farnese Vini-Selle Italia, Colnago-CSF Inox, Androni Giocattoli and Acqua e Sapone, in that order. (Europcar were not considered because they did not present a real candidacy).

The projects that convinced Marco Gobbi from a marketing point of view were: NetApp, Team Type 1-Sanofi and Farnese. Pier Bergonzi, representing Gazzetta dello Sport, defended Italian cycling after a poor season (the worst since 1989, with no successes in the races that count), and pointed out the need to support young Italian riders like never before, in order to bring back enthusiasm to the whole of Italian cycling.

Chapeau to Farnese, who among all the candidates presented the best overall project in terms of commitment, athletes and marketing. They convinced everybody, and personally I hope that this project can permanently become the third force of Italian cycling.

In truth, the Giro d’Italia assigning three wildcards yesterday, given that one place went by right to Androni Giocattoli due to the agreement with the Italian Cycling Federation as the winner of the Coppa Italia classification. Thus, the selections we made were: Farnese and Colnago (technical-sporting) and NetApp (marketing). The latter can give the Giro a big boost in terms of promotion and communication on the German market and elsewhere. The real gamble is on a sporting level – will NetApp succeed in making a good impression in as tough and demanding a race as the Giro? Ralph Denk assures us that they will do a great Giro and we have decided to trust him. At the end of May, we will see how things went.

For Tirreno, the decision went firstly to Farnese and Colnago, and that was a sporting decision. Then we decided to expand to four wildcard teams in order to give Acqua e Sapone and Coldeportes the chance to ride a WorldTour stage race. For Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Lombardy, we are instead happy to have opened the door to teams who had never ridden it before (Project 1t4i, Team Type 1, Utensilnord, Colombia Coldeportes) in order to give an opportunity to all of them.

Looking at things by region, I’m very happy with the response from Germany because the commitment shown by NetApp and Project 1t4i was astounding. I hope that these projects can continue to grow, as this is an excellent signal for the whole world of cycling. Italy is producing some excellent young riders but there is a lack of strategic planning for the future. RCS Sport and its wild card invitations cannot and must not continue to be the cure of all ills (the case of Geox should make us reflect well on that.)

South American fans are very attached to our races, and in 2012 we are happy to be able to give space to Colombia Coldeportes, but also to Androni (Rujano) and Acqua e Sapone (Betancourt) so that South American riders can show their full worth in our WorldTour races. As for China, the Champion System project did not convince either from a sporting or a marketing point of view. It seemed more of a risk than a gamble. They’ll be reconsidered next year. We didn’t receive any real interest from France, Belgium and Spain. Clearly their objectives are (unfortunately?) elsewhere.

I conclude by saying that I personally emerged from the commission with three regrets/disappointments:

1. Denying Garzelli the chance to end his career at the Giro. Stefano is a great champion and a good guy who has had an extraordinary career.

2. Not being able to have the Project 1t4i team at the Giro d’Italia and Tirreno-Adriatico. I’m very happy to see them at Milan-San Remo and Lombardy, but the project is so wide-ranging that I would have liked to have seen them as protagonists in all of our races. On my personal score sheet, they were first in the list. Behind them came Farnese, NetApp and Team Type 1.

3. Indeed, Team Type 1 was the squad most penalised by the decisions taken yesterday. Of course, Milan-San Remo is a prestigious stage and one that guarantees global exposure, but Phil Southerland’s project goes far beyond cycling. I would have liked to have been able to do more to spread their noble message of hope and life. We’ll talk about it again next year."

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Stefano Garzelli Considers Retirement

2012-01-10T16:06:00.000-08:00

Upon receiving the news that his Acqua & Sapone team was not invited to the 2012 Giro d'Italia, Stefano Garzelli issued the following press release:

"I am saddened and disappointed by this news and at this point I have decided to seriously consider the idea of ending my career here.

When the money has the upper hand over sporting merit, and over someone who has been a protagonist for 15 years of joys, sweat and pain, putting on a show for the fans, but also for the organizers, and none of this is taken into account it means that it's time to stop neglecting my family.

In a month my wife will make me a father for the fourth time and without important goals to be achieved, where can I find the motivation to train, go to camp and spend time away from them when, in the end, you find yourself without the possibility of trying to achieve those results for which you have made so many sacrifices?

I know that for a few years I haven't been competitive in the general classification, but in recent editions I have always made a mark, winning an important stage as in 2010 or winning the two green jerseys in 2009 and 2011. This last Giro made me incredibly happy and proud because I exceeded all my personal expectations, and on a course that was harder than I ever raced in an edition of the Giro. A pity not to have won the Gardeccia stage but I'm sure that stage will be long remembered.

Acqua & Sapone is not just me. We have a group of young riders, Betancur at the head, which I would like to teach on the road how to win a race one day, a race fascinating and hard like the Giro. But, this unfortunately I will not be able to do.

I'd like to try to win my tenth stage in the Giro, but this will no longer be possible. In the end I think I'm the only rider who has won a jersey in every special edition of the Giro d'Italia: pink jersey in the Giro del Giubileo (Jubilee Giro, 2000), green jersey in the Giro del Centenario (100th Giro Anniversary, 2009) and another green jersey in the Giro dell'Unità d'Italia (150th anniversary of Italian Unification, 2011)."

Photo: Stefano Garzelli, Stage 16, 2010 Giro d'Italia

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Acqua & Sapone is Furious

2012-01-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

The owners of Acqua & Sapone are furious to have been excluded from the 2012 Giro d'Italia. The news of the exclusion came as a surprise to Enio and Nando Barbarossa, the owners. "If this is the case, after twelve years, perhaps the time has arrived to leave cycling," said Enio Barbarossa. "It's a decision that forces us to seriously think about saying farewell."

The 2012 team had added Danilo DiLuca, who was to be the captain; DiLuca won the Giro in 2005 and was suspended following a positive doping test during the 2009 Giro d'Italia. The team also includes the popular Stefano Garzelli, winner of the 2000 Giro and green jersey (Mountains classification) in 2009 and 2011; Garzelli was also involved in a Giro doping scandal, in 2002.

The team is currently in Francavilla a Mare for its start of season preparations.

Michele Acquarone, Managing Director at RCS Sports, tweeted, "As I already said it's a hard choice: 12 requests for 4 wildcards: 4 teams happy and 8 unhappy, 1/3 fans happy and 2/3 unhappy."

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-Sanremo, Il Lombarida Wild Card Selections

2012-01-10T06:38:00.000-08:00

The wild card teamns for the 2012 editions of Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-Sanremo, and Il Lombardia have also been announced today as follows (Italian teams in bold):

Tirreno – Adriatico, 7-13 March:
Acqua & Sapone (ITA)
Colnago – CSF Inox (IRL)
Colombia – Coldeportes (COL)
Farnese Vini (GBR)

Milano – Sanremo, 17 March:
Acqua & Sapone (ITA)
Colnago – CSF Inox (IRL)
Colombia – Coldeportes (COL)
Farnese Vini (GBR)
Project 1t4I (NED)
Team Type 1 – Sanofi (USA)
Utensilnord Named (IRL)

Il Lombardia, 29 September:
Acqua & Sapone (ITA)
Androni Giocattoli (ITA)
Colnago – CSF Inox (IRL)
Colombia – Coldeportes (COL)
Farnese Vini (GBR)
Project 1t4I (NED)
Utensilnord Named (IRL)

Notably, Acqua & Sapone was selected for these three races but not for the Giro d'Italia. The decision leaves Stefano Garzelli, a popular rider, Giro winner, and two time green jersey winner, out of the Giro.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 Giro d'Italia Wild Cards Selected

2012-01-10T05:44:00.000-08:00

The four wild card team selected for the 2012 Giro d'Italia, 5-27 May, are:

Androni Giocattoli (ITA)

Colnago – CSF Inox (IRL), Italian team registered in Ireland

Farnese Vini (GBR), Italian team registered in Great Britain

Team NetApp (GER)

There were four wild cards available and fourteen teams under consideration by the Giro d'Italia selection committee. Of the fourteen teams four were Italian. The Italian team not selected is Acqua & Sapone. The team that will be celebrating is Germany's Team NetApp.

The four teams are in addition to those already announced:

AG2R La Mondiale (FRA)

ASTANA Pro Team (KAZ)

BMC Racing Team (USA)

Euskaltel – Euskadi (ESP)

FDJ – Big Mat (FRA)

Garmin – Cervelo (USA)

Greenedge Cycling Team (AUS)

Katusha Team (Rus)

Lampre – ISD (ITA)

Liquigas – Cannondale (ITA)

Lotto Belisol Team (BEL)

Movistar Team (ESP)

OMEGA Pharma – Quickstep (BEL)

Rabobank Cycling Team (NED)

RAdioshack – Nissan (LUX)

SKY Procycling (GBR)

Team Saxo Bank (DEN)

VAcansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team (NED)

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Prati di Tivo at the Roof of Abruzzo

2012-01-09T05:38:00.000-08:00

Prati di Tivo, "Tetto d’Abruzzo" (the Roof of Abruzzo), sits at 1450 meters above seal level on the slopes of the Corno Piccolo in the Gran Sasso Mountains. It was here that Lampre-ISD's cyclists Michele Scarponi and team mate Alessandro Spezialetti found themselves on the last day of 2011 to ride the the Prati di Tivo climb. The climb is rumored to be on Tirreno-Adriatico 2012.

"Tirreno-Adriatico will be my first main target of 2012, so I'd like to be well prepared," Scarponi explained. "As there is a possibility that this climb will be in the race I preferred to see it for myself. Unfortunately, we had to stop in Pietracamela, 6 km to the top because of the snow. Spezialetti desscribed the last 6km and with the parts of the road that I could see it indicates me that this could be a tough climb".

Prato di Tivo in better weather:

The Tirreno-Adriatico dates are March 7 to March 13.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Campionato Italiano di Ciclocross 2012

2012-01-07T07:47:00.001-08:00

The Italian championships for the tricolor jerseys in cyclocross are underway today in Vadena (BZ, Bolzano). The racing is in a cyclocross park established in 2008 named the "Safety Park". This two part video features imagery of the Alto Adige in the first part, and racing in the Safety park in the second part. Worth a view.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Vacansoleil-DCM Bianchi TT Bike

2012-01-06T06:17:00.000-08:00

Vacansoleil-DCM will be using this Bianchi TT bike on the WorldTour this year. Road bike photos here.

Also, take a look at the Bianchi Factory Visit photos we published last year, many interesting TT bikes. Here is one of the photos:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Mind Games on the Mortirolo

2012-01-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

My thanks to Julie Gildred, founder of Ride Strong Bike Tours (www.ridestrongbiketours.com), for this story of riding up the Mortirolo which she will re-visiitng again in September.

Mind Games on the Mortirolo

"Nobody has ever explained to me why suffering opens up the mind. But if it weren’t for the mind, I’m not sure my muscles could have propelled me to the top of the Passo Mortirolo today. I use the term ‘propelled’ loosely. In no sense does it imply speed or ease. It only means, I made it! The Mortirolo (traditionally known as the Passo della Foppa) is one of the toughest climbs in Europe. Lance declared it the hardest climb he’s ever done. Unaided, I’d have to agree. It’s not that it’s the longest or highest climb around. At only 12.5 km long starting from Mazzo de Valtellina, it’s not even close.

Most people who climb the Mortirolo base themselves in Bormio and enjoy a 30 km gradual descent to the start of the climb in Mazzo. It’s tempting to turn off in Grosio which, geographically, is before Mazzo and also takes you up one of the three ascents of the Mortirolo. But that’s not the real deal. So, joining 90% of the other cyclists, I start the climb from Mazzo but not before one last shot of espresso at the ‘Funny Bar’ just 50 meters from the start. I now wonder whether that name isn’t an insider joke amongst locals.

I used to tell people that if they have enough gears, they can make it up any slope. Right from the get go I slipped into my granny gear realizing that my long held belief could be wrong. It wasn’t so much my heart as much as it was the ability (or inability) to turn one pedal over…..and then the other. All climbing techniques I know and studied were inapplicable. It was all I could do to keep my front end from doing an involuntary wheelie or my back wheel from spinning out. Standing became my preferred and, actually, only way of making it to the top. I visualized I was on the stair stepper at the gym on the hardest possible setting and then just drifted off into a mind oblivion.

Of the numerous conversations and incoherent thoughts I had with myself in the 1hour and 50 minutes to the top, most are not for public sharing. Every now and again I ‘came to’ and noticed things like how easy a 10% grade felt, how much I enjoy the strong scent of pine, how absolutely beautiful the Mortirolo is and how much I actually want this climb to go on forever. Yes, it’s a sickness. But I was in good company with several other sick cyclists testing their strength and, more importantly, perhaps their mental fortitude on one of the greatest climbs in Europe."

The Mortirolo climb profile.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

De Rosa Protos-Black Label

2012-01-05T07:19:00.000-08:00

Being announced this month:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

De Rosa Launches Newly Designed Website

2012-01-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

De Rosa has launched a new website design at www.derosa.it

Photos courtesy of bikeadelic, a blog dedicated to De Rosa.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Who Was the First American to Race in the Giro d'Italia?

2012-01-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

I tweeted RCS Director Michael Acquarone today:

ITALIANCYCJOURN Angelo senza la o

@micacquarone FIRST AMERICAN IN GIRO?? Do you have a historian? See italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2010/07/who-wa… Grazie, Angelo

I hope he'll assign someone to give the definitive answer. Read Who Was the First American to Race in the Giro d'Italia?

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Coppi Wool Jerseys

2012-01-03T14:02:00.001-08:00

I should have mentioned yesterday that if you are a Coppi fan you can purchase a very nice 100% Merino wool jersey from www.soigneur.co.nz (in New Zealand were they have a lot of wool). The owner of soigneur, David Carman, previously sent in this story about cycling in New Zealand in the 1970s and eventually making wool jerseys.

These are the Coppi jerseys he makes:

He also make this "Italia" jersey in Merino:

These jerseys are also available in long sleeve versions.

Note: I have no business association with soigneur.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Fausto Coppi, 1919 - 2 January 1960

2012-01-02T19:18:00.000-08:00

Today should not pass without remembering Fausto Coppi who passed away, from malaria, 52 years ago today.

Born on September 15, 1919, the Campionissimo (“The Champion of Champions”) was a man who transcended sport. He was one of the champions during one of cycling’s great eras, the post World War II years.

Italy, traumatized by war, looked to sports heroes for its victories after years of military defeat. Coppi’s battle with another great rider, Gino Bartali, was the stuff of legends. The two men battled through the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and numerous one-day classics in an epic struggle for athletic superiority and the hearts of Italy.

Even though he wasn’t able to compete for the majority of World War II, Coppi still won a total of seven Grand Tours.

Coppi shares the record of five victories in the Giro d’Italia with Alfredo Binda and Eddy Merckx.

Coppi won the Tour de France twice, in 1949 and 1952, dominating the competition and easily winning the overall title and mountains jersey competitions.

Coppi was the first rider to win the Tour de France - Giro d'Italia double. He did so in 1949 and 1952.

Coppi also won the the the Giro d'Italia - World Championship Road Race double in 1953.

Coppi won three out of five of cycling’s monuments for a total of nine victories in those races. This is third behind Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck. Coppi also owns the record of five victories in the Tour of Lombardy.

His victories in the 1950 Paris-Roubaix and 1953 World Championship Road Race capped off a brilliant career that would have no doubt been brighter had his career not been interrupted by World War II.

One of Coppi’s greatest victories was in the 1946 Milan-San Remo race. Coppi attacked with nine other riders just 3 miles (5 km) into the 181 mile (292 km) race. On the climb up the Turchino, Coppi dropped the nine riders and went on to win by 14:00 over the second placed rider, and by 18:30 over Gino Bartali and the rest of the peloton.

In the 1949 Tour de France, Coppi and Bartali lined up on the same team. Coppi steam-rolled the field up the Izoard Pass then gave the stage victory to Bartali as a present for his 35th birthday. The two of them demolished the competition with Coppi finishing first and Bartali second at 10:55.

Coppi overcame emotional setbacks during his career. In 1951, he was overcome by grief at the death of his brother Serse (who tied for first in the 1949 Paris-Roubaix race) just five days before the start of the Tour de France. Fausto was in a state of mourning during the race. Despite his sorrow, he completed the race in tenth place.

Although Coppi was a great athlete, he was fragile physically. Coppi possessed a massive rib cage and an exceptional heart, but had a delicate skeleton which contrasted to his well-developed thighs.

His brittle bones were the result of malnutrition as a boy. He had over twenty serious bone fractures including collar bones, pelvis, femur and a displaced vertebrae. He also had a sensitive stomach and picked up numerous illnesses during his career.

Coppi won his first major victory in 1940 at the age of 20 and his last in 1954 at the age of 35. He continued to ride competitively, well past his prime.

In the end, Coppi caught malaria on a hunting safari in Africa. The illness was mis-diagnosed by Italian doctors and he died on January 2, 1960 at the age of 40.

Coppi’s victories include the following: two Tour de France wins along with two Mountains jersey titles; five Giro d’Italia wins, two second places, three Mountains jersey titles; first and third places in the World Championship Road Race; and a first and two second places in the Paris-Roubaix; three Milan-San Remo titles; five Tour of Lombardy titles; and a Fleche Wallonne victory.

Source: Cycling Hall of Fame

A few of the more interesting Fausto Coppi stories that have appeared here in the Italian Cycling Journal are:

Fausto Coppi and the Lady in White

Fausto Coppi as a prisoner of war (and a book in Italian)

Coppi, Bartali and the Legendary Photo

A Visit to the Coppi Home

"Fallen Angel, the Passion of Fausto Coppi", a new English language book

Fausto Coppi artwork by Claudio Pesci

Fausto Coppi collection of cards and illustrations

Photo: Fausto Coppi, 1949 Giro d'Italia

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Inside fi'zi:k

2012-01-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

Inside fi'zi:k (presented by Peloton):

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 UCI WorldTour Dates

2012-01-02T06:28:00.000-08:00

January
17-22 Tour Down Under AUS

March
04-11 Paris - Nice FRA
07-13 Tirreno-Adriatico ITA
17 Milano-Sanremo ITA
19-25 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya ESP
23 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke BEL
25 Gent - Wevelgem BEL

April
1 Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres BEL
2-7 Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco ESP
8 Paris - Roubaix FRA
15 Amstel Gold Race NED
18 La Flèche Wallonne BEL
22 Liège - Bastogne - Liège BEL
24-29 Tour de Romandie SUI

May
5-27 Giro d'Italia ITA

June
3-10 Critérium du Dauphiné FRA
9-17 Tour de Suisse SUI
30-22.7 Tour de France FRA

July
10-16 Tour de Pologne POL

August
6-12 Eneco Tour NED
14 Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian ESP
18-9.9 Vuelta a España ESP
19 Vattenfall Cyclassics GER
26 GP Ouest France - Plouay FRA

Septemeber
7 Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec CAN
9 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal CAN
29 Il Lombardia ITA

October
10-14 Tour of Beijing CHN

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 Giro d'Italia Wild Cards

2012-01-01T06:33:00.000-08:00

RCS Sport, orgainzer of the Giro d'Italia, has announced the fourteen teams that are under consideration for the four "wild card" teams spots available for the 2012 Giro d'Italia. Four of the teams are Italian (two registered outside Italy):

Androni Giocattoli (ITA)

Acqua & Sapone (ITA)

Champion System Cycling Team (CHN)

Colnago-CSF Inox (IRL)

Colombia-Coldeportes (COL)

Farnese Vini (GBR)

Landbouwkrediet (BEL)

Project 1T4I (NED)

RusVelo (RUS)

Saur Soyasun (FRA)

Team Europcar (FRA)

Team Netapp (GER)

Team Type 1-Sanofi (USA)

Utelsilnord Named (IRL)

With the Giro's goal of becoming more global it is likely that one, or more, Italian team is going to be disappointed.

The RCS has put in place a self-appointed commission to make the wild card decision by January 10th. The members, all RCS employees, are: Giacomo Catano, Michele Acquarone, Mauro Vegni, Marco Gobbi Pansana and Pier Bergonzi.

If you are curious why some Italian teams are registered outside if Italy read this by The Inner Ring.

The number of wild cards to be decided at a later date for the other RCS owned races are:
Tirreno-Adriatico: 2 wild cards
Milano – Sanremo: 7 wild cards
Il Lombardia: 7 wild cards (note: previously named Giro di Lombardia; will be in September this year).

The 2012 Giro d'Italia promo 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, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T17:54:00.001-08:00

Bring Back 1989....??

2011-12-30T16:25:00.000-08:00

Are YOU still wearing any of these jerseys?

Click on photo to enlarge.

Photo: courtesy of milanofixed

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Bianchi Oltre with Campagnolo EPS

2011-12-29T08:40:00.000-08:00

One of the new 2012 offerings from Bianchi will be this matt black Oltre equipped with Campagnolo EPS (click on photo to enlarge).

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Pro Training During the Holidays

2011-12-29T05:12:00.000-08:00

Little time for rest and relaxation during the holidays for a professional rider. Let's look at Lampre-ISD:

After the season ended in October the cycle of preparation for next year was already starting by the end of that month . This was followed by the first team training camp on December 4th.

What were Lampre-ISD’s riders doing during the Christmas holidays? Relaxing on sunny beaches or skiing? Huge holiday dinners with relatives? No, they spent their holidays in an intense way, focusing their attention on riding their bikes.

“No holidays, I trained every day, also thanks to the good weather. I only had a rest on December 25th," explained Michele Scarponi. "I’ll ride on December 31st and and January 1st too, there’s nothing better than beginning then new year on bike!".

Damiano Cunego decided to spend 25 December with his family: "I celebrated Christmas with my children, I didn’t ride. I trained intensively on December 24th and 26th. I’ll ride for 4 hours the last day of the year and on January 1st".

Alessandro Petacchi rode Christmas day as he prepares for the Tour Down Under in Australia. "I didn’t stop on Christmas, nor the 26th, and I won't be stopping for December 31st. For New Year’s Day, I’ll decide that morning, maybe I’ll do a light training ride". Petacchi will be the team captain for the TDU which is being held January 17-22; the team will also include Grega Bole, Danilo Hondo, Davide Cimolai, Massimo Graziato, Davide Viganò and the Aussie Matthew Lloyd.

For Davide Viganò, also headed to Australia, there were no off days. "I rode every day, no exception for the holidays. I’ll also train on the 31st and January 1st. I've always done it this way."

Manuele Mori mixes short and long training sessions. "Two hours and thirty minutes on Christmas, five hours on December 26: this is the best way to celebrate the holidays. On December 31st I've programmed a long training ride, no less than five hours, while on New Year’s Day I think that I’ll do one hour and thirty minutes of training".

Diego Ulissi chose to balance between holiday pleasures and training. "I rested on Christmas and ate typical Tuscan food and drank Farnese wine, but on the other days I trained: the start of the season is close and it’s very important to prepare for next year in the best way".

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Guest Contributor Stories of 2011

2011-12-27T06:43:00.000-08:00

We've been fortunate to have many nice stories about cycling in Italy contributed by the readers of the Italian Cycling Journal. Share YOUR story. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

Here are some of the 2011 stories:

La Prosecco

Pantani's Last Stand

Passoni Passion

Traverse of Italy (note: search on title for more; this is a series I need to still finish).

Dreaming of Italy

At the Birth of the USA Gran Fondo Movement

A Special Visit with Ernesto Colnago

The Story of the Giro d'Italia

Hmmm...what a cool bike...never heard of it

The Day Amina Was Born

In Search of a L'Eroica Bike

Alfredo Binda, Madonna del Ghisallo

Training for Italy

The Mortirolo, Marco, and Me

The Most Beautiful Climb

Ghisallo Pilgrimage

Tre Cime di Lavaredo: The Greatest Show on Earth

2011 L'Eroica Through the Lens of Angelo Ferrillo

2011 L'Eroica: Riding with the Heroes

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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 "Continental Divide" Gold Buckle

2011-12-26T07:17:00.000-08:00

Add this to the list of Campagnolo items I hadn't seen before. A 24k gold plated version of the "Continental Divide 1975" brass buckle. Reportedly made a very limited numbers.

Note: Bringing to attention the following comment from a reader regarding the design of the "Continental Divide" buckle:

"I was working in a bike shop when Continental Divide released these in 1975.

When Continental Divide produced / distributed these belt buckles, they failed to get permission from Campagnolo to use their logo. A few days after this product was received in the shop, Continental Divide issued a product recall – actually, it was a demand for all product to be returned immediately. Can you say “oops.”

The belt buckles Campy released in 1980 are the circular design. These belt buckles were also awarded at USCF / USAC national championships for one or two years."

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Buon Natale!

2011-12-24T05:35:00.000-08:00

Have a Merry Christmas!

GreenEDGE, Scott, Varese

2011-12-23T06:51:00.000-08:00

A video peek into the European Training Center in Gavirate (Varese) established by the Australian Institute of Sport, a home away from home for Australian athletes. It will also be the base for the GreenEDGE Cycling team which will be competing next year in the top division of cycling.

The video also shows the new Scott bikes that will be used by the team.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Colnago C59 for Colnago-CSF Bardiani

2011-12-21T19:24:00.000-08:00

The Colnago-CSF Bardiani team will be riding a Colnago C59 again this year but with slightly different graphics (above) incorporating the Italian national colors. The bikes will also be equipped with Campagnolo Super Record again.

Actually, I just recalled that the frame looks like the C59 Unification of Italy model without the 150 touches (top tube, down tube, fork) that I published a photo in March:

The 2011 team bike:

Photo (top): 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, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

BePink, New Italian Women's Team Attracts Noemi Cantele

2011-12-21T11:00:00.000-08:00

BePink is a new Italian women's professional team which also recently signed Noemi Cantele, the current Italian national champion in road racing and time trial (also silver and bronze medalist the Mendrisio World Championships in 2009). Cantele is a transfer from Team Garmin-Cervélo. BePink is managed by Walter Zini.

"For me 2012 is a really important year as I aim towards the Olympic Games in London, this is my most important objective of the season", said Cantele. "After many years in foreign teams it gives me great satisfaction to defend the colors of an Italian team while wearing the tricolore jersey. The project developed by BePink was of immediate interest to me because of its innovative approach of aiming to develop the professional growth of female athletes a full 360 degrees. I have known Walter Zini for many years, I know how he works and the professionalism with which he operates. I'm sure this is the choice best for me."

The BePink team will be comprised of Noemi Cantele, Alice Algisi, Alena Amialiesiuk, Chiara Favaron Bissoli, Elke Gebhardt, Simona Frapporti, Oxana Kozonchuk, Julia Martisova, Dalia Muccioli, Eleonora Patuzzo, Gloria Presti, Evelyn Garcia, Silvia Valsecchi and Petra Zrimsek.

BePink began it's season with its first training camp, held in Cervinia, from 14 to 18 December. The team's first race will be the Ladies Tour of Qatar, 1 to 3 February.

Photo: Cantele on her way to silver in the time trial at 2009 World Championships.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Photo: Pinarello Dogma2 with Campagnolo EPS: $16,500

2011-12-20T08:40:00.000-08:00

Photo of the limited edition version of the Pinarello Dogma2 bike equipped with Campagnolo's new electronic gruppo, Electronic Power Shift. Fifty examples of these Dogma2s equipped with the Super Record version of EPS will be available in the U.S. at $16,500 (retail price, with Campagnolo Shamal Ultra 2-Way Dark wheelset).

More information and photos at Bikerumor.

Photo (click to enlarge): Bikerumor

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

If You Were Michele Scarponi....

2011-12-20T06:33:00.001-08:00

.....would you skip next year's Giro d'Italia to race in the Tour de France?

Michele Scarponi, who races for Lampre-ISD, has said that he is seriously considering skipping the Giro d'Italia in order to race in the Tour de France. This year in the Giro he finished 2nd to Alberto Contador at 6’10” behind (Nibali was 3rd). Contador has decided to not race in the Giro in order to focus on the Tour.

Scarponi's teammates are split on their advice:

Diego Ulissi: "I think that to support a captain, that could be Cunego or Scarponi, in view of targets such as the Giro or Tour is an exciting challange and a crucial moment for my growth as cyclist. Michele is evaluating with the proper care where he can best use his qualities that are among the best of the cycling world. I know that I'll be able to pedal next to him in the heat moments of the races. I lived outstanding days in 2011 Giro d'Italia so I'd like to live this experience again, but I understand also the will of Michele to try a new challenge."

Alessandro Spezialetti (who has raced in 14 Giro d'Italia: "The choice of Giro d'Italia or Tour de France needs deep reflection and it's very interesting. I think that Michele, like any other Italian cyclist, has a strong bond with Giro d'Italia: try to win it it's an irresistible temptation. But just because Scarponi has top qualities as athlete, he's very attracted by Tour de France too. In fact, he showed in 2011 that maybe with the exception of Contador he could be better that any other rider for Grand Tours. So, I don't understand why he should dismiss any option. On a technical side, it's true that Giro's course suites Scarponi's characteristics very well and that in Grande Boucle there are more time trial kilometers, but Michele is not so penalized in this kind of specialty."

Daniele Righi: "The Tour de France is a very exciting option that would bring Michele huge recognition. Michele's qualities makes it possible for him to obtain good results in France and maybe to win top stages, he's one of the toughest riders and he's one of the best climbers. However, if he wants to be competitive for the yellow jersey he should improve in time trial. He's already quite good but in long time trial such as the Tour's ones he needs to improve.

A victory in the Corsa Rosa is the dream of every Italian cyclist; the Grande Boucle, meanwhile, thanks to its difficulty and level of competition, can make a rider legendary."

Matteo Bono: "There are many aspects to consider before such important decision. I'm sure that Scarponi, thanks to the recommendations of the technical staff, will decide what is best. The career of Michele in Giro d'Italia is now well known: his improvement in the Corsa Rosa has been huge, in 2011 he obtained his first podium and in 2012 he'll be able to try to hit the big target of winning it. Regarding the Tour de France, I think the outcome is more determined by the hazards as the 2011 edition showed with crashes and changes in the overall standing. So, in my opinion, this could be a good year for Scarponi to try to win the Giro."

Przemyslaw Niemiec: "Giro d'Italia is better for Michele because its course has characteristics suited for him and because it always so motivates an Italian cyclist. On Italian climbs, Scarponi could be very competitive, this year only Contador could be stronger. Thanks to that experience, and an even more competitive team, Michele has the chance to win the Corsa Rosa. In addition, the support by the Italian fans could be very important. Anyway, I understand very well the desire by Scarponi of trying the French challenge, of riding against riders that are considered the top athletes but that have nothing more than him. I'd also like to take part in a Tour de France one day, but only after I have helped Michele win a Giro d'Italia".

The Schleck brothers have decided to not ride the Giro next year saying, "We will not do the Giro. What matters is the Tour. We love the Tour. The goal is to win the Tour de France." Interesting was the response by Eddy Merckx to this which I believe is also applicable to Michele Scarponi as well: "It's better to be first in the Giro then second in the Tour." Felice Gimondo has expressed the same exact opinion.

So, if you were Michele Scarponi what would you decide?

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, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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 Problem of Too Many Motorcycles in the Dolomites

2011-12-19T06:35:00.000-08:00

Daniel Patitucci, friend and photographer, has written a piece about the problem of too many motorcycles in the Dolomites on DolomiteSport. He is seeking comments, and ideas, on the subject. If you have cycled, hiked, or climbed in the Dolomites and have experienced this problem please leave a comment at the end of the article. Please pass the article along to your friends for comment. The article in full is here; following are the first few paragraphs:

"It’s time to bring up a nasty subject that many who visit the Dolomites experience in a very negative way. For years now I have felt growing anger and frustration for the thousands of motorcycles that come to the Italian Dolomites. I finally brought it up to locals, business owners and my athlete friends and promptly discovered I’m not the only one who feels this way. So angry are they that the subject is almost painful to discuss, for it seems nothing is being done about it. I however, am more than happy to publicly state my thoughts and make it clear that these motorcycles are a cancer to this amazing region.

The Dolomites are unarguably one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes and everyone has the right to experience them. But why is one user group allowed to negatively impact the experience of all the others while at the same time causing numerous disturbances to the natural environment in the forms of noise and exhaust pollution as well as a very real threat to the safety of others.

The problem is that motorcyclists come from all over Europe to ride the Dolomite’s famously steep and curvy mountain roads. This is fine as an activity, but the manner in which all too many do it is completely irresponsible on the part of both the riders and local authorities................."

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Winners of Giro's "Be the Next Fighter"

2011-12-18T06:09:00.000-08:00

In November we alerted you to the "Be the Next Fighter" contest by the Giro d'Italia. The winners were Asbjørn Johansen (Norway), Ivan Cvpd (Spain) and Andrea Ponta (Italy). All three were invited to Milano for the photo shoot (video of shoot below), and a visit to the offices of the Gazzetta dello Sport.

We are 138 days from the start of the Giro d'Italia on May 5th.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Cinelli Super Corsa Leggerissimo, a Restoration

2011-12-17T07:43:00.000-08:00

The final results of Chris' restoration of a Cinelli Super Corsa Leggerissimo. The maiden voyage will be this weekend, check back for a report.

The Leggerissimo was a special model sold by the Brugelmann shop in Frankfurt, Germany. Read more here and see the listing in their catalog. Here is a photo of my own 1972 Cinelli SC Leggerissimo, still completely original:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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 World According to Cycling Fans

2011-12-17T05:19:00.000-08:00

The world according to cycling fans, through knowledge gathered on the internet.

Click on to enlarge.

via www.cyclinginquisition.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, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Eddy Merckx, Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur

2011-12-15T16:22:00.000-08:00

Eddy Merckx was awarded the Legion of Honour grade "Commandeur de la Legion d'honneur" today by French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the presidential Elysee palace in Paris.

"It’s a considerable honor," said Merckx, who was initially made Chevalier at the start of the 1975 Tour de France.

The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour (French: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur) is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. The Order is the highest decoration in France. There are five levels: grand croix (grand cross), grand officier (grand officer), commandeur (commander), officier (officer) and chevalier (knight).

Merckx won the Tour de France five times, the Giro d'Italia five times, the Vuelta a España once, won all the monuments* of cycling at least twice, with 19 monument victories in all, won the world championship once as an amateur and three times as a professional, and broke the world hour record.

*the five monuments of cycling:
Milan–San Remo (Italy)
Tour of Flanders (Belgium)
Paris–Roubaix (France)
Liège–Bastogne–Liège (Belgium)
Giro di Lombardia (Italy)

Congratulations Eddy!

Photo: Eric Feferberg (AP)

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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 Launches EPS Website

2011-12-15T13:53:00.000-08:00

Campagnolo has just launched a website dedicated to EPS, Electronic Power Shift.

Click here to visit. The website is available in Italian, English, French, German and Spanish.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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 EPS, the Videos

2011-12-15T05:08:00.000-08:00

From Campagnolo:

EPS History:

EPS Multishifting:

EPS Rear Derailleur:

EPS Front Derailleur:

EPS Riding Settings:

EPS Zero Setting Rear Derailleur:

EPS Zero Setting Front Derailleur:

EPS Power Unit:

EPS Interface:

EPS Ergopower:

EPS System Philosophy:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

WorldTour Vacansoleil-DCM Bianchi Oltre

2011-12-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

Finally, a very good photo of the Bianchi Oltre the Vacansoleil-DCM team will be riding in the Giro, Tour, and Vuelta (and more).

Lots of eye candy in Montecatini Teme:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Bianchi Sempre for Colombia-Coldeportes

2011-12-14T19:14:00.000-08:00

The Continental team Colombia-Coldeportes will be riding Bianchi Sempre bikes during 2012, equipped with FSA components with the exception of the SRAM red shifters and cassettes. Wheels are VISION TriMax Carbon TC-50.

The graphic design highlights the national colors of Colombia while also maintaining the celeste color for which Bianchi is best known for.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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 Ciclismo 2011: Nancy Bernacchia

2011-12-13T18:56:00.000-08:00

The Miss Ciclismo 2011 is Nancy Bernacchia from Marche. Of her victory the 19 year old Ms.Bernacchia said, "I am very satisfied, I wanted especially to be Miss Ciclismo because I love cycling. I live in the countryside and cycling relaxes me a lot and keeps me in shape." Previously she was a pre-finalist in the 2009 Miss Italia pageant, and is now studying to be a veterinarian.

The jury presidents were Vicenzo Nibali and Damiano Cunego (obviously having too much fun), other judges included Gilberto Simoni, Andrea Noè, Sacha Modolo, Diego Ulissi, Marzio Bruseghin and Paolo Tiralongo.

Related Story: Miss Ciclismo 2010

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

UCI WorldTour and Continental Teams for 2012

2011-12-13T16:18:00.000-08:00

RadioShack-Nissan (LUX) and the GreenEdge Cycling Team (AUS) were added to the WorldTour teams list already announced bringing the total to 18 for next season as follows (these teams must be invited, and must participate, in all major races):

- Astana Pro Team
- BMC Racing Team
- Garmin-Cervélo
- Lampre - ISD
- Liquigas - Cannondale
- Movistar Team
- Rabobank
- Sky Procycling
- Vacansoleil-DCM
- Katusha Team
- FDJ
- Lotto Belisol Team
- Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
- Team Saxo Bank
- AG2R La Mondiale
- Euskaltel-Euskadi
- RadioShack-Nissan
- GreenEdge Cycling Team

There are 22 teams registered as UCI Professional Continental Teams for the 2012 season:
ACCENT JOBS – WILLEMS VERANDA’S, BEL
ACQUA & SAPONE, ITA
ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI, ITA
BRETAGNE - SCHULLER, FRA
CAJA RURAL, ESP
COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE, FRA
COLNAGO – CSF INOX, IRL (Italian team registered in IRL)
COLOMBIA – COLDEPORTES, COL
LANDBOUWKREDIET, BEL
SAUR – SOJASUN, FRA
SPIDERTECH POWERED BY C10, CAN
TEAM NETAPP, GER
TEAM TYPE 1 – SANOFI, USA
TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN – MERCATOR, BEL
UNITEDHEALTHCARE PRO CYCLING TEAM, USA
PROJECT 1T4I, NED
TEAM EUROPCAR, FRA
ANDALUCIA, ESP
CHAMPION SYSTEM PRO CYCLING TEAM, CHN
FARNESE VINI, GBR (Italian team registered in GBR)
RUSVELO, RUS
UTENSILNORD NAMED, IRL

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

CICLISMO Available on Ipad

2011-12-13T06:04:00.000-08:00

It's becoming easier than ever to receive an Italian cycling magazine. CICLISMO magazine is now available for the iPad at pocketmags.com, specifically here.

If anyone tries the service send some feedback to us.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

"I am a CYCLIST"

2011-12-12T16:41:00.000-08:00

"I am a CYCLIST". Explaining cycling to a non-cyclist. Note: some language may not be suitable for youngsters.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Magico Tempe vs. Zoncolan

2011-12-12T06:57:00.001-08:00

Simone Temperato (aka as "Magico Tempe"), from Bassano del Grappa (VI), sends in a GoPro Hero video of his latest impossible adventure, climbing and descending Zoncolan on one wheel:

Climbing in the same direction as the last Giro d'Italia, from Ovaro, Magico completed the ascent in 1 hour 16 minutes lowering his previous record by 2 minutes. Keep in mind there is an average grade of 11.5% for 10.5 km with a maximum of 22%. Related story: A mere mortal climbs Zoncolan

The descent took 22 minutes with a maximum speed of 43 km reached. Magico writes, "The descent was perfect and I never thought of achieving such a low time. Only in one hairpin did I have a moment of indecision when suddenly, I don't know why, I first lurched to the right and then left and I was forced to make an amazing recovery to regain my balance and continue."

Grazie Simone.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

bici@romaexpo

2011-12-11T16:45:00.000-08:00

There is a new Italian bike expo on the horizon, the bici@romaexpo which is scheduled for March 8 to 11, 2012, at the Fiera Roma near Leonardo da Vinci Airport. This will be the first bike fair in the Capital.

Among the exhibitors that have already committed to the expo are Olmo, De Rosa, Passoni, Casati, Bottecchia, Atala, Ambrosio, Carrera, Cicli Elios, and also Intense, Lapierre, Marzocchi, Rock Shox, Sram, Endura, O’Neal, Fulcrum, and Geax. The list grows every day.

There are many events being planned including an exhibition by Cicli Rossignoli of their vintage bike collection which includes bikes of all types (see a video of a previous Rossignoli exhibit here).

All event details (only in Italian at the moment) at www.biciaromaexpo.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, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

“Pedala con i Campioni”

2011-12-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

The 12th edition of the "Pedala con i Campioni" (Ride with the Champions) was held yesterday, as it is every December 8th since 2000, in Brinzio (Varese). 2,000 cycling fans subscribed to the 45 km social ride with Ivan Basso, Oscar Freire Gomez, Luca Paolini, Giorgia Bronzini, Noemi Cantele , Valentina Carretta, Fabio Felline, Massimo Codol, Edoardo Girardi, Luca Zanasca, and Roberto Damiani, and former professionals Tupak Casnedi, Simone Zucchi, Dario Andriotto, Daniele Nardello and Stefano Zanini.

After the conclusion of the ride there was the traditional ristoro followed by a drawing for signed jerseys.

Three trophies were awarded to the cycling clubs with the most participants. The winners were Funtos Bike (accepting 1st place trophy, Stefano Zanini in Pedala con i Campioni jersey) followed by Marnatese and Ju Sport.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Detour: Fiat 500 Abarth "Seduction"

2011-12-07T06:08:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile we detour off cycling into another subject area. This is the intro video to the new Fiat 500 Abarth, the racing inspired version of the 500. The video was deemed too hot for American TV (over air channels):

What are you looking at? Eh?
What are you looking at? (slap)
Are you undressing me with your eyes?
Poor guy… you can’t help it?
Is your heart beating? Is your head spinning?
Do you feel lost thinking that I could be yours forever?

The history of Karl (Carlo) Abarth and the Abarth company:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Monte Pasubio on MTB

2011-12-06T06:27:00.000-08:00

During the First World War the front line between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces ran through the Dolomites. Monte Pasubio was a crucial stronghold for the Italians. They had to hold the mountain, but their supply lines to the mountain were being shelled and were subject to avalanches (on one day, the 13th December 1916, known as 'White Friday', 10,000 soldiers were killed by avalanches in the Dolomites). The answer to the Italian Army's problems was the Strada delle 52 Gallerie.

The Strada delle Gallerie [Road of Tunnels] is a mountain path cut into Monte Pasubio. It was built in 1916 by Italian mountain troops and teams of miners. The Strada was started in March 1917 and finished by the end of the year.

There are many military paths in the Dolomites. What makes the Strada unusual is that it runs through 52 tunnels with a total length of 2,300m. A further 4,000m of path is cut into the side of Monte Pasubio. It is one of the best high level paths in the Dolomites.

The start to Strada delle Gallerie is in Bocchetta Campiglia. The path eventually arrives at the Rifugio Generale Papa. On the other side of the Rifguo is the loop known as Strada degli Eroi (Road of Heroes).

The Strada della Gallerie is officially closed to mountain bikers, there are barriers but they are easily bypassed. Disclaimer: it's dangerous, ride at your own risk.

Notes: history text of the Gallerie from adiator blog, photos from magicoveneto. Thanks to Eros Poli for bringing this ride to my attention.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Pinarello Dogma2 with Campagnolo EPS: $16,500

2011-12-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

The first Pinarello Dogma2 bikes equipped with Campagnolo's new electronic gruppo, Electronic Power Shift, are part of a limited edition with a special color. Fifty examples of these Dogma2s equipped with the Super Record version of EPS will be available in the U.S.

It's going to cost you to be among the first: $16,500 (retail price)!

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 Gran Fondo Colnago Los Angeles

2011-12-04T06:25:00.000-08:00

After the success of the first edition of the Gran Fondo Colnago Los Angeles the event will return to the 2012 calendar on Sunday, June 10, 2012.

Beverly Hills will once again host the start and finish. Mayor Barry Brucker recently signed a three partnership agreement with Matteo Gerevini, founder of the Gran Fonda USA series. Also present at the City Hall meeting was Ernesto Colnago (photo: L-R, Gerevini, Brucker, Colnago).

The Gran Fondo USA series will also be expanding next year to six locations by adding Colorado and Nevada to San Diego, Beverly Hills, Philadelphia and Miami.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Training Camps for Liquigas and Lampre

2011-12-03T17:47:00.000-08:00

The first training camp for Liquigas-Cannondale at Passo San Pellegrino in the Dolomites finished today, it began on November 28th. Interestingly, while their base was at the Hotel Mozoni at 1900 meters they slept at the Chalet Cima Uomo at 2100 meters in order to benefit from the altitude.

The team relaxed with saunas, played pool, hiked, some mountain biking, stretching and fitness drills, training program development, etc.

Another important aspect of the training camp was to reinforce team spirit and also to welcome the new members. Among these is Moreno Moser, nephew of Franceso Moser. Nice to see this name again at this level.

Each rider will now return home to pursue their personalized training schedules until the next training camp which will be in the warmer climate of Sardinia. The riders will stay at Geo Village in Olbia from 12 to 22 December.

Lampre-ISD will begin their first training camp tomorrow in Darfo Boario Terme where they will be staying at the Hotel San Martino until the 7th. The focus will be checking all the riders' equipment, the set-up of their new bikes, and planning the 2012 racing calendars (such as Michele Scarponi expressing an interest in skipping the Giro d'Italia to focus on the Tour de France). The team will also be participating in some social events.

If you are interested in how one of the Lampre-ISD mechanics (Ronny Baron) prepares a Wilier from start to finish see the following (note: long videos, two parts, and in Italian but you'll get the visual step by step process):
Part I
Part II

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Something Left to the Imagination

2011-12-03T07:07:00.000-08:00

My favorite photograph from the CYCLEPASSION CALENDAR 2012. No Italian riders this year so my only excuse is that there is a Scott mtb in the photo.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Punta Veleno, Part II

2011-12-02T06:06:00.000-08:00

Part I, yesterday: Punta Veleno, More Difficult than Zoncolan and Mortirolo

I asked Eros Poli (watch the video) about this climb and he recounted the following story from 1986. Keep in mind that in 1984 Eros had won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics and went on to win the Mont Ventoux stage in the Tour de France in 1994.

"I first did this in 1986 with my racing bike, other times later with a mtb. That day, in 1986, I was using a 39-23. I remember that I had been training with Valerio Piva (a coach for Cavendish at HTC) and Sorensen. We had finished a giro of Lago di Garda and I asked Piva if he knew where this climb started. He knew it but had never climbed it himself.

They continued on home and I went in search of the road and began the ascent. Soon I found three old men at a bar and asked them if I was on the right road. They said, "Yes, but you won't be able to make it". I responded, "If I don't make it and you are still here anything you want will be on me."

Well, it was TERRIBLE! After the switchbacks I would have to ride a small circle in order to gain a moment of rest and some speed for the next stretch. I did make it to the top."

Eros is no stranger to some suffering, photo from Mont Ventoux stage:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Punta Veleno, More Difficult than Zoncolan and Mortirolo

2011-12-01T07:48:00.000-08:00

The 2012 Giro del Trentino, scheduled in April, will for the first time in a professional race feature the Punta Veleno (Poison Point) ascent, rated one of the toughest climbs in Europe.

It was first considered for inclusion in a stage for the Giro d'Italia in 1972 by Vincenzo Torriani, director of the Giro d'Italia from 1949 to 1989, but after visiting it he decided it was too hard.

The 8 km climb begins near Lake Garda in Castello di Brenzone, between Bardolino and Malcesine. Steep sections can be from 15% to 18%, and even more than 20%.

Recommended gearing is a compact with 34/29:

The action will stake place on Stage 3, April 19th.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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 Team Behind the Team

2011-11-30T05:08:00.000-08:00

Let's take a look at the organization behind the Lampre-ISD riders, for the approximately 30 riders there are 32 in the supporting team:

General Manager Giuseppe Saronni (yes, the same Saronni that in 1982 he won the World Cycling Championship at Goodwood House, England, beating American Greg LeMond and Ireland's Sean Kelly)

Medical staff: led by Doctor Guardascione, will include Doctor Beltemacchi, Doctor De Grandi, Doctor Pollastri and Doctor Ronch

Technical staff: coordinated by Roberto Damiani, will include sport directors Bogdan Bondariew, Fabrizio Bontempi, Sandro Lerici, Orlando Maini, Maurizio Piovani and Bruno Vicino

Mechanics: the care of the team's Wilier bikes are the responsibility of mechanics Baron, Bortoluzzo, Carminati, Gaia, Kunchenko, Pengo and Romanò

Communications managers: Andrea Appiani and Carlo Saronni

Massage therapists: Bertolone, Bolzonaro, Borgognoni, Capelli, Della Torre, Inselvini, Napolitano and Varalli

Team bus driver: Ezio Bozzolo

Team secretary: Rosita Formenti

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

1978 Confente Price List

2011-11-29T14:36:00.000-08:00

Click on image to enlarge.

Thanks Velo-Retro.com for the image.

You can find much more information about Mario Confente by using the ICJ custom search on the right margin.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Sidi Ergo 3 Carbon Vernice

2011-11-28T16:20:00.000-08:00

The winning partnership between Sidi Sport and Liquigas Sport continues. Once again Sidi Sport shoes will be used by Liquigas-Cannondale.

Ivan Basso, Vincenzo Nibali and all the other riders from the Liquigas-Cannondale team will be supplied with the new Ergo 3 Carbon Vernice and the Genius 6.6 Carbon Lite model, shoes from the top of the line in the Sidi Sport collection for the road sector.

The new Ergo 3 Carbon Vernice is the shoe which is the new top model for 2012. For Liquigas Cannondale, Sidi chose to produce this shoe in special colors. Dino Signori (right), founder and owner of Sidi Sport, and his daughter Rosella presented the new shoes to Team Manager Roberto Amadio with the Ergo 3 Carbon Vernice in special graphics dedicated exclusively to the team. These special graphics were custom made for the team and are not available in stores.

The Ergo 3 Carbon Vernice is lighter and more resistant than ever, made in Lorica® microfiber, patent leather and nylon mesh in a mix of technology and design. For the first time the shoe features graphics printed both on the external uppers as well as inside the shoe for an even more attractive look. The Vent sole in carbon features an air flow mechanism that guarantees major breathability for the foot.

The shoes were presented during the dinner organized by Sidi Sport to celebrate San Crispino, the "Protective Saint of Shoemakers".

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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 Clothes Hanger

2011-11-28T08:04:00.000-08:00

Do any of these exist?

If someone has a Campagnolo tennis racquet please send a photo in. Campagnolo also made corkscrews, nutcrackers, and car wheels.

Thanks Velo-Retro.com for finding the image.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Fan Club Season

2011-11-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

After a long season many of the riders get together with their fan club for a luncheon or dinner to celebrate.

Recently the Damiano Cunego Fan Club celebrated in Peschiera del Garda at Lake Garda. More than 200 supporters attended along with teammates Marzano and Bertagnolli.

"It's always a beautiful thing when you have the chance to celebrate with all your friends," Cunego explained. "During races I always see so many of my fans on the sides of the roads, they're outstanding and there are no fans like them. I think it's important to celebrate with them."

Another rider celebrating with his fans in Verona was Elia Viviani (center of photo) of Liquigas-Cannondale. This up and coming rider won his first Pro Tour stage victory this year at the Tour of Beijing.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

"Bianchi On Tour", 2012 Test Bike

2011-11-25T06:26:00.000-08:00

With Bianchi sponsoring Androni Giocattoli-CIPI and now Vacansoleil-DCM (which will be using Bianchi Oltre bikes in all the major tours) they are launching a new bike test tour around Italy. Fans will be able to test ride the Oltre and the Methanol SL2 and Methanol 29 SL mtbs.

The schedule, all Saturday and Sundays:
- Veneto, December 3 and 4, 2011 at HOTEL ASOLO (Asolo, TV)

- Lazio, January 28 and 29, 2012 (location details for this and following events not yet announced)

- Sicily, February 4 and 5, 2012

- Piemonte, February 25 and 26, 2012.

- Sardinia, March 3 and 4, 2012

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Beware of Fake Pinarello Bikes, Part II

2011-11-24T07:59:00.000-08:00

Back in March, here, we discussed the topic of the fake Pinarello bikes coming out of Asia. The fake Dogmas could be identified by slight differences from the real Pinarello bikes. With the Pinarello release of the new Dogma2 the counterfeiters have also become more precise and the visual differences between a real Dogma2 and a fake is becoming much more difficult to determine.

Fake Dogma2s:

Buy only from authorized dealers to ensure you are not buying a fake Pinarello.

Pinarello now has addeed this statement on their website:
"The Pinarello Group would like to communicate to all of its customers that preventive measures and legal action have been undertaken in order to protect our trademarks, patents and goods worldwide. This move is to prevent the increasing instances of counterfeiting and the sale of non-original or fake products. Intellectual property is fundamental for our group and is guaranteed through the registration and maintenance of trademarks and patents around the world.

The Pinarello Group, from today, shall devote considerable time & effort in order to monitor the trafficking of counterfeit goods via the internet. The aim is to combat the growing phenomenon of fake products in the marketplace. At the same time, we shall also be sending a strong message to offenders by having their counterfeit Pinarello products removed from popular online auction and general websites.

We wish to inform our customers that all our products are sold exclusively via our official Pinarello Dealers and Points; you can find your closest dealer by visiting our official website www.pinarello.com . Our resellers are at your complete disposal and shall provide you with all the information required prior to the purchase of our products/s. We remind that our warranty and the after-sale services are only available upon the purchase of our genuine & original products."

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 Colnago for Ferrari, CF8

2011-11-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

Available in two colors as pictured; click on photos to enlarge.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2011 Gran Fondo Colnago, Miami

2011-11-23T06:36:00.000-08:00

Miami hosted the final event of the 2011 Gran Fondo Colnago series, with stars from the world of professional cycling and Formula 1 joining 1500 participants from 46 countries.

Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich was the special guest for the event and he was joined by Giro d’Italia winners Gilberto Simoni and Stefano Garzelli. McLaren-Mercedes Formula 1 driver Jenson Button also took part.

The Gran Fondo Colnago Miami was the final event of the 2011 series. Others were held in San Diego, Los Angeles/Beverly Hills and Philadelphia. Colnago sponsored all the events.

“The USA Gran Fondo events are a great way for us to reach out to our clients in North America,” Alessandro Colnago said after riding with Ullrich and Button.

Satisfaction even from the organizing committee: “The year ends with the fourth Gran Fondo USA we planned, and also Miami, after San Diego, Los Angeles/Beverly Hills and Philadelphia has proved to be welcoming and warm for the emotion that it conveyed not only to the participants but also to ourselves, the organization staff” said Matteo Gerevini, the creator of this format that joins the cycling made in Italy with the American desire for quality events. “And for the next year, to these events we add two others in Nevada and Colorado”, commented Gerevini.”

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Registration of UCI "ProTeams" for the 2012 season

2011-11-22T10:20:00.000-08:00

An update from the UCI on the team selection for "World Tour"" status (these teams must be invited, and must participate, in all major races):

"At 2nd November, UCI had registered the teams already holding a current licence and whose applications satisfied the registration conditions set out in the UCI regulations.

The following teams were concerned:
- Astana Pro Team
- BMC Racing Team
- Garmin-Cervélo
- Lampre - ISD
- Liquigas - Cannondale
- Movistar Team
- Rabobank
- Sky Procycling
- Vacansoleil-DCM* (*UCI decision on November 9th)

In accordance with the UCI regulations, the Licensing Commission was requested by the UCI administration to adjudicate on the refusal to register as well as the issuing of the UCI WorldTour licence to an applying team. As a result of the hearings held on 15th, 16th and 18th November 2011, the Licensing Commission has ruled as follows:

The UCI WorldTour licence was issued to the following teams:

- Katusha Team 2012-2015
- FDJ 2012-2014
- Lotto Belisol Team 2012-2015
- Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 2012-2014
- Team Saxo Bank 2012

Team Europcar’s application for a licence was rejected.

In addition, the Licensing Commission acknowledged the withdrawal of the GEOX-TMC team’s application.

In accordance with UCI regulations, the applications of these two teams have been forwarded to the UCI administration, so that the latter may assess the possibility of registering these teams as Professional Continental Teams.

Finally, the Licensing Commission granted registration for the 2012 season to the following teams:

- AG2R La Mondiale
- Euskaltel-Euskadi

The decisions concerning the GreenEDGE Cycling and RadioShack-Nissan teams will be announced later – the Commission is currently waiting for the teams to provide additional documents.

Therefore, as it stands, 16 teams will take part in the UCI WorldTour 2012. In accordance with UCI regulations, a maximum of 18 UCI ProTeams may take part in the UCI WorldTour.

The full list of UCI Professional Continental Teams registered for the 2012 event will be announced on 12th December.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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 Dream: Reviving the Vigorelli

2011-11-21T06:43:00.000-08:00

The famous Velodromo Vigorelli of via Arona 19, Milano, was the site of a demonstration and petition signing by cyclists yesterday calling attention to this cathedral of cycling which has remained unused* and in disrepair for decades.

Driven by a new bicycle culture and a large group of visionary dreamers there are hopes that the Vigorelli track can be returned to the splendor of its heyday. The municipal government of Milano has been criticized for not showing the foresight to recognize how an investment in restoring and improving the structure would increase the visibility for the city, especially the world of cycling. Supporters argue that the Vigorelli would not be a burden to the city but instead a resource such as the e Teatro alla Scala, the San Siro Stadium and the Castello Sforzesco.

In 2007 a new, covered, Vigorelli as part of a sports palace concept was proposed to the mayor of Milano. The proposal would re-launch track racing but will also have the capability of hosting other sports such as basketball, tennis, boxing, hockey, and concerts. At a cost of 50 million Euro, and an estimated 3 years to build, the proposal went nowhere.

In 2009 the specific project plans were unveiled and the next step in the project was to seek financing. The city was committed to funding 12 million Euro of the estimated 50 million Euro project cost; the other 38 million Euro would have come from the private sector. The goal was to inaugurate the new facility in 2012. The main elements of the plan were:
-the exterior is unchanged,
-installation of a transparent bubble roof (photo above)
-new track of 250 meters in length (in order to comply with World Championship regulations; when the Vigorelli was built in 1935 it was 397.57 meters in length),
-permanent seating expanded from 9,000 to 10,000 seats,
-in addition to permanent seating there will be 2,000 track-side seats for track events,
-quick re-configuration of the facility for sporting events (such as basketball, hockey and boxing) and concerts,
-22 box suites

Take a look at the video of the then proposed future for the Vigorelli:

Yesterday's event also incuded the first edition of the "PETTENELLA CUP", a trackstand (surplace) competition. Read more about Giovanni Pettenella here, a good read.

*the infield is used for local American football league teams.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 Giro d'Italia: "Be the Next Fighter"

2011-11-21T05:02:00.001-08:00

The Giro d'Italia today announced their latest contest to be held via social media. The latest initiative promoted by RCS Sport,organizers of the Corsa Rosa on behalf of La Gazzetta dello Sport, is named "Be the Next Fighter".

From November 21 to 28th any fan who aims to be the next “Pink Fighter” can post their personal photos on the Corsa Rosa Facebook page, www.facebook.com/giroditalia.

From November 29th to December 1st the McCann-Eriksson agency, which is managing the
Giro campaign, will select the top 10 photos.

From December 2nd to December 5th Facebook fans will vote for the best three candidates among the 10 pre-selected by McCann-Eriksson.

On December 12th there will be a photo shoot of the best three candidates.

On December 15th the Girod’Italia 2012 Pink Fighter will be chosen.

If you are a Facebook user be sure to check www.facebook.com/giroditalia to see what is being sent in; you will have to "like" the page first.

We remind you that the 2012 Giro d’Italia will start on Saturday, May 5th, 2012 from Herning, Denmark, and it will end Sunday, May 27th, in Milan.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

"Just to win a salami in ridiculous races."

2011-11-20T06:43:00.000-08:00

“Interest in doping has lessened,” Italian Olympic committee (CONI)head Ettore Torri said at an anti-doping conference in Faenza. “Before there were few tests and the penalties were light. Now it’s not worth it any more.”

He claims, however, that while the situation among professional riders has improved monumentally the situation in amateur racing is getting worse. "The situation there is serious. I’ve met entire families who dope. From lawyers to manual labor workers, they do anything just to win a salami in ridiculous races.”

It's not only in amateur races. Several of the major granfondo events have been tainted by doping.

On the subject of doping, the "my steak was tainted" defense by Alberto Contador begins tomorrow before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. The hearing will last until Thursday, a decision is not expected until next year. This for Contador's positive for Clenbuterol in the 2010 Tour de France. If the finding is in favor of the UCI, Contador could be stripped of his 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giroi d'Italia victory (more backgound 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, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Bianchi to Sponsor Vacansoleil-DCM

2011-11-18T19:01:00.000-08:00

For 2012 and 2013 Bianchi will be supplying the Vacansoleil-DCM "World Tour" level team. You will now be seeing Bianchi bikes in races such as the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España, Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix.

Pictured above is the Vacansoleil-DCM Bianchi Oltre.

Bianchi also renewed its existing accord with Androni Giocattoli-CIPI through 2012.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

2012 Maratona dles Dolomites

2011-11-18T11:37:00.000-08:00

There were 29,100 entry applications from 75 countries for the 2012 Maratona dles Dolomites. The random draw for approximately 8,000 riders has now taken place, you can find the names at www.maratona.it.

For those that did not get selected there remain two ways to still gain an entry:
1) 170 registrations will be available at increased price; the money raised (minus the 83 euro registration fee that is included) will be donated to a supported charity:
* 150 GOLD registrations at a price of 200,00 euro;
* 15 PLATINUM registrations at a price of 400,00 euro;
* 5 CRYSTAL registrations at a price of 1.500,00 euro
These registrations will be sold (payment by credit card) on www.maratona.it on November 22, 2011, starting at 6 p.m. (GMT+1)

2) In addition, 165 entries (150 GOLD entries and 15 PLATINUM entries) will be sold online on www.maratonat.it on March 22, 2012.

Note: Homelites, the tour package partner of the Maratona, has sold out.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Coming Soon: Campagnolo EPS Website

2011-11-18T04:10:00.000-08:00

Campagnolo will soon have a dedicated website for its new Electronic Power Shift gruppo. Stay tuned!

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Fi’zi:k’s New KURVE Saddles

2011-11-17T06:37:00.000-08:00

The Pozzoleone, Italy, fi’zi:k is introducing a new line of saddles, the KURVE series. Here is their announcement:

"Three years in the works, fi’zi:k’s new line of KURVE saddles are now landing on the shelves. Based on the fi’zi:k-developed saddle fit system - SPINE Concept – the KURVE line offers three corresponding saddle shapes that answer the question are you a Snake, Chameleon or a Bull? KURVE are high-performance, technologically advanced saddles that operate on a comfort platform.

“KURVE was soft-launched to a select group of VIP media at fi’zi:k’s bi-annual exclusive ba:kstage event,” said Alberto Fonte, fi’zi:k’s European Marketing Director, “and the buzz was immediate. The new KURVE line of high-end performance saddles are unlike traditional saddles in terms of comfort and appearance. They will change the way you think about comfort.”

KURVE is the culmination of now standard-to-fi’zi:k-manufacturing technologies – WingFlex™, TwinFlex™ and Mobius rail – and new technologies: Tuner Insert and Re:Flex. Each technology – when isolated - provides a benefit to the rider and a distinguishing saddle feature, but it is the combination of the five technologies that create a unique product-response or interface while the cyclist is engaged in riding.

TwinFlex™, introduced in 2001 with the Aliante, refers to the shell structure that uses interwoven textiles allowing the base to flex. WingFlex™, having originated with the 2004 Arione, allows the saddle’s sides to break-in and flex as the rider pedals. The Mobius Rail, introduced on the all-carbon K1 saddle in 2007, means the rail is one continuous ‘circular’ structure with no beginning and no end. The design not only eliminates potential pressures points toward the rear of the saddle, but with KURVE, the 2014-T6 cold forged aluminum rails also provide additional side-to-side-flex or motion as the rider pedals.

New to KURVE are the Re:Flex shell and the Tuner Insert technologies. The base of all KURVE saddles – called Re:Flex - is a sensory receptor that responds to the body in motion. Made of interwoven thermoplastic composites with varying degrees of layers, the entire shell flexes. The contact points – sit bone and perineum or soft tissue areas - have fewer composite layers and respond to the body’s movement by flexing and providing pressure relief. Thicker composite layers on specific areas of the Re:Flex base provide stiffness for power and leverage. The relationship between rider and saddle is reactive as the saddle responds to the movement of the rider’s contact points on the saddle mirroring the motion of the rider.

The final piece of new KURVE technology is the Tuner Insert. The Tuner Insert is an interchangeable nose piece that allows the rider to customize their flex. KURVE comes with two screw-in tuner inserts, soft and hard, that can be easily swapped out with an included Torx T20 key. The Tuner changes the overall stiffness and/or flexibility of the base and when combined with the properties of the RE:FLEX base, provide an overall smoother, shock absorbing ride.

“First reactions have been reminiscent to the Arione intro,” said USA marketing manager, Suzette Ayotte. “The Arione changed the direction and momentum of the fi’zi:k brand forever and sometimes a brand gets only one opportunity to do that. With a static product like a saddle, there are no moving parts, and we tend to think there isn’t much you can do to it technologically. Our goal was to create a saddle that ‘changes the way you think about comfort,” Ayotte continued. “The Arione accomplished that and seven years later, KURVE is doing it again.”

Working in conjunction with SPINE Concept, the KURVE line is represented by three distinct shapes based on spine flexibility and riding style. The long and flat KURVE Snake represents the Arione for riders that prefer to use the entire length of the saddle, moving forward when climbing and after when descending. The wider and ‘waved’ KURVE Bull on the other end of the SPINE Concept fit spectrum represents the Aliante, for riders with less flexibility who tend to remain in one spot whether on the tops or drops, or whether climbing, descending or powering along flats. The KURVE Chameleon represents the Antares for the cyclist who falls somewhere in between, preferring a wider platform (compared to the narrow Arione) with a substantial surface to move around and adjust for comfort.

The 2011 line of KURVE Snake, Bull and Chameleon saddles are all-black with corresponding laser etched ‘animals’. Each weighs 220 grams."

Click on these images to enlarge for more details:

Visit www.fizik.com for more information.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Wilier Triestina Bike Tests

2011-11-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

Wilier Triestina is making test rides available throughout Italy of their 2012 Zero.7, Cento1 SLR and MTB bikes. If you can't catch a test ride you might still want to visit some of these bike shops when you can:
2011
19-20 Novembre
CICLI ARGENTIN
Borgo Vicenza, 54
CASTELFRANCO VENETO (TV)

26-27 Novembre
MITO SPORT & BIKE
VIA Kennedy, 32/5
MAROSTICA (VI)

2-3-4 Dicembre
CICLI CORNALE
Via 7 Martiri, 12
VALDAGNO (VI)

3-4 Dicembre
BIKO S.R.L.
Via Vitellio, 37
VIADANA (MN)

Dal 6 all’ 11 Dicembre
LUCCHI MARCELLINO
Via Romea, 119
CESENA (FC)

Dal 13 al 18 Dicembre
CICLI SOPRANI
Via Amendola, 64
REGGIOLO (RE)

Dal 20 al 31 Dicembre
CICLI BOGHETTA
Via Pascoli, 64
BELLARIA (RN)

2012
Dal 3 all’8 Gennaio
NUOVA CICLI PALETTI
Via Bellaria, 386/A
MODENA

Dal 10 al 15 Gennaio
RIDER
Via Reale, 15
GLORIE DI BAGNACAVALLO (RA)

Dal 21 al 26 Febbraio
LA BICI S.R.L.
Via Laghirano, 2
PARMA

Dal 28 Febbraio al 4 Marzo
CICLI RONCHINI
Via Tozzoli, 8
IMOLA (BO)

17-18 Marzo
BIKE & MORE (FINSPORT)
Via Verdines, 9/B
SCENA (BZ)

21-22 Aprile
BIKE EVOLUTION
Largo Milite Ignoto 5B
BUSALLA (GE)

Photo: Zero.7 model

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Detour: Neuron Shifting and Robots

2011-11-15T19:27:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile we detour from Italian cycling to another subject area...this time to some interesting videos.

First, with electronic shifting it now becomes possible to control shifting with your brain:

Next, a cycling robot that can steer and balance:

Lastly, a robotic wheel truing system:

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.

Gilberto Simoni at Gran Fondo USA-Miami

2011-11-15T04:35:00.000-08:00

Here is the other great super guest, in addition to Jan Ullrich, that will be at the Gran Fondo Colnago Miami: Gilberto Simoni, the two time winner of the Giro d'Italia! You can ride with him this Sunday or you can meet him Saturday night at the Gran Fondo Gala at La Piaggia.

To purchase a ticket for the Gala click here and select GRAN VIP COCKTAIL.

Online registration for the Gran Fondo Colnago Miami closes today, November 15, at midnight. Registration will re-open on Saturday, November 19 at the Event Expo pending availability. THERE WILL BE NO REGISTRATION THE DAY OF THE EVENT. NO EXCEPTIONS. All event details 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, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 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.