2010 Giro di Lombardia: Results

The planned rider protest at the start in Milan was minimal with only a few riders wearing the "Io corro con il cuore" ("I race with my heart") stickers on their helmets.

The race started under dry conditions but became cold and wet at Lake Como making for absolutely dreadful riding conditions. How bad was it? 195 riders started but only 34 arrived at the finish in Como.

Proving to be best suited for these conditions, and coming off a victory in the Giro del Piemonte only 3 days before, was Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto). Gilbert won his second consecutive Giro di Lombardia by 12 seconds over Michele Scarponi (Androni Giocattoli).

"Today was a really, really hard day. It was cold and there was a lot of rain. It was a tough race but I always go pretty well with the wet and cold. I'm from Belgium, I'm used to it," said Gilbert.

Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Doimo) crashed on the technical descent of the new Colma di Sormano and could never catch back on to the leaders. Scarponi missed a shift at a critical point on the final climb of the race, the San Fermo di Battaglia, when he and Gilbert were riding shoulder to shoulder...literally. Gilbert gained a small gap which Scarponi was not able to close in the remaining few kilometers. No matter, Gilbert was clearly the strongest rider.

Top 10 results:

1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 6:46:32
2 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 0:00:12
3 Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:55
4 Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:08
5 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
6 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:01:12
7 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:02:07
8 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:03:01
9 Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Quick Step 0:03:25
10 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team Katusha 0:03:50

Photos: by 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 1,500 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. What I'm riding.

La Gazzetta della Bici: Oils to Make You Go Faster and Feel Better

One blog I check daily is La Gazzetta della Bici which is written by Simon. I don't know Simon but I was very touched by his personal story which he recently wrote about.

Simon had this great idea to create massage oils for cyclists. If we all buy some we can help him fulfill his dream.

At La Gazzetta della Bici you can find many more details about the ingredients, and how to purchase.




VERDE HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY DEVELOPED TO USE AS A PRE RIDE MUSCLE PREPARATION OIL.

VERDE is a unique blend of 13 essential oils specifically selected to stimulate blood flow and energize your muscles and senses before cycling. Each bottle of VERDE is blended by hand, individually dated and presented in 100ml quantities to guarantee freshness and longevity. For External use only. Do not use if sensitive to any of the ingredients. Test on a small area of skin first.

INGREDIENTS: CINNAMON, CLOVE, GINGER, EUCALYPTUS, PINE, CEDARWOOD, PEPPERMINT, BLACK PEPPER, CAJAPUT, JUNIPER, WINTERGREEN, NUTMEG & PIMENTO ESSENTIAL OILS & GRAPESEED OIL.



LA GAZZETTA DELLA BICI ROSSO OLIO DA MASSAGGIO PER CICLISTI DOPO GARA (POST RIDE)

INGREDIENTS: LEMONGRASS, MARJORAM, ROSEMARY, BLACK PEPPER, BERGAMOT, TEA TREE, ARNICA OIL, BLACK CUMIN OIL, GRAPESEED OIL & COMFREY OIL.

FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY. DO NOT USE IF SENSITIVE TO ANY OF THE INGREDIENTS. TEST ON A SMALL AREA OF SKIN FIRST. ROSSO HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO USE AS A POST RIDE MASSAGE OIL.

ROSSO, a unique massage oil blended from 6 essential oils especially selected to specifically help awaken and rejuvenate tired, aching muscles and help balance mental well-being.

Each bottle of ROSSO is blended by hand, individually dated and presented in 100ml quantities to guarantee freshness and longevity.




ROSA (PER DONNE CICLISTE)

INGREDIENTS: CHAMOMILE, EUCALYPTUS, GERANIUM, LAVENDER, PEPPERMINT, TEA TREE, SWEET ALMOND OIL & ARNICA OIL

FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY. DO NOT USE IF SENSITIVE TO ANY OF THE INGREDIENTS. TEST ON A SMALL AREA OF SKIN FIRST. ROSA HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR WOMEN TO USE AS A POST RIDE MASSAGE OIL.

ROSA is a unique blend of 6 essential oils specifically balanced to help women rest and recover after cycling. Each bottle of ROSA is blended by hand, individually dated and presented in 100ml quantities to guarantee freshness and longevity.



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 1,500 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. What I'm riding.

Giro di Lombardia: “Io corro con il cuore”

The start of tomorrow's Giro di Lombardia will be delayed 10 minutes due to a rider protest. The protest is against the recent comments of Italian Olympic Committee anti-doping prosecutor Ettore Torri in which he stated "I'm not the only one saying it. Lately, all of the cyclists I've interrogated have said that everyone dopes. The longer I’m involved in this the more I marvel at how widespread doping is."

Tomorrow the racers, and team staff, will be wearing a yellow sticker that says "Io corro con il cuore" ("I race with my heart"). The motto, chosen by those who devote their lives to cycling, cannot be misunderstood: racing with the heart means to compete with passion, with integrity and with their natural gifts.

A message (as pictured above) in a bottle will be distributed at the start, on the Madonna del Ghisallo, and finish in more than 2,000 bottles. The message discusses the efforts that cycling is making in the fight against doping:
-46,000 blood and urine controls in 4 years, plus implementation of the biological passport
-13 killion euro spent by teams, organizers and riders for antidoping controls
-365 days a year a rider must communicate where he is training, or where he is and where he sleeps
-the professional rider's association contributes 200,000 euro per year to to support anti-doping controls cost
-of the 4 most popular sports analyzed by the AFLD (France) in 2008, cycling was the sport with the least positives

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 1,500 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. What I'm riding.

Dromarti Frames

Dromarti is an English company known for its sales of classic, leather, cycling shoes made in small quantities by Marresi in Italy. Dromarti has now added traditionally built, hand crafted, bicycle frames to its offerings.

The frames are produced in an unidentified "small workshop near Treviso, Italy, employing age old artisan techniques to create a masterpiece in Italian steel."

Both pista and road models are available (temporarily not available in the USA). Both feature feature liberal amounts of hard chrome, engraving and come with a Campagnolo Record headset. Frame weight is 1700g for 55cm.

More details, photographs, and pricing at www.dromarti.com.

Update: the frames are built using Dedacciai Zero Replica HT tubing

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 1,500 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. What I'm riding.

Zoncolan: Returning for 2011 Giro d'Italia

The brutal Zoncolan ascent will be included for the fourth time in the 2011 edition of the Giro d'Italia. It will be included in the stage of May 21, 2011, again from the side of Ovaro (as it was this year).

The stage will begin in Lienz, Austria, and the riders will have climbed over four passes and traveled 210 km before arriving at the Zoncolan.

The previous inclusions of the Zoncolan were in 2003, 2007, and 2010. Gilberto Simoni won in 2003 and 2007, and Ivan Basso won this year.

The mountain can be climbed on three roads: one from Ovaro, another from Sutrio, and a third from Priola.

West from Ovaro: This is a very demanding climb, and one of the most difficult in Europe, usually compared to the Alto de El Angliru. It was featured for the first time in the 2007 Giro d'Italia. The climb starts in Ovaro in the Gorto valley, and is 10.1 kilometres (6.3 mi) long at an average of 11.9% with an elevation gain of 1,210 metres (3,970 ft) and a maximum gradient of 22%. The real climb however starts at Liariis, 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) from the summit. Shortly after the village, the road disappears into forest and gains 900 metres (3,000 ft) in the next 6 kilometres (3.7 mi). After this section, the road passes through three short tunnels, before a series of steep switchbacks immediately beneath the summit. The former rough asphalt between Liariis and the tunnels was replaced in 2007; that between the last tunnel and the summit had already been resurfaced by autumn 2005. The tunnels are now lit.

East from Sutrio: This is less demanding than the road from Ovaro but it is also a very difficult climb. It was featured for the first time in the 1997 Giro Donne. The actual climb to the summit starts at Sutrio and is 13.5 kilometres (8.4 mi) long at an average of 9% with an elevation gain of 1,210 metres (3,970 ft) and a maximum gradient being 23%. The most demanding section is the final 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) with an average gradient of 13%.

East from Priola: This is the original old road which was replaced by the newer road from Sutrio described above. The two roads combine around 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) below the summit. The road from Priola was first asphalted in autumn 2005. From bottom to top, the 8.9 kilometers (5.5 mi) long road gains an astonishing 1,140 meters (3,740 ft), meaning an average gradient of 12.8%. The lower part has sharp hairpin bends and is at times very steep. The climb is briefly flat after merging with the newer road, with the remaining 3.5 kilometers (2.2 mi) containing several ramps of up to 23% steepness.

Read the story, and see maps, here of a mere mortal's ride up the Zoncolan.

The Giro d'Italis presentation is October 23rd.

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 1,500 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. What I'm riding.

Bianchi Vintage Wool Jersey: Limited Number for U.S.

Only a limited number of these vintage style jerseys from Santini will be available in the US. Bianchi says, "Order one today or miss out."

$190

Order here.

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 1,500 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. What I'm riding.

Androni Giocattoli: Campione d'Italia

The Androni Giocattoli squad is the 2010 Italian champion in the FCI's (Italy's national cycling federation) year long contest in which Italian teams compete for points earned in Italian races. It's an important victory because it guarantees entry into the 2011 Giro d'Italia. Speaking of the Giro the official presentation will be on October 23rd in Turin.

The point totals were as follows:
Androni Giocattoli 838
De Rosa Stac Plastic 748
Liquigas – Doimo 633
Colnago – Csf 627
Isd – Neri 620
Acqua & Sapone 619
Lampre – Farnese 563
Flaminia – Bossini 537
Miche 454
Carmiooro – Ngc 387
Cdc – Cavaliere 303

Did you know that Androni Giocattoli is a toy company specializing in plastic toys?

Update: Italian bike manufacturer Bianchi has signed a one-year deal - with option for a second - with the Androni Giocattoli team to supply the new Oltre model in 2011.

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 1,500 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. What I'm riding.