2010 Giro d'Italia, Stage 21 Results

Verona, 30 May: Ivan Basso has won the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia. Arroyo is second ahead of Nibali. Scarponi, in 4th at one second behind Nibali at the start of the day, finished in the same position.

Gustav Larsson (Team Saxo Bank) won today's 15 km time trial which included a 4.5 km ascent of the Torricelli.

It was Basso's second Giro d'Italia victory, his first being in 2006. Basso is the first rider to come back and win a grand tour after a two year suspension (implicated in the Operacion Puerto blood doping investigation).

"It's a special day for all my family. We suffered all together, and so we're celebrating together," Basso said. "I'm happy to announce that I'm going to be a father for a third time in a few months. I found out a few days ago and really wanted to make it to Verona in the pink jersey to celebrate the news. I think this Giro win is the best one because I fought for the pink jersey right to the end. I crashed on the stage to Montalcino and then there was the disaster of the stage to L'Aquila, when I lost time. I honestly thought I might not win. Arroyo was very strong and rides for a strong team. It caused us a lot of problems but we fought back with pride and did everything right to win. I have to thank my teammates yet again. Especially Nibali who finished with me on the podium. He'll win the Giro one day."

Basso announced he will attempt a Giro d'Italia and Tour de France double and will begin preparations on Monday. "I'll ride the Tour, but I don't know if I'll be fantastic. But I won't go just to make up the numbers," Basso said. "Contador has dominated the Tour in recent years, but I've improved a lot. I've got to believe I can do a great Tour and that's my goal. I didn't ride a lot of races before the Giro because I wanted to peak for the Giro and the Tour. It's worked so far. Now I can only hope it will work at the Tour too."

Jersey winners:
General Classification: Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
Points Classification: Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team
Mountains Classification: Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Omega Pharma-Lotto
Young Rider Classification: Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank

Final GC:
1 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 87:44:01
2 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:01:51
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:02:37
4 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 0:02:50
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 0:03:27
6 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 0:07:06
7 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0:07:22
8 Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 0:09:39
9 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - Columbia 0:14:20
10 Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Liquigas-Doimo 0:14:51
11 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:17:10
12 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 0:19:41
13 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:23:03
14 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:25:21
15 Mauricio Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank 0:32:29
16 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram 0:34:49
17 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:36:44
18 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank 0:37:27
19 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 0:39:43
20 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:45:17
21 Francis De Greef (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:50:08
22 Iban Mayoz Echeverria (Spa) Footon-Servetto 1:07:37
23 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1:10:16
24 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 1:10:55
25 Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) Acqua & Sapone 1:11:10
26 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Omega Pharma-Lotto 1:19:31
27 Chris Sorensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 1:19:34
28 Yury Trofimov (Rus) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1:19:58
29 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Omega Pharma-Lotto 1:20:05
30 Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez (Col) Androni Giocattoli 1:24:28
31 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Team Katusha 1:25:52
32 Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 1:27:52
33 Laurent Didier (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 1:31:36
34 Johann Tschopp (Swi) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 1:34:31
35 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Caisse d'Epargne 1:37:06
36 Jan Bakelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 1:37:40
37 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d'Epargne 1:42:55
38 Marcel Wyss (Swi) Cervelo Test Team 1:44:55
39 Branislau Samoilau (Blr) Quick Step 1:46:02
40 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 1:47:58
41 Andrei Amador Bikkazakova (CRc) Caisse d'Epargne 1:50:40
42 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Astana 1:52:09
43 Massimo Codol (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 1:53:45
44 Michael Barry (Can) Sky Professional Cycling Team 1:55:13
45 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha 2:00:13
46 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team Katusha 2:02:47
47 Cayetano Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col) Acqua & Sapone 2:03:49
48 Markus Eibegger (Aut) Footon-Servetto 2:04:20
49 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 2:08:58
50 Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Omega Pharma-Lotto 2:13:22
51 Jackson Rodriguez (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 2:13:32
52 Carlos Jose Ochoa (Ven) Androni Giocattoli 2:14:39
53 Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2:14:54
54 Juan Horrach Rippoll (Spa) Team Katusha 2:15:29
55 Steven Cummings (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 2:17:55
56 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 2:19:47
57 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin - Transitions 2:20:53
58 Jerome Pineau (Fra) Quick Step 2:22:28
59 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank 2:23:07
60 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Doimo 2:27:19
61 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Cervelo Test Team 2:28:40
62 Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2:29:15
63 Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne 2:29:30
64 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank 2:30:43
65 Francesco Failli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 2:30:45
66 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Androni Giocattoli 2:33:16
67 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 2:39:00
68 David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne 2:40:00
69 Gilberto Simoni (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 2:40:14
70 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana 2:41:18
71 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto 2:42:18
72 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 2:42:22
73 Simone Stortoni (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox 2:45:07
74 Alessandro Bisolti (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox 2:45:11
75 Alessandro Donati (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 2:53:33
76 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 2:58:53
77 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Androni Giocattoli 3:03:44
78 Craig Lewis (USA) Team HTC - Columbia 3:04:01
79 Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Team Katusha 3:04:07
80 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 3:05:57
81 Florian Stalder (Swi) BMC Racing Team 3:09:00
82 Remi Cusin (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne 3:09:45
83 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2R La Mondiale 3:11:06
84 Matthias Russ (Ger) Team Milram 3:12:43
85 Inigo Cuesta Lopez (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 3:12:44
86 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 3:12:56
87 Roman Kireyev (Kaz) Astana 3:13:47
88 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Sky Professional Cycling Team 3:16:25
89 Damien Monier (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne 3:17:13
90 Matthias Brandle (Aut) Footon-Servetto 3:18:09
91 Tiziano dall'Antonia (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 3:20:36
92 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Astana 3:20:57
93 Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 3:22:21
94 Serguei Klimov (Rus) Team Katusha 3:24:12
95 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 3:27:09
96 Robert Forster (Ger) Team Milram 3:29:44
97 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 3:32:33
98 Kalle Kriit (Est) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne 3:34:05
99 Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team 3:34:30
100 Sebastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 3:34:35
101 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 3:34:42
102 Markus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram 3:34:50
103 Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Cervelo Test Team 3:35:19
104 Nico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne 3:39:35
105 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky Professional Cycling Team 3:40:04
106 Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Cervelo Test Team 3:40:16
107 Alan Marangoni (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox 3:41:13
108 Marco Velo (Ita) Quick Step 3:41:32
109 Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Rabobank 3:41:45
110 Guillaume Le Floch (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 3:44:23
111 Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Omega Pharma-Lotto 3:45:11
112 Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) Garmin - Transitions 3:48:11
113 Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 3:48:23
114 Edward King (USA) Cervelo Test Team 3:50:57
115 Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 3:51:50
116 Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank 3:53:24
117 Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Team HTC - Columbia 3:54:35
118 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 3:54:57
119 Julien Fouchard (Fra) Cofidis, le Credit en Ligne 3:57:49
120 Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox 3:58:45
121 Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step 3:59:42
122 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 3:59:49
123 Michael Albasini (Swi) Team HTC - Columbia 4:01:06
124 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team Milram 4:03:02
125 Svein Tuft (Can) Garmin - Transitions 4:03:06
126 Addy Engels (Ned) Quick Step 4:04:57
127 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-Doimo 4:05:53
128 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank 4:07:41
129 Michael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo Bank 4:11:06
130 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank 4:13:27
131 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha 4:13:51
132 Dario Andriotto (Ita) Acqua & Sapone 4:15:17
133 Christopher Sutton (Aus) Sky Professional Cycling Team 4:15:24
134 Frantisek Rabon (Cze) Team HTC - Columbia 4:19:17
135 Rick Flens (Ned) Rabobank 4:21:47
136 Damien Gaudin (Fra) Bbox Bouygues Telecom 4:25:58
137 Cameron Meyer (Aus) Garmin - Transitions 4:26:16
138 Marco Frapporti (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox 4:42:07
139 Marco Corti (Ita) Footon-Servetto 4:48:55

Photos: Bettini

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,400 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.

PEZCYCLING Visits the Peri-Fosse Climb

Jered Gruber, journalist for PEZCYCLING, visited a climb that all Veronese are familiar with, the Peri to Fosse climb. I've enjoyed doing it myself many times. His account, which follows doesn't mention one interesting factoid: at the tabacchi shop on the road leading to the climb you can pay 1 euro for a ticket stub which is to be inserted into machines at the start and end of the climb. The stub will show your times...perfect for bragging, or perhaps, best not shown to your cycling buddies. Only in Italy, right?

Top Rides: The Peri to Fosse Climb
by Jered Gruber

Sometimes my best rides have been those with the least forethought, the least amount of time, the most luck, and just plain looking for the squiggly lines on the map. Such was the case one beautiful April afternoon when we pulled off the Autostrada just north of Verona in a little town called, Peri.

One of my favorite rides from our year spent in Innsbruck was probably one of the most random. Ashley and I were headed down to Istria to spend the weekend with two of our great friends, Michael and Marijana. We wanted to ride that Thursday afternoon, but of course, we were running many hours late, so we'd need to find a place en route to Croatia to ride, and since it was very late, it would be just a short ways down the road from where we lived in Innsbruck.

A quick check on the map for roads heading up from the Adige Valley (the valley that runs north/south from the Reschenpass to Merano to Bolzano to Trento to Verona then to the Adriatic) didn't yield much.

The imposing flanks of the mountains that tower over the valley floor aren't exactly spewing roads. We did find one very squiggly looking road though heading up from a town called Peri - only 220km from Innsbruck. That would work just fine!

We drove down with no idea to expect, except for a climb. 2 hours later, we pulled to a stop at the base of the climb and found it to be a little more famous than we had expected - a Gran Fondo sign adorned the start of the climb.

We were still digging out from a long, long winter. The weather in Innsbruck had been horrible at best, so when we started our ride on this wonderful late March day, we were ready for the worst.

It was a little chilly as we started, but within 5 minutes, we were happily shedding clothes on a bike, outside, for the first time in many months. Our pearly white legs saw daylight for the first time since November of the previous year. It was a triumphant moment as I felt sweat begin to trickle down my brow.

This was uphill bike riding at its finest. I've said it before, I'll say it again - I like em kinda steep. I don't want to climb for four days. I want a solid grade that gets me to the top in as few kilometers as possible without making me call for my sherpa, Lop-Sang. The climb from Peri to Fosse gives just that - an average grade of just under 9% is more than comfortable with a compact gearing of 34x25, or 27 in our case.

Don't scoff at me either - I grew to be very sensitive of climbing grades over the past year. And rightly so! I had an interesting conundrum - I wanted to encourage Ashley, a brand new convert to bike riding, but still do some cool rides. I love Ashley to death, but I'm not going to spend my time riding up and down river valleys.

Of course, 'cool' rides when you live in the Alps means going uphill, so a delicate balance between cool and reasonable needed to be struck. We had some growing pains, like the one time I took her up a climb that averaged over 10% for 12k, but we struck gold with the climb to Fosse. It was steep, but it wasn't too steep. It was a fair challenge because Ashley had the proper gearing on her bike.

The climb itself almost seems like it was designed for bike riding - that 9% grade is pretty close to the ideal grade for churning out the best VAM (climbing rate measured in meters per hour) possible, the 10 switchbacks that dot its 9km are nicely spaced to break things up, and the views, well, the views are stupefyingly perfect.

It didn't take very long before the views began to unfurl before our altitude gaining bikes. That's a welcome change to some climbs where you feel like the view reward is much too highly protected until you get to a point where you've deposited way too much energy and all you get is that one view? You know what I mean.

It's funny looking back on this climb, because when we climbed it, we figured we'd stumbled onto something completely unknown, like we were explorers or something. We only came to find out later that this climb was anything but unknown, it was the opposite of unknown - it's famous.

Sitting in the prime real estate just north of the cycling hot bed of Verona, the climb from Peri to Fosse is according to the great website, Italian Cycling Journal, a must do for all Verona area riders. I'll one up that say it's a must do climb in general.

The Giro apparently thinks it's worth riding as well - the 2008 Giro descended from Fosse to Peri en route to the mountaintop finish at Alpe di Pampeago. A certain, Emanuele Sella won that day, with Denish Menchov giving a sparkling glimpse of the climbing prowess that would take him to overall victory in the next edition.

Anyhow, I digress. The climb is wonderful, it's worth the visit by itself, but especially if you're ever driving through the area. That's the cool part though, because it is such a well trodden path north (or south) from Verona to Bolzano, it's always on the way.

If you're ever riding in the northern part of Italy, the chances that you'll take the Autostrada right past this climb are pretty close to 100% unless you're into adventure car driving through the mountains and taking 17 times longer to get from one place to another.

There's more to this than just the climb though. The climb is honestly just the antipasti, and a really, really tasty antipasti at that. Once we arrived to the top, we took a brief pause, added all of our clothes back on, since apparently it's a lot cooler in March, in the evening, in the shade, 800 meters higher than our parked car. Then we kept on riding. The first views of the countryside beyond the climb top town of Fosse were - insert superlative here.

There were tiny towns dotting every bit of great mountainside as far as the eye could see. At first glance, it was obvious what we had just stumbled onto: it was a playground for bike riding. We only had a little bit more time before the sun disappeared for the day and took the last bit of warmth with it, so we pressed on in the direction of Verona, but only a little ways.

The fresh Spring was doing its best to coax the area out of its slumber and back to life. It was succeeding handsomely as the grasses took that almost electric green color of early Spring, the trees took to budding, the flowers were blooming, it was one of my oft-searched for, seldom found, breathtaking moments - those times when you honestly feel your breath catch in your throat.

I have very few regrets from our time in Austria. One of my biggest though is not getting back to this area to ride bikes. I swore up and down that afternoon that we'd be back to explore this area in earnest, but like most oaths said on a gorgeous spring late afternoon while riding bikes, it fell to the wayside of forgotten ideas, sentenced to a misty memory until just this week when I was going through my old pictures and remembered how incredible that one day in March was.

The riding along this kinda sorta high plateau is bike riding perfection - small towns, curvy roads, tiny roads, orchards, flowers, ups, downs, steep, gentle, sunny. At this moment, I can think of very few places that embody all that I love about riding bikes...in one place. This is one of those holy spots.

We won't be back in Europe for a little while yet, but if you ever find yourself zooming up (or down) the A22 en route to some amazing point in the north (or south), take a few hours to enjoy this special place. It's worth the effort.

The possibilities in the area are innumerable. This is a ride easily taken in from Verona - and hey, there should be a few people in Verona come the end of May next year, correct? I know almost nothing about the area, but from the little bit that I saw, you really can't go wrong. Angel from Italian Cycling Journal has a nice write-up of the area as well.

If you love uphill time trials, there's a time trial from Peri to Fosse every year. Last year's winner stormed to a time of 26 minutes and 54 seconds. Holy moly. For more information go HERE. If you're more into the whole extended bouts of pain thing - there's the Gran Fondo Luca Avesani on September 19, 2010 - the extremely challenging Gran Fondo takes in the gigantic Monte Baldo, Peri-Fosse, amongst others.

After a far too brief hour of exploring the hills and roads just outside of Fosse, we had to turn back and enjoy an immense descent in the last flickers of the day's light. It was a tremendous downhill ride to our car. We arrived back to our car in one of those euphoric states brought about by descending far too fast and not dying compounded by the perfection of the rest of the ride. It'll be a long time before we get back, but I assure you, we will be back.

Photos: a few of the photos that accompanied the article; story and full photo set here. The snow capped mountain in the photos is Monte Baldo which flanks the eastern coast of Lake Garda

If anyone is interested in riding in the Verona area they should consider contacting Eros Poli at: info@eros-poli.com. I can't imagine a better way to ride the incredible roads that Jered writes about.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,000 stories in this blog; the search feature to the right works best for finding things in the blog.

Verona: Proud to Host The Finish of the Giro d'Italia

"We are proud to be the choice of the organizers for conclusion of the next Giro d'Italia in Verona. The Arena (ed. note: the Roman coliseum in Piazza Bra) is a setting worthy of the event, and the city of Verona will be up to the task of hosting such an important event." These are the comments by Mayor Flavio Tosi to the news that Verona and its Arena will be hosting the final stage of the 2010 Giro d'Italia.


Verona Sports Counselor Federico Sboarina added, "May 30, 2010, will be a great day for Verona and for sport in the city which falls 26 years after the historic 1984 edition won by Francesco Moser."


Photo: aerial view of the Arena, Piazza Bra, Verona


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Verona to Host Giro d'Italia Finish

After years of campaigning it appears that Verona has finally wrestled the finish of the Giro d'Italia from Milano. cyclingnews.com is reporting that an Italian source has revealed that the finish will be in Verona.



Photo by me: Verona sunset



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Pietro in Verona: Cycling and Aida

My friend Peter, aka "Pietro", files his second report from Verona where he's riding before hooking up with an Andy Hampsten tour.

"Thursday, August 27th. Pretty much a rest day and it is broiling again in Verona. Man, if you walk in the sun, it’s roastville. I try to walk in the shade but even so its sweatsville.

I had cappuccino and croissant at the TUBINO coffee shop Angelo recommended. The cappuccino and croissant were most excellent.

I did some walking around and decided to go into the Duomo. They do great work in these churches.

Later in the day, I decided to go back to Chesini bike shop to visit Paolo. There were a bunch of guys talking English so I went upstairs to check out the clothes again. When they came up, I started a conversation and lo and behold these were guys from the tour. One of the leaders was there, Bruce Hildebrand (he used to race with Bob Roll, etc., and is a journalist). He talks about all the guys he’s interviewed, working the TdF, knowing just about everyone. Anyway, I bought another bike outfit (Les Amis de Eros and Chesini).

As I was trying on the shorts, I ask if they could take my bike box to the hotel. Talk about fate, I took them back to my hotel and loaded both my bike and bike box into their van. Now, tomorrow morning, I just call a taxi and take my two bags with me (saved me from having to deal with four items). Also, as we were leaving, they were talking to a man and a woman. It was Andy Hampsten and his assistant Elaine. We made our introduction.

Found a good restaurant in the shade and had dinner prior to the opera. After dinner, a little bit of people watching. The Italians know how to dress as you can see by the Carabinieri. Then, I go to watch Aida. The seats on the side were really close, much closer than the ones for Carmen. This was a spectacular production as you can see by the pics. While the people I am riding with are almost all hard core, the ballerina had less body fat than any of them. Of course, the opera starts at 9 PM and doesn’t end till 1 AM.

I have to get up at 7 AM to eat breakfast and get cab at 8 AM to hotel near airport. Not much sleep.

Pietro"

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail

The Eros Poli / Verona Experience

Guest story by Buzz Yancich who visited and rode with my friend Eros Poli in Verona.

"The Eros Poli / Verona Experience"

Last August found us in Verona preparing to start our long awaited Dolomiti Epic with Andy Hampsten of Cinghiale.com Cycling Tours. As some of us were planning to arrive in Verona a week before the start of our Dolomite adventure Andy put my friends Bob and Susan Long of Pasadena, California in contact with Verona resident Eros Poli to arrange for several days of guided riding in the Veneto region. I happened to be arriving in Verona early and by pure good fortune or perhaps fate was invited to tag along for an exclusive three days of riding with Eros.

But before we even got on our bikes we had to learn what cycling in Italy is really about. Yes, the roads and routes are superlative – amazing really. But if all you did was fly to Italy and jump on your bike and pound out miles and elevation you would miss the true essence of the Italian cycling experience. We didn’t know it at the time but we were all headed for a recalibration, so to speak, of our outlook. That meant slowing down, relaxing, soaking in the incomparable atmosphere, and letting go.

Within hours of arriving in Verona we quickly fell under the spell of the city and that of one Eros Poli. If you have been reading this site you now know of Verona resident Eros Poli: Olympic Gold Medalist, World Champion, ex professional rider and hero/winner of the Mont Ventoux stage of the 1994 Tour de France. But that introduction does nothing to truly describe the man himself: A gentleman in the truest sense, bon vivant and raconteur of all things Verona who is recognized in almost every corner of the region.

When my wife Maria and I arrived at our hotel in Verona we found a note waiting for us. It was from “Your tour guide – Eros” asking that we call him upon our arrival. I am sure glad that we did because an hour later Eros and his lovely daughter arrived at our hotel for a guided walking tour of Verona and introduced us to the concept of appertivos, that magical time of the Veronese evening when everyone comes out to relax, enjoy a drink – in our case Aperol Spritzes, and nosh on some great appetizers. But it didn’t stop there – the rest of the evening was a blur of bars, restaurants and colorful characters. What a night!

History recorded: Buzz’s first and second Spritz Aperol

A few appetizers to go with the appertivos

My wife and I had been traveling in Europe for a week before arriving in Verona and I was getting nervous about not having been on my bike – especially because our trip to the Dolomites with Hampsten was looming large in my mind. Eros told me to relax. “You will be okay. Listen, Verona is a romantic city – you and your wife should enjoy yourselves.” So that is what we did. It was our tenth anniversary and wouldn’t you know it that somewhere during that crazy first night Eros arranged a special dinner reservation for us and recommended an itinerary and with all the introductions of the first night set us on our way to explore Verona.

Spritizing in the Piazza della Erbe

Verona is not likely on everyone’s list for visiting when traveling to Italy but it should be. The city has an impressively laid out old town section replete with a Roman Arena and the Piazza delle Erbe along with countless other historical and cultural venues. It is ideally set up for walking and exploring and its summer season is set up around the nightly open-air opera performances at the Arena. But it is by no means just an old historical city. It has a vibrant population with a refined identity of itself.

When in Verona - A night at the Opera

I sent out an email to my friends telling them to prepare for an adventure. This guy Eros was really cool. In fact, what followed was an introduction to cycling in Italy that I doubt will ever be replicated.

On our first day of riding Eros met us at Bob and Susan’s hotel, the incomparable Villa del Quar, on the outskirts of Verona and immediately presented us with some jerseys from a recent club outing he organized to the French Alps. Neat. It was the first of many surprises that Eros had in store for us.

We saddled up and hit the road – direction and destination unknown. None of use would qualify as “racers” but that truly did not matter to Eros. His vision for us was to ride at a relaxed pace, immerse ourselves in the joys of Italian cycling and make sure to enjoy the tastes, smells and views along the way. We were not equipped with a map and simply left it to Eros to guide us around at his best judgment. Within minutes we found ourselves diving down side roads and through small villages along the same routes Eros trained and raced as a young man. We commented to ourselves that if we became separated from Eros it would be tough to find our way back. But, of course, that never happened. Sometimes, you have to just let yourself go and we knew instinctively to trust Eros’ judgment.

What followed was a sensational experience that is almost too difficult for words to convey. Each road and bend that we cornered or little town we encountered held a new discovery. Along the way we talked, not just about bicycling or racing – (Eros had many wonderful stories for us) but also on family, life and the culture and history of the Verona region. His comments were priceless: When we came to a stop he would ask us “Did you see that family sitting together enjoying their afternoon meal on their patio? That is so beautiful!” or “Look at the stone architecture of that church.” or “Did you hear the old lady yell out “Forza, Forza” when we climbed through that last town?” (We had).

Over the next four days we opened our minds and bellies up. We ate horse meat – a Veronese specialty, beef tongue –regular or aromatic (we never did quite figure out that one), continued our daily intake of Aperol Spritzes, consumed many bottles of Amarone and of course our nightly Grappas.

The riding itself was sublime. The roads around Verona are true gems that wind their way through vineyards and villages, into the nearby hills and forests and up mountains.

The finest cycling roads in the world? You may find them on the outskirts of Verona.

We were going along one such road when Eros pulled to a stop underneath a tree, and then reached into it for a surprise. He smiled and told us “I know that Americans like Powerbars for energy but, for me, fresh figs are much better!” He opened his hands and presented us with the most delicious, just picked figs we have ever eaten. He seemed to know where every fig tree and water fountain was located as they became regular stops for us no matter what region we were riding that day.

Eros Poli - refilling his bottle. P.S. Check out the size of his thigh.

Susan and Bob with Eros. Even just sitting there he looks like he is going 40 mph

We also spent a day riding at nearby Lake Garda, which offers a whole different scenic vista.

In the hills above Lake Garda

And a chance for more appertivos!

A highlight was meeting Eros’ first coach (one very unique man) and his charming wife at their beautiful home and vineyard on a hillside above the Valpolicello valley. Of course this meant a full assortment of drinks, food, and sandwiches for later in the day. How about some fresh wine from the vineyard– after all it is already 9:30 am! On our return back to our hotel we found a couple of liters of the coach’s homemade olive oil waiting for us. (A bottle sits in our home as treasured as any fine wine and only comes out only for specials occasions or guests).


At the coach’s house. Eros is a huge guy. For reference Bob and I both stand over 6’2” tall.

True story: On the night before our last day of riding I stopped in a wine store to buy Eros a nice bottle of Grappa as a way of expressing our thanks to him. The store had an impressive selection of 50 or so Grappas that were shelved almost up to the ceiling (the higher the better.) I explained to the proprietor that I wanted to get a nice bottle for a Veronese man that had befriended us. He picked what looked to be a decent Grappa out about mid way up the wall and handed it to me. He asked me who my Veronese friend was: I said “Eros Poli.”

I’m not kidding when I tell you that without saying a word he took the bottle out of my hand, replaced it on the shelf and then reached up a couple of shelves higher and retrieved a different bottle: “This one is better for Eros!” Let me get you a nice box, here is a little card – please tell him that you bought this here at my store.” Such is the regard that Eros is held in his town.

The last day of riding was particularly memorable not just for the entire day of riding but the way it ended. After an absolutely epic day Eros and I dropped Bob and Susan at their hotel and continued our ride back to Verona alongside the Fiume Adige. It was a beautiful, warm summer afternoon the kind you might see depicted in an 18th century oil painting.

Eros ramped up the pace and the two of us were soon flying along the road. In those moments I rode a few inches off his back wheel – the same wheel that Mario Cipollini relied upon to pull him to his many victories and the same wheel that conquered Mont Ventoux elevating Eros to a special place in Tour history. I imagined all of the sacrifices that Eros told us about, the tens of thousands of hard kilometers as a professional and the moments of glory when he seized the day and brought great honor and victory not just to himself but to his family and region. Pretty cool stuff.

Before you knew it we arrived in Verona and the daydream was over. We stopped to say good-bye and it was there that Eros told me something that I will always remember. He said, “You know Buzz, I think you and Bob and Susan had a good experience with me…but I want you to know this: I enjoyed spending time with each of you just as much, if not more than you spent with me. This was very special for me – a real experience. Maybe we will see each other again in life, okay?”

With that, Eros gave me a hug, flashed that big smile of his along with a “Ciao” and after a few turns of his pedals disappeared across a bridge towards his home.

Quite an introduction to cycling in Italy!

Next up: partying on the Gavia with no less than 1988 Giro winner Andy Hampsten!

Eros would be happy to work with you to put a tour together, see:

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2008/04/eros-poli-tours-veneto-alto-adige.html

Eros can be contacted via his website, www.eros-poli.com.

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

Dino Buzzati at the 1949 Giro d'Italia, Part II

My friend Aldo has started a blog with the day to day stage reports of Dino Buzzati who was covering the famous 1949 Giro d'Italia. It wasn't just one stage that was memorable that year, in fact, the battle between Coppi and Bartali extended for the entire three weeks producing one of the greatest Giros ever. The blog is http://www.49giro.blogspot.com/; Aldo started this in May so be sure you start at the beginning.


Before going to read Buzzati's entry, below, for Saturday 4th June, 1949, please read more about Dino Buzzati at:
http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/03/dino-buzzati-at-1949-giro-ditalia.html


1949 Giro d'Italia, Part 18,
The Great Ones Don't Even Flinch When Lesser Men Break Away

Modena, Saturday 4th June, 1949. Dino Buzzati writes. . .



Imagine a magnificent morning on the road from Bolzano to the plains of Verona, with the race caravan revitalized by an entire day of rest. From our perch high on the mountain we can see it all - here is the first vehicle, a jeep with a closed body shaped very much like an ice cream truck, with four journalists aboard and driven by our stocky colleague Slawitz, who woke up late, missed breakfast, and is now hurrying ahead in search of food.



The jeep moves on and we enjoy of minute of quiet before the arrival of the caravan's first outriders - the cars belonging to radio stations and the press, fitted with odd, insect-like antennae; then the cars belonging to the race organization, the race jury, the time keepers; and mixed among these, the noisy confusion of motorcycles with reporters, messengers, photographers, couriers, and the tireless Milanese traffic police; and also on motorbike, the very popular Corsi, a giant in the hearts of the children, everyone's favorite, as happy as a bird in springtime. . . he is performing acrobatic leaps and stunts with his motorcycle to entertain the spectators lining the roads.


There are uniforms of every type in the caravan; big fur-lined jackets, cowboy shirts, swimsuits, crash helmets, red American-style baseball caps, big pirate-like neckerchiefs. Normally sober family men take advantage of the Giro to display the most outlandish, clownish items of apparel - things they wouldn't dare dream of wearing at home.


A few minutes later the main group of racers appears: first a formation of traffic police on motorbikes, and right behind them, the cyclists - a multicolored swarm which from a distance sparkles and glistens like a carnival.


Immediately after the riders comes the dynamic race director, Giuseppe Ambrosini, his little red flag in hand. Then come various team cars bristling with racks full of spare wheels and bicycles, each car painted in the team's colors.


More press cars, more motorcycles, repair trucks, press vans with huge loudspeakers mounted on top blaring out the latest news and little tunes.


At the tail end of the peloton we see a rider struggling to catch-up after having a flat tire, but we are too far away to see who it is.



And finally come the two rear-guard motorcycles, and an unruly train of fans in cars or on motorcycles or on bicycles, proud to breath the same air that, moments before, had been in the lungs of Coppi or Bartali or Leoni.


It's a fine sight, the Giro's caravan, so new and cheerful, and it inspires faith in life. This morning it made its appearance in perfect order, well-groomed, newly shaven, glowing like an athlete after his bath. And it doesn't seem to be in a hurry.



We come down from our spot in the mountains and rejoin the cars at the front of the procession. We never go faster than twenty-seven kilometers per hour. The warm sun temps us to take a little nap. But all of a sudden a car carrying the logo of a well-known newspaper careens past at an insanely high speed. Why? What has happened? Has someone broken-away from the peloton, and is now right at our heels? Should we race ahead too, to avoid creating a jam of vehicles?



Nobody knows anything, but the mere sight of that speeding car sets-off the alarms. An illogical hysteria grips the drivers and motorcyclists. Another care shoots off after the first one, and then a third car, with sirens wailing, tries to get ahead of them. We feel as if we're on the race track at Indianapolis! There's an awful bellowing of car horns resounding through the valley. . . the speedometer wavers around one hundred sixty kilometers per hour.



At last the lead vehicle is all alone, out of view when we near the Adige River.


We look back - not a living soul in sight.


We stop.


Silence.


Sparrows chirping.


A minute passes.


Then two.


Then five.


Finally the others begin arriving. But what had happened?


Nothing, absolutely nothing.


The riders are all still together, moving at the speed of a spring outing.


Again we are gliding along very slowly, and begin to doze. . .


. . . zzz zzz zzz. . .


. . . when all of a sudden it happens again! A motorcyclists rushes past waving his right hand furiously, as if he were announcing an enemy attack. What is happening? Nobody knows anything. Tensions rise once again - we think we hear Leoni's name mentioned when a colleague leans out of his car window shouting at us.


Did Leoni break away?" we ask.


He replies "Oh, really? Did Leoni break away?" having misunderstood our question.


And away we go again at top speed.


And the others follow.


And once again a chaotic moment, "much ado about nothing," until we are far away in the silent valley, completely alone.


So we stop.


"What has happened?"


Nothing. The riders are still in a group, still moving at a snail's pace.


This happened four or five times as we drove through the valley, but absolutely nothing was happening among the racers. Our nerves were constantly strained. The battle between the two super champions is like a rumbling volcano about to erupt. There, in the calm of the group, from one moment to the next it could explode, even if the flat road is completely wrong for any such battle.


At each excited shout, at each motorcyclist's gesture, and at the least little sign of anything that could somehow cause alarm, pandemonium would break out: ten minutes of superfluous fever, which subsided again into the lethargic rhythm of before.


And during this time, as we gradually moved south, the sun became brighter, the roofs of the houses became less peaked, the surrounding huddle of mountains became increasingly lower. The Adige river became more austere - fewer and fewer men wearing blue aprons, fewer cliffs crowned with ancient castles, the trees became more stately, and the girls less and less fair-haired.


"Hey, are the racers sleeping?" asked some young boys who had already been waiting for several hours. Not really asleep, but you could almost believe it.


A breakaway attempt by Sante Carollo (gs.Wilier Triestina) just before the town of Roverto was quickly quashed. . . two riders caught up to him, positioned themselves on either side, and, wedging him with their elbows, politely escorted him to the back of the field. The small attacks which followed also had no effect other than to get the cars all worked up over nothing.


So. . . a stage without a story? Almost.


Cycling historians certainly won't remember Antonio Bevilacqua (gs.Atala) taking the intermediate sprint at Verona, ahead of Oreste Conte (gs.Bianchi Ursus) and Adolfo Leoni (gs.Legnano). Nor (at the risk of seeming cruel) will anyone remember the breakaway by Armando Barducci (gs.Frejus)and Umberto Drei (gs.Benotto) outside the town of Ostiglia, which was quickly caught by Bevilacqua, then six others - Conte, Andrea Carrea (gs.Bianchi Ursus), Nedo Logli (gs.Arbos), Vittorio Seghezzi (gs.Edelweiss), Luciano Pezzi (gs.Atala), and Oliviero Tonini (gs.Cimatti). It was predictable, and since none of the nine could upset the overall classification, the others let them go.


The arrival of these runaways in Modena, Conte's victory, and the time gap to the great ones, are all recorded on page 18 of the newspaper, but we should mention some other things here: unequaled sunshine, entire populaces packed along the roadside and almost hysterical with enthusiasm, a sort of apotheosis within the overflowing stadium. . .


. . . and the difficulty for those of us writing to concentrate due to the uproar of the crowd in the street outside - because, unfortunately for us, the public has discovered that Fausto Coppi is staying in our hotel.


Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

Giro Photos: 1926, 1927, 1928, 1930

Top to bottom:

1926 - Group near finish line in the next to last stage, Udine-Verona.
1927 - Alfredo Binda wins in a sprint in the second stage, Torino-Reggio Emilia

1928 - unidentified Giro rider
1930 - the winning Legnano team of the Giro (with winner Luigi Marchisio)

Some photos from 1909 through 1925 can be seen at:

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/05/giro-photos-1909-1910-1911-1912-1922.html

After the Giro we'll get back to "regular programming": everything from A to Z about Italian cycling. Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com.

Espresso, Espresso and More Espresso

I've always known that my Italian cycling buddies are smart. There had to be a reason that we would always have an espresso, or an espresso based drink in the mornings before riding, and we would also have one mid-morning on the road. Before every ride I stopped at the best place in Verona (above): Caffe Tubino at Corso Porta Borsari, 15b (around the corner from Piazza Erbe). As a New York Times story reports, "It’s just unequivocal that caffeine improves performance."

Before going onto that story take note that Italians have so many ways to drink espresso that it will make your head spin, some examples:

Lungo: an espresso shot that is purposely poured "long" or for extra volume

Ristretto: literally, a “restricted” shot

Corretto: Some sort of liquor added

Macchiatto: equal parts espresso and milk foam.

Cappuccino: is a drink of thirds: one third espresso (regular single or double), one third steamed milk, and one third frothed milk.

This entertaining visual comparison of the differences between Italians and the rest of Europe, and touches on the variety of espresso choices in Italy; funny: http://tcc.itc.it/people/rocchi/fun/europe.html

Finally, onto the New York Times article:

It’s Time to Make a Coffee Run

By GINA KOLATA
Published: March 25, 2009

WELDON JOHNSON first tried caffeine as a performance enhancer in 1998. He was not a coffee drinker but had heard that caffeine could make him run faster. So he went to a convenience store before a race and drank a cup of coffee.

For the first time in his life, he ran 10 kilometers in less than 30 minutes.

“I remember being really wired before the race,” he said in an e-mail message. “My body was shaking.”

From then on, he was a convert.

Mr. Johnson, a founder of LetsRun.com, would avoid caffeine, even in soft drinks, for a few weeks before he competed in a race, wanting to have the full stimulant effect.

“It may have been a huge placebo effect, but I swore by it,” Mr. Johnson said. “Having a cup of coffee exactly one hour before the race was part of my routine.”

Or maybe it was not a placebo effect.

Caffeine, it turns out, actually works. And it is legal, one of the few performance enhancers that is not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

So even as sports stars from baseball players to cyclists to sprinters are pilloried for using performance enhancing drugs, one of the best studied performance enhancers is fine for them or anyone else to use. And it is right there in a cup of coffee or a can of soda.

Exercise physiologists have studied caffeine’s effects in nearly every iteration: Does it help sprinters? Marathon runners? Cyclists? Rowers? Swimmers? Athletes whose sports involve stopping and starting like tennis players? The answers are yes and yes and yes and yes.

Starting as long ago as 1978, researchers have been publishing caffeine studies. And in study after study, they concluded that caffeine actually does improve performance. In fact, some experts, like Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky of McMaster University in Canada, are just incredulous that anyone could even ask if caffeine has a performance effect.

“There is so much data on this that it’s unbelievable,” he said. “It’s just unequivocal that caffeine improves performance. It’s been shown in well-respected labs in multiple places around the world.”

The only new questions were how it exerts its effects and how little caffeine is needed to get an effect.

For many years, researchers thought the sole reason people could exercise harder and longer after using caffeine was that the compound helped muscles use fat as a fuel, sparing the glycogen stored in muscles and increasing endurance. But there were several hints that something else was going on. For example, caffeine improved performance even in short intense bursts of exercise when endurance is not an issue.

Now, Dr. Tarnopolsky and others report that caffeine increases the power output of muscles by releasing calcium that is stored in muscle. The effect can enable athletes to keep going longer or to go faster in the same length of time. Caffeine also affects the brain’s sensation of exhaustion, that feeling that it’s time to stop, you can’t go on any more. That may be one way it improves endurance, Dr. Tarnopolsky said.

The performance improvement in controlled laboratory settings can be 20 to 25 percent, Dr. Tarnopolsky said. But in the real world, including all comers, the improvement may average about 5 percent, still significant if you want to get your best time or even win a race.

For years, researchers believed that you needed about 5 to 6 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight. An 80-kilogram, or 176-pound man, for example, would need about 400 milligrams of caffeine, or 20 ounces of coffee.

Now, Louise M. Burke, the head of sports nutrition department of the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, reports that athletes get the full caffeine effect with as little as 1 milligram of caffeine per kilogram of body weight. Instead of 20 ounces of coffee, a 176-pound man could drink 4 ounces of coffee, or about two 12-ounce cans of Coke.

It’s also possible to get diminishing returns.

Terry Graham, chairman of the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences of the University of Guelph in Canada, found that at 9 milligrams per kilogram, athletes actually did worse.

Many athletes and coaches are not caffeine fans. Mr. Johnson said he has tried to spread the word and gets frustrated when runners don’t use caffeine — so much so, he said, that when he sees the team his brother coaches at Cornell, he thinks, why aren’t they all going to Starbucks?

Mike Perry, a friend who is a sculler who has competed nationally and internationally, said that, with one exception, the rowers he knew did not use caffeine.

“People would have psychological issues with using it,” he said. “They would see it as against the spirit of the law, even though it’s not against the law.”

Still, Mr. Perry wondered whether caffeine would help him. When he retired from rowing last July, he decided to do a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled experiment on himself.

He noticed that the 200-milligram caffeine pills look exactly like vitamin C pills, allowing him to code the pills so that he would not know which one he had taken. For eight months he tested himself once a week, taking two pills an hour before working out on a rowing machine. Then he worked as hard as he could for an hour, recording the results, also recording his guess about whether the pills he took contained caffeine. Mr. Perry, who also is a runner, said that an hour on the rowing machine is the equivalent of an hour of very fast running on the road.

When he finished his study and broke the code late last month, he was astonished to see how much the caffeine had affected him. He was stronger — his power output was 3 percent greater — and faster. In fact, he said the average speed for his tests when he used caffeine was faster than his fastest speed when he was not using caffeine.

He also guessed right most of the time about whether the pills he took were caffeine or vitamin C. Mr. Perry said he is now sorry that he never used caffeine when he was competing. “It would have been a pretty harmless way to do better,” he said.

Others, including my son Stefan, disagree. I urged Stefan to try caffeine and he did. Once.

He took a caffeine pill before a track workout that involved running a mile very quickly, resting briefly, and running a mile again, repeatedly. Like Mr. Johnson, he was wired and shaking. But, Stefan said, he could not recover between miles. His heart was pounding and just would not slow down. He said he has no desire to experience that again.

Then there is the problem my running partner Jen Davis and I have. We love coffee and probably have caffeine in our blood all the time except during the middle of the night (it lasts for hours).

SO would we do better if we weaned ourselves from caffeine and then took a pill or two before a race?

I asked Dr. Tarnopolsky. It turns out, he said, that you get habituated to two of caffeine’s effects right away. Caffeine can make you urinate, but only if you are not used to it.

“Athletes do not get dehydrated from caffeine,” he added, “contrary to popular myth.”

And caffeine does increase the heart rate and blood pressure in people who are not regular uses. “But after three or four days, that potentially negative effect is gone,” Dr. Tarnopolsky said.

The beneficial effects on exercise, though, remain. Even if you are a regular coffee drinker, if you have a cup of coffee before a workout or a race, you will do better, Dr. Tarnopolsky said. “There is no question about it,” he added.

He puts the caffeine research to use when he trains and competes. Dr. Tarnopolsky is an elite triathlete, ski orienteer and trail runner who has competed at national and international levels. And, he said, he loves coffee: “I love the smell. I love the taste. It’s heaven.”

And before a race? He always has a cup.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

Giro d' Italia & Verona History

The Giro has had stages ending in Verona 17 times in the past. This year the individual time trial from Bardolino to Verona could determine the outcome of the race if the previous two days in the mountains have not crowned the champion.

Past winners in Verona:

1924 Arturo Ferrario – 1925 Costante Girardengo – 1926 Alfredo Binda – 1927 Alfredo Binda – 1940 Gino Bartali – 1946 Orese Conte – 1957 Rik Van Steenbergen – 1959 Miguel Poblet – 1960 André Darrigade – 1964 Vendramino Bariviera – 1967 Ole Ritter (crono ind.) – 1973 Rik Van Linden – 1976 Ercole Gualazzini – 1981 Knut Knudsen (crono ind.) – 1984 Francesco Moser (crono ind.) – 1985 Francesco Moser (cronoprologo) – 1997 Mirko Gualdi

Map: June 2, 2007, individual time trial route

Foggy Saturday Morning Ride

This morning was very foggy, not an unusual winter occurrence in Verona. Visibility was low but the Saturday a.m. ride was on. After a few kilometers everything was soaking wet. About 10Km from Verona we were in sunshine and at Lago di Garda it was a spectacular, sunny day!

Photos: the fog this morning on Ponte Nuovo in Verona, and the same view on a clear evening at sunset.

San Zeno Group ride

This morning I joined the San Zeno group for a ride; they ride every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday year round. I call them the San Zeno group because they are from the Verona city quarter of that name. The San Zeno church, the most important building in the quarter, is quite lovely and has wonderfully interesting bronze doors (see photos).

It was 6C (43F) this morning so after cereal at home, a stop at Cafe Crestanello for espresso, a ride across Verona, I met up with the group. It was a spirited ride that took us to Lago di Garda and the towns of Lazise, Bardolino, and Garda (where we stopped for a quick espresso) and then back to Verona. 3 hours at a very good pace; on the way back two strong guys from another club passed us and we all latched onto their wheels and rode quite a bit of time at 25mph.

The weather is supposed to FINALLY get colder so riding outside may be curtailed somewhat.

Verona, Cycling Epicenter & Damiano Cunego

Verona feels like the epicenter of cycling. On a weekend there must be THOUSANDS of road cyclists on the roads. There are 50+ cycling clubs covering cicloturismo, road racing, track racing, triathlons, and mountain biking. It's not unusual to meet pro teams training in Lago di Garda and meeting professionals on the roads. Two I have met are Damiano Cunego and Michael Rasmussen (winner of the climber's polka dot jersey in the Tour de France).

"Il Piccolo Principe", Damiano Cunego, lives here in the province of Verona in the town of Cerro Veronese. At age 22 he was the youngest winner of the Giro d'Italia in 2004 (photo). In 2006 he won the white jersey for best young rider in the Tour de France. Verona will be at a fever pitch when the Giro comes to the city on June 2nd, hopefully with Damiano leading in the pink jersey again. I was reading in the newspaper that Damiano rode 170km yesterday so his training is well underway. In comparison I've been a slug with my longest ride being 72km this year. My only excuse is that I don't get paid and I'm not 25.

The 2007 Giro d'Italia is coming to Verona

The Veronese cycling community is fired up about the Giro d'Italia coming here (Verona) this year. The next-to-last day of the Giro, June 2, will be a 42km individual time trial (ITT) from Bardolino on Lake Garda to Verona. There is a slight rise after departing from Bardolino (one I'm too familiar with) and then it's essentially flat so it will be a day for the time trial specialists. If the classification is not locked up in the Dolomites the time trial to Verona could be the decisive stage as it was in 1984.

Verona has hosted many important stages in the past but the most famous was the final, 22nd, stage of the 1984 Giro. The race was concluding with a 42Km ITT from Soave to Verona. Laurent Fignon (France) and Francesco Moser (Italy; from nearby Trento) had traded the pink leader's jersey throughout the race. Entering the last day Fignon held the pink jersey. Moser won the stage and won the pink jersey when he entered the Arena (Roman coliseum) in Piazza Bra (photo).