De Rosa for 2010

De Rosa is traveling around Italy displaying their 2010 models. These photos are from the stop in Montecatini Terme. Of note are the De Rosa King RS and the De Rosa IDOL.

The "RS" first appeared under Danilo Di Luca in the Giro d'Italia (see http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/05/danilo-di-lucas-de-rosa.html).

The "IDOL" appears to be a completely new design, now with a traditional flat top tube and also with a straight fork.

Photos: De Rosa RS in center, De Rosa IDOL, De Rosa bikes on display

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

Giro Donne, Prologue

Kristen Wild (Cervelo Test Team) has won the GiroDonne prologue in Scarperia. She rode the 2.5 Km course in 3'06", an average speed of 48,387 Km/h.

Completing the podium was teammate Kristin Anderson ( -3.8 seconds) and Linda Melanie Villumsen (-4.13 seconds, Team Columbia High Road).

The highest placed Italian was Noemi Cantele (Bigla Cycling Team), in 12th while five time GiroDonne winner Fabiana Luperini (Selle Italia Ghezzi) was 16 seconds down from the pink jersey.

Emma Mackie (Lotto Belisol) was down 2 seconds from Luperini.

Top 10 finishers:

1. Kirsten Wild (Cervélo Test Team) in 3'06"12

2. Kristin Armstrong (Cervélo Test Team) at 3"80

3. Linda Villumsen Serup (Team Columbia-HTC Women) at 4"13

4. Ina Teutenberg (Team Columbia-HTC Women) at 4"79

5. Charlotte Becker (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) at 5"28

6. Katherine Carroll (Nazionale Usa) at 5"68

7. Susanne Ljungskog (Team Flexpoint) at 5"95

8. Iris Slappendel (Team Flexpoint) at 6"00

9. Trine Schmidt (Team Flexpoint) at 6"20

10. Chantal Beltman (Team Columbia-HTC Women) at 6"49

The four GiroDonne jerseys were awarded at the end of the stage to:

Pink (sponsor Dilà): Kristen Wild (Cervelo Test Team))
Cyclamen (sponsor Sayerlack): Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team)
Green (sponsor Poliedra): Linda Melanie Villumsen (Team Columbia)
White, best young rider (sponsor Regione Lombardia): Trine Schmidt (Team Flexpoint)

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

Preparations Complete for Women's Giro D'Italia

The preparations are complete for the start of the GiroDonne tomorrow. The nine stage race will get underway with an evening 2.5 Km prologue in the "borgo storico" of Scarperia in the province of Firenze (Florence). Scarperia traces its history to 1306.

The prologue, an individual time trial, which will begin at 7:00 p.m. from Piazzetta dei Vicari will be contested on a completely illuminated course. The early portion of the course is cobbled, and the finish is on a slight incline. The prologue should finish by 10:00 p.m.

Emma Mackie is flying into Pisa tomorrow with her Lotto-Belisol team and transferring to Scarperia. A busy day for sure.

Photos: 2.5 Km Scarperia prolgue course, Scarperia, the race will begin in front of the Palazzo dei Vicari

Previous related stories regarding Emma:

Part I: http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/06/emma-mackie-races-in-womens-giro.html

Part II: http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/06/emma-mackie-races-in-womens-giro_29.html

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

Preparing Your Bike for a Cycling Tour

The cycling tour season is getting into full gear about now. Here are some tips from Thomson Bike Tours, http://www.thomsonbiketours.com/, for preparing your bike for a cycling tour.


Our recommendations:


Have your wheels checked and trued.


Replace your tires. You'll be doing a lot of descending and you want to be sure that you have a good quality tire with good tread.


Check all gear and brake cables. Replace any cables that look worn. You don't want a brake cable snapping while descending Alpe d'Huez!


Replace your brake blocks. Only use high quality brake blocks such as Shimano or Campagnolo. Cheaper brake blocks tend to brake less smoothly and are usually less efficient in rain.


Install a 2nd bottle cage if you don't already have one.


Mark with tape the position of your seat post and handlebar stem. It's likely you'll have to undo these to fit your bike in your travel case and you'll want to keep the same position when re-building your bike on arrival.


Change your bike computer to km. All our cue sheets and the road signs are in kilometres.


If you replace your chain be sure to replace your rear cassette cogs as well.


Replace your cleats if they are worn.


And a few things you SHOULD NOT do:


Do not change your riding position immediately before the trip.


Do not change your shoes or cleat position immediately before the trip.


Do not change your chain without changing your rear cassette cogs.


Spare parts to bring:


We will have a fully qualified mechanic available on the trip with a comprehensive bicycle toolkit and numerous spare parts. However we cannot ensure that we will carry specific spares that you may need for your bicycle. As such we recommend that you bring the following spare parts:


6 extra spokes to fit your wheels. We will have many different sizes of spare spokes but we may not have your specific type and size.



1 spare tire.
2 spare tubes.
4 spare brake blocks. With all the descending we'll be doing brake blocks can be worn out pretty quickly.
1 spare gear cable.
1 spare brake cable.

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

Favorites for the Women's Giro d'Italia, GiroDonne 2009

While we await Emma Mackie's next report here is a synopsis of the views of the Italian press on the favorites and riders to watch for the 20th edition of the race which begins Friday.

Lotto Belisol: from Emma Mackie's team Australian Rochelle Gilmore is seen as the likeliest to win stage victories.

Selle Italia Ghezzi: last year's winner Fabiana Luperini will be striving to win her 6th GiroDonne. Among Luperini's teammates are podium finishers in the recent Italian national championships Laura Bozzolo and Silvia Valsecchi.

Cervelo Test Team: will have America's Kristin Armstrong, Germany's Claudia Hausler and Australia's Carla Ryan aiming for the GC, and also launching England's Emma Pooley in the sprint finishes.

Gauss RDZ Ormu Colnago: keep an eye on Tatiana Antoshina in the time trials, two times GiroDonne winner Edita Pucinskaite for GC and Tania Belvederesi for stage victories.

Fenixs Edilsavino: 2002 GiroDonne winner Svetlana Bubnenkova is in great form to challenge for GC.

Columbia High Road Women: considered the strongest squad. Germany's Judith Arndt and American Mara Abott are seen as GC contenders while Chantal Beltman, Ina Yoko Teutenberg and Kimberly Anderson are contenders for stage victories.

Bigla Cycling Team: two time GiroDonne winner Nicole Brandli is among the favorites to win. Noemi Cantele is a favorite for the TTs and Modesta Vzesniauskaite for stage victories.

Michela Fanini Record Rox: high hopes for Monia Baccaille, the new Italian women's road race champion, and rising star Tatiana Guderzo.

Equipe Nurberger: Suzanne De Goede, Regina Schleicher and Amber Neben for stage victories, and possibly Trixi Worrack for GC.

Other notable mentions:

Team Flexpoint: Susanne Ljungskog, Mjriam Melchers Van Poppel and Loes Gunnewijk.

Top Girl Fassa Bortolo: Valentina Carretta, Alessandra D'Ettorre.

Australia National Team: Chloe Hoskings.

Team Cmax: Marta Vilajosana.

Safi Pasta Zara Titanedi: Elena Berlato, Giorgia Bronzini, and Diana Ziliute.

The complete list of the 18 teams and 138 starters:

Selle Italia Ghezzi 1 Fabiana Luperini (Ita)2 Giuseppina Grassi (Mex)3 Kaytee Boyd (NZl)4 Laura Bozzolo (Ita)5 Gloria Presti (Ita)6 Sigrid Corneo (Slo)7 Luisa Tamanini (Ita)8 Silvia Valsecchi (Ita)

Cervelo Test Team 11 Kristin Armstrong (USA)12 Lieselot Decroix (Bel)13 Sandra Dietel (Ger)14 Claudia Hausler (Ger)15 Emma Pooley (GBr)16 Carla Ryan (Aus)17 Patricia Schwager (Swi)18 Kirsten Wild (Ned)

Fenixs Edilsavino 21 Svetlana Bubnenkova (Rus)22 Natalia Boyarskaya (Rus)23 Catherine Hare Willianson (GBr)24 Urte Juodvalkyte (Ltu)25 Karin Aune (Swe)26 Erika Vilunaite (Ltu)27 Laura Lorenza Morfin Macouzet (Mex)28 Evelyn Yesenia Garcia Marroque (Spa)

Team Flexpoint 31 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe)32 Mjriam Melchers Van Poppel (Ned)33 Loes Gunnewijk (Ned)34 Loes Markerink (Ned)35 Trine Schmidt (Den)36 Iris Slappendel (Ned)37 Saskia Elemans (Ned)38 Elisabeth Braam (Ned)

Top Girls Fassa Bortolo Raxy Line 41 Valentina Carretta (Ita)42 Serena Danesi (Ita)43 Alessandra D' Ettorre (Ita)44 Maddalena Dinato (Ita)45 Jennifer Fiori (Ita)46 Laura Pisaneschi (Ita)47 Chiara Rozzini (Ita)48 Marta Tagliaferro (Ita)

USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo 51 Clemilda Fernandes Silva (Bra)52 Uenia Fernades Da Souza (Bra)53 Edita Unguryte (Ltu)54 Tetyana Riabchenko (Ukr)55 Simona Frapporti (Ita)56 Viktoria Vologdina (Ukr)57 Olena Oliynik (Ukr)58 Tetyana Mykhaylova (Ukr)

Team Columbia Highroad Women 61 Mara Abbott (USA)62 Kimberly Anderson (USA)63 Judith Arndt (Ger)64 Katherine Bates (Aus)65 Chantal Beltman (Ned)66 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger)67 Linda Melanie Villumsen (Den)68 Alexandra Wrubleski (Can)

Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam 71 Elizabeth Armitstead (GBr)72 Linn Torp (Nor)73 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus)74 Vera Koedooder (Ned)75 Emma Mackie (Aus)

Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung 81 Charlotte Becker (Ger)82 Suzanne De Goede (Ned)83 Lisa Brennauer (Ger)84 Marlen Johrend (Ger)85 Bianca Puratch Knoepfle (Ger)86 Amber Neben (USA)87 Regina Schleicher (Ger)88 Trixi Worrack (Ger)

Australia 91 Carlee Taylor (Aus)92 Tiffany Cromwell (Aus)93 Belinda Goss (Aus)94 Amber Halliday (Aus)95 Lauren Kitchen (Aus)96 Shara Gillon (Aus)97 Chloe Hoskings (Aus)98 Myfanwy Galloway (Aus)

S.C. Michela Fanini Record Rox 101 Monia Baccaille (Ita)102 Carly Hibberd (Aus)103 Giulia Lazzerini (Ita)104 Flavia Oliveira (Bra)105 Sara Grifi (Ita)106 Tatiana Guderzo (Ita)107 Samantha Galassi (Ita)108 Rosane Kirch (Bra)

Team System Data 121 Deborah Mascelli (Ita)122 Alena Dylko (Blr)123 Marina Vinnikava (Blr)124 Aleaksandra Lohvinova (Blr)125 Silvia Trovellesi (Ita)126 Zaira De Luca (Ita)127 Alessandra Lari (Ita)128 Liz Hatch (USA)

Team Cmax Dila' 111 Marta Vilajosana Andreu (Spa)112 Chiara Vanni (Ita)113 Francesca Faustini (Ita)114 Saneila Biagi (Ita)115 Arien Torsius (RSA)116 Alessia Quarta (Ita)117 Silvia Tirado Marquez (Spa)

Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago 131 Tatiana Antoshina (Rus)132 Julia Martisova (Rus)133 Tania Belvederesi (Ita)134 Martina Corazza (Ita)135 Emanuela Azzini (Ita)136 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu)137 Eleonora Suelotto (Ita)138 Alice Donadoni (Ita)

Safi - Pasta Zara Titanedi 141 Alona Andruk (Ukr)142 Elena Berlato (Ita)143 Alessandra Borchi (Ita)144 Giorgia Bronzini (Ita)145 Inga Cilvinaite (Ltu)146 Eneritz Iturriagaetxebarria Mazaga (Spa)147 Eleonora Patuzzo (Ita)148 Diana Ziliute (Ltu)

Bizkaia - Durango - Champion System 151 Cristina Alcalde Huertanos (Spa)152 Mireia Epelde Bikendi (Spa)153 Ana Belen Garcia Antequera (Spa)154 Catrine Josefsson (Swe)155 Ariadna Tudel Cuberes (And)156 Gema Pascual Torrecilla (Spa)157 Diana Zamorano (Spa)158 Dorleta Zorrilla Braceras (Spa)

Bigla Cycling Team 161 Nicole Brandli (Swi)162 Noemi Cantele (Ita)163 Jennifer Hohl (Swi)164 Veronica Andreasson (Swe)165 Monica Holler (Swe)166 Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Ltu)167 Andrea Graus (Aut)168 Bettina Kuhn (Swi)

US National Team 171 Katharine Carroll (USA)172 Lauren Tamayo (USA)173 Brooke Miller (USA)174 Meredith Miller (USA)175 Megan Guarnier (USA)176 Shelley Olds (USA)


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

Emma Mackie Races in the Women's Giro d'Italia, Part II

Emma Mackie's, of team Lotto-Belisol, first report in her own words:

Hi,

Not long ago I was asked if I would like to write about my experiences in this year’s GiroDonne. One of the biggest women’s races not only in Italy but the world. This is a first for me! I’m a little nervous about writing something where thousands of people can read it but I am very happy to be asked. This is also very exciting for me because the GiroDonne was the first International race I did with the Australian National team 3years ago. This year I will be returning with my Belgium pro team, Lotto-Belisol. So to kick things off I thought you should know a little bit about me.

I’m an Australian Female cyclist. I’m 24 years old and I come from a little town called Albury. During the European cycling season I live in Belgium, Viane. I have been racing now for 5 years. I started cycling through my local club in Australia and after a year of racing at home I wanted more. Things progressed quickly and before I knew it I was racing the GiroDonne with the Australian National team in 2006.

In 2007 I signed my first professional contract with the Dutch team Vrienden Van Het Platteland. It was quite an experience coming from Australia and living in Europe for 6-8 months! A lot of people say that the first experience either makes or breaks you. Well it hasn’t broken me yet.

In 2008 I signed for the team Lotto-Belisol which is now my current team in 2009. Last year was a great year for me with 7 top 10 results, 2 podium finishes, and 4500Kms raced in Europe with 43 completed races. This year the team is bigger and stronger. We have had some great results and I can feel each year an improvement from the last.

I have just recently returned from Canada. We had some great results with several podiums, top ten finishes, the sprinters jersey and me 2nd on the mountains jersey. I have now turned my attention to the 10 day tour of the GiroDonne. The weeks leading up to this tour I have been focused on full recovery and maintaining the race fitness I should benefit from Canada. Drinking plenty of water to keep myself hydrated as I hear it is going to be very hot. And eating the right foods to fuel myself for this year’s challenging course. The race this year looks to be very tough with 10 stages from the 3rd-12th July. We fly into Pisa on Friday morning, July 3rd, to begin the race later that night at 7pm with a 2.5km prologue.

The sun is shining here today and Belgium! And it is time for me to go out training...

So until then, I will keep you posted with anything leading up to the tour and the latest news /reactions and gossip on tour.

Ciao,

Emma Mackie

Photos: Emma sprinting to her first victory of 2009, in May; with teammates in Canada, Emma 2nd left; the entire team, Emma 2nd right

ed. note: Emma outlined her European goals for this year as World cup races- top 10, UCI Tours- stage wins/podium, UCI Classic Races- podium, National Races- wins/podium and to
represent Australia in the World Championships in Menderiso, Switzerland. Her long term goals include Australian Champion, World Championships, Commonwealth Games 2010, London Olympics 2012.

Part I of Emma Mackie Races in the Women's Giro d'Italia:

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/06/emma-mackie-races-in-womens-giro.html

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

Marco Pantani Bicycles

Under the title of the "Pantani Bike Project", supported by Pantani's parents, bicycles bearing the "Marco Pantani" name will be coming the marketplace.

The Pantani family, Paolo (father) and Tonina (mother), have turned to the builders of Carrera bikes (Podium srl, owned by Davide Boifava) to build the Marco Pantani models. It was on a Carrera bike that Marco Pantani achieved his early stage victories in the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia.

For the time being two models will be offered according to the official website, www.pantanibikes.it (in Italian):

Pantani Skin: an aluminum frame with carbon rear triangle and carbon fork, details:

Designed for professional race use, yet appropriate for recreational use. This frame is made of 7005 series T6 aluminium combined with a carbon fibre rear monostay; its ideal on very challenging roads, but also for long distance rides.

Very advanced procedures, such as drawing of the aluminium tubing and solution heat treatment eliminate the possibility of work hardening of the metal and confer a much higher resistance to the problem of “hot cracking”.

The triple-butted oversize tubing made on specific custom design increases structural stiffness balanced by the double-butted horizontal rear tubes and by the front fork made of K6 carbon fibre. These structural aspects, working together, are able to decrease vibration given by imperfections of the road surface and increasing the level of comfort as shown by lab and road tests.

The tig welding process and the fitting of the rear monostay in carbon fibre is done by hand by certified professionals that complete the production processes of the frame.

T7005 series T6 triple-butted aluminium tubing
Mechanical and performance values lab tested and controlled on specific bike test machinery.
Integrated headset 1 1/8”
Average weight (M size frame): 1,380 Kg
Carbon speed fork weight: 568 grams.

Pantani Corsair: monocoque full carbon, details:

Born through project studies of highest technology, this frame has been designed to respect determined values of reaction and resistance, strictly necessary for its professional use.

The carbon monocoque structure known as TORAY HM-HS (High Modulus – High Rigidity) is made through a monocoque print thanks to “SOLID CARBON” technology. Following this step the frame is formed in a high pressure autoclave system which compacts the fibres furthermore to guarantee a higher level of resistance against axial and torsional loads, creating also a longer lasting product. In addition to this, thanks to the careful selection of the same fibres and the absence of step-by-step assembly procedures, each and every single frame has the same quality and performance. The monocoque production system includes the dimensional standardisation of the frame, which is made in five different sizes and adaptable to the different structural qualities of an athlete.

The oversize tubing used (HM T 700) has a hexagonal cross-section to insure a better absorption of vibrations given by imperfections on the road surface, without however compromising the structural stiffness of the precise control one needs on a bike. The integrated seatpost has a drop shaped aerodynamic profile as a cut-out to fit around the rear wheel. This is so that the wheel is brought closer to the front triangle, with the result of a higher reacting frame when one force pedals standing up on the bike. The horizontal rear tubing has a variable geometry, contributing to a more efficient energy transfer without there being any power-loss.

Made with monocoque “SOLID CARBON” “technology using TORAY 30T MR60 3k HM (High Modulus) carbon fibre. Accessories and inserts are anchored during the printing of the frame, not afterwards.
Fibres compacted using a high-pressure autoclave system for the consolidation of the assembled structure.
Mechanical and performance values lab-tested and controlled on specific bicycle test machinery.
Integrated headset 1-1/8” / 1,5”
Drop-shaped integrated seatpost.
Average weight ( M size frame ): 1,110 Kg
Carbon MDP straight fork (monocoque), weight: 390 grams

Photos: Pantani in the famous Carrera Jeans kit, Corsair model, Skin model

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