The Final GoodBye to Franco Ballerini

Five thousand people crammed the piazza in front of the church in Casalguidi (Pistoia), in Tuscany, to attend the funeral of Franco Ballerini on Tuesday afternoon.

Generations of champions were present from Corrieri to Martini, from Soldani to Gimondi, from Moser to Saronni, from Fonndriest to Cipollini, from Bartoli to bettini, from Petacchi to Di Luca, from Cunego to Paolini, from Pezzo to Bronzini. Teammates Tafi and Scinto, and Zanini and Nardello. And other teammates and friends.

RIP

Gaerne: New Contest for Lampre Team Shoes

Gaerne has launched a new contest for their G.Myst Plus cycling shoes in the Lampre-Farnese Vini edition. These are the same cycling shoes used by Damiano Cunego and Alessandro Petacchi, and the Lampre-Farnese Vini team.

The contest begins today, and ends April 30th. Each participant can only enter once. The drawing for three pairs of the Lampre-Farnese Vini cycling shoes will held on May 31st.

To enter go to http://www.gaerne.com/ and on the home page click on CLICCA E VINCE or CLICK AND WIN.

Gaerne is located in Coste di Maser (Treviso) and are also the supplier of shoes to World Champion Cadel Evans.

Photo: Lampre-Farnese Vini Edition shoes

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. Cinelli fan? Visit CINELLI ONLY.

Ballerini's Paris-Roubaix Victories on ESPN Classic

ESPN Classic (Channel 216 on SKY) will be showing the 1995 and 1998 Paris-Roubaix victories of Franco Ballerini at 2200 and again at 2400 (Italy) on Wednesday, February 10th. The program will be repeated at 1900 on Thursday.

Ballerini was also 2nd in the 1993 Paris-Roubaix behind Gilbert Duclos-Lasalle of France and also 3rd in the 1994 Paris-Roubaix behind Andrei Tchmil of Russia and Fabio Baldato of Italy.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. Cinelli fan? Visit CINELLI ONLY.

Passo Sella in Graham Watson's ''Landscapes of Cycling''

The Passo Sella in the fantastic Dolomites is the cover photo of renowned cycling photographer Graham Watson's "Landscapes of Cycling". My hint: GO!

Book description:
"For the first time in his 27-year career, premier cycling photographer Graham Watson shares his unprecedented collection of landscapes from around the globe in Landscapes of Cycling. Combining Watson’s passionate coverage of professional bicycle racing with his mastery of natural-light photography, Landscapes of Cycling is a visual feast for cycling enthusiasts and photography lovers alike.

Bicycle racing is a fascinating, grueling, fast-paced, and colorful sport. Professional races take place in spectacular locations all over the world-alongside sun-drenched fields, on twisted roadways overlooking the strikingly blue Mediterranean Sea, over snowy mountain passes, and down the ancient cobblestone streets of Belgian villages.

Organized by season, Landscapes of Cycling features never-before-published panoramic photographs and a generous sampling of Graham Watson’s most famous scenic shots. With captions and commentary from the master himself, this landmark work belongs on the shelves of racing fans and photographers everywhere."

Hardcover with dust jacket. 240 pp. 11 x 11. Over 150 color photographs, printed on glossy paper.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. Cinelli fan? Visit CINELLI ONLY.

"Ernesto" Frame by Ernesto Colnago

A not often seen "Ernesto" frame by Colnago. Anyone know the story with these frames?

Key items mentioned by the seller:

-56cm C-C Ernesto Special, Columbus steel.
-Campagnolo drop outs, with the number 14 stamped into one of the rear drop-outs and steerer tube
-produced in Cambiago, Italy, by Colnago
-"Ernesto Special" on chain stays
-Letter "E" stamped on each side of the fork and into the top of the downtube
getting rid off to make more room, and to focus more on my other bikes. to check out stuff that came off this bike check out my other auctions. thanks and feel free to chip in with any questions.

Addendum, November, 2014: Another "Ernesto" frame surfaced with the following comment and photographs:
"Spoke to someone at Colnago USA and they told me through email this model was made for 1 season for the European market only.  Very limited number made.  Very similar to the Super and Colners made by Colnago."

 

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. Cinelli fan? Visit CINELLI ONLY.

1952 78rpm Record, Coppi at Tour de France

It's interesting what shows up....

Here, a 78 rpm record with the photos of riders of the 1952 Tour de France which Fausto Coppi won.

Photo: Courtesy of Otis Records

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog and there is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page. Cinelli fan? Visit CINELLI ONLY.

Italian National Team Coach Ballerini Dies in Rally Car Crash

Italian national cycling coach and former Paris-Roubaix winner Franco Ballerini died on Sunday morning after being involved in a crash during a rally car event in Tuscany, Italy.

According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Ballerini, 45, was competing in the rally within the municipality of Larciano as a navigator for pilot Alessandro Ciardi when their vehicle left the road and crashed.

Both were rushed to nearby Pistoia Hospital where despite the efforts of doctors Ballerini passed away soon afterwards.

Ballerini rode as a professional between 1986 and 2001. He won Paris-Roubaix twice, in 1995 and 1998. The cobbled Classic was also his last race as a professional when he retired in 2001.

He quickly became the Italian national professional men's road coach and was in charge of the team that won the rainbow jersey with Mario Cipollini in 2002, Paolo Bettini in 2006 and 2007, and most recently with Alessandro Ballan in Varese in 2008.

Paolo Bettini also won a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics under Ballerini's management.

Cyclingnews spoke to Pat McQuaid as the UCI President was about to board a plane for Vancouver, Canada. He hadn’t heard the news, and was stunned to hear of Ballerini’s passing.

“What can you say - it is a tragedy for Italian and world cycling,” he stated. “He was a very good figure in the Italian team over several years now, creating an importance within the Italian cycling as regards to the title of World professional Champion.

“[The World Championships] has been his biggest day every year with the Italian team. He had a very successful tenure as coach, and he was also a great cyclist too. It is a tragedy that he goes like this.”

Story source: www.cyclingnews.com

Photo: Franco Ballerini winning Paris-Roubaix in 1998; Franco Ballerini and Paolo Bettini with the Team Mapei Rally car at the Monza Rally Show in November 2009