Michele Bartoli Crono Squadre (Team Time Trial)

Marco Mori, owner of Gusto Cycling-Auhtentic Italian Cycling Holidays, reports on the return participation in the "Crono Squadre della Versilia-Michele Bartoli".  In 2008, Bartoli launched the 1st edition of a variation on the granfondo for amateurs, a team time trail for amateurs held in the same way as the grand tours. The event is held in March in Forte dei Marmi, the course is 31 km in length.

Marco's report and video:

“Nonna’s La Squadra” came back to participate in the Michele Bartoli team time trial to try and improve on last years time and learn from experience. Well we did just that. a much stonger team this time and an agreement by all not to hang back for those who couldn’t keep the pace.

The evening before the usual one drink before bed was extended to 2 and then 3 but we did get to bed earlier then last year. In the morning Mirko (pro Masseur) popped in to give everyone a professional massage which gave everyone the focus for the morning ahead!!

NONNA’S la Squadra started off amazingly strong at well over 50kph in the first 10km!! The weather was cloudy with strong winds coming from the sea plus occassional rain. Massimo, my colleague, and I gave the guys lots of encouragement via the car horns and general shouts of support. The boys had a much slicker line throughout which made a huge difference to last year and constant regular changes at the front allowed the boys to recuperate. However, the very strong start began to show as the pace whilst still high began to take its toll and as the pace settled down to 43kph which was the average speed.

The team began to shed 1,2 and in the last 10km a 3rd rider retired….with 5km remaining a 4th rider, Matt, fell back and I thought that was it….the team was down to 4!!! But after 1km Matt Rodgers emerged from the rain, passed the car and stormed back within the group (see video..it’s true!) much to the surprise of his team mates…a super effort by Matt to get back on allowed the minimum 5 riders to gain an official time and position.

Nonna’s La Squadra achieved a 2 minute improvement on last year and 30 places with a time of 43m 58s in 43kph average speed..the team came in 78th Place from 165 teams a great effort…..the winning team was 37m 06sec in 50.12kph!!!

After cycle ride for well earned lunch in the artifarti town of Pietrasanta and to the 2nd most expensive wine cellar in Italy!!"


Michele Bartoli Team Time Trial - Tuscany - Nonna's La Squadra came back!! from Gusto Cycling on Vimeo.

Marco's 2012 report and video are here.


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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are now more than 2,700 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Cronosquadre della Versilia Michele Bartoli, Part II

As you can see from the photos the Cronosquadre della Versilia Michele Bartoli creates, for amateurs, the same atmosphere as a TTT in a grand tour.

The men's team winners were Veloline in 0:44:39.20 (44 minutes, 39.2 seconds); average speed of 51.5 km/h

The women's team winner were ASD F.lli Lunardelli Femminile in 0:54:51.40 at 41.9 km/h

Mixed team winners were S.S. Capannuccia in 0:48:55:.15 at 47.0 km/h

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 1,300 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.

Cronosquadre della Versilia Michele Bartoli, Part I

Yesterday was the 3rd edition of the "Cronosquadre della Versilia Michele Bartoli". After working two years on establishing a granfondo that bears his name, Michele Bartoli decided in 2007 to move forward on the implementation of a project that would bring to amateurs the opportunity to experience one of the highlights of any grand tour: the team time trial (cronosquadra).

For the first event, in 2008, he anticipated it would attract 35-40 teams of approximately 300 cyclists. Instead, 89 squads representing 700 cyclists were registered before registration had to be closed. Thirty teams had to be turned away.

The event is open to amateur cyclists, both men and women. Cyclist from 19 to 70 years of age may participate. The time trial team can be composed of men, women or can be mixed. Each team can be composed from 5 to 8 participants. Finish time is based upon the the fifth to cross the finish line.

For teams participating in the CAMPIONATO ITALIANO FCI category there are three classes based on the total age composition of the team.

The course is 37.5 km, essentially flat, starting in Forte dei Marmi. Riders then head north to Montignoso, then Marina di Massa before turning south towards Viareggio. In Viareggio riders turn north back to the finish in Forte dei Marmi. Road is closed to traffic.

My friend Eros Poli, along with Bartoli, were part of the GIORDANA team which was not competing for classification. Nevertheless, they obviously put the hammer down and had the best time of the day: 42 minutes, 45 seconds, almost 54 km/h.

In the next entry some photos of the other teams. Believe me they are as serious as the GIORDANA boys.

You just have to love the passion Italians have for cycling. Who else is going to start a TTT series?

Photos: the TTT course is along the sea; Bartoli (left) and Poli (center); the team in action, Eros is the tallest guy.

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 1,300 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.