Building for De Rosa and Fondriest in Xiamen, China

Inside a high-end Chinese bike factory.

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,300 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

2012 Paris-Roubaix

The 2012 Paris-Roubaix will be held on Sunday. One of the five "monuments" of cycling it has been held since 1896. The race is also know as the "l'enfer du Nord" (Hell of the North), not because of the difficulty of the race but for the devastating effects on northern France after World War I. No one was sure if Roubaix, or the roads to Roubaix, had survived the war.

There have been eleven Italian victories at Paris-Roubaix:
1939 Jules Rossi
1949 Serse Coppi; brother of Fausto Coppi; Serse shared victory with André Mahé (FRA)
1950 Fausto Coppi
1951 Antonio Bevilacqua
1966 Felice Gimondi
1978 Francesco Moser
1979 Francesco Moser
1980 Francesco Moser
1995 Franco Ballerini
1998 Franco Ballerini
1999 Andrea Tafi

The 1949 race may be the most controversial:
"The story of Paris-Roubaix in 1949 didn't end with two winners. It went on and on for months and took two international conferences to sort out.

What happened was that there was a break of three. As ever, they came through the town and then reached the narrow roadway that leads to the ramp into the track. That's the one that you see on television, the one that comes through the tunnel. You'd think if anyone knew the way to go it would be the officials but, no, one of them managed to send the riders the wrong way. If they should have gone right, he sent them left.

Desperately, finding themselves outside the track with no obvious way to get in, André Mahe, Jacques Moujica and Frans Leenen looked for somewhere to go. Their nerves were taught and their veins full of adrenaline. To say they were jumpy would understate the case somewhat. Moujica quickly saw there was no point riding any further round the outside of the track and he turned a tight circle, lost his balance and fell off. All the troubles of getting to Roubaix were nothing compared to the last few metres because the fall broke his pedal.

Leaving Moujica to look after himself, Mahe and Leenen found not the way in they should have used but, by this time anywhere being better than nowhere, pushed at a door and found it led to the press seats. And that was how they finished Paris-Roubaix, scrambling down through the seats and the bewildered reporters before climbing over the fence to the banking, getting back on their bikes and sprinting for the line.

For the judge, Henri Boudard, that was good enough. It was unconventional, he couldn't help thinking, but Mahe had started in Paris and he had got to Roubaix and he had crossed the line before the rest. He named him the winner and sent him on his lap of honour.

It wasn't the way that Mahe would have chosen to win but in the circumstances it was sufficient and he waved to the crowds before heading off to the shower. It was then that things became still more ludicrous. A few minutes later the bunch made it into the stadium by the conventional route. Muddied and bloodied, they were led to the line by Serse Coppi, brother of Fausto." (source: www.cyclingnews.com)

Interview with André Mahé in 2007:
"C'est trop bête d'en parler (It's too stupid to talk about). There was a break. Coppi attacked. His brother Fausto gave him a push to get him away. He wanted his brother to win. I waited a bit and then I attacked and I caught him and the break. Then I went off by myself. I was going to win Paris–Roubaix. At the entrance to the vélodrome, there were crowds everywhere, blocking the way. I looked around for where to go and I was directed round the outside wall of the track, to where the team cars had to park. It wasn't like nowadays, when there's television and everything. Then it was more chaotic and the whole road was blocked. People said I should have known the way into the track. But how do you know a thing like that at the end of Paris–Roubaix, when you've raced all day over roads like that? A gendarme signalled the way to go and that's the way I went.

It was a journalist on a motorbike who managed to get up to me. He was shouting 'Not that way! Not that way!' And I turned round in the road and I rode back beneath the outside wall of the grandstand and I saw a gateway that went into the track, a gateway for journalists. And that's the way I went, except that it came out on the other side of the track from the proper entrance. The bunch came in and Serse won the sprint. But then his brother told Serse to go to the judges to object. He told Serse that I hadn't ridden the entire and precise course and that therefore I should be déclassé. But that was below him. Coppi wanted his brother to have a big victory. He was a great champion, Coppi, but to do what he did, to protest like that to get a victory for his brother, that wasn't dignified for a champion. That was below him. A champion like that should never have stooped that low. I never spoke to him about it. Never did. Why should I?"

Serse and Fausto Coppi after the 1949 Paris-Roubaix:

This Sunday, April 8, 257.5 km, 27 sectors of cobbles totaling 51.5 km : Tom Boonen, who has already won three Paris-Roubaix (2005, 2008, and 2009) will be attempting to join Roger De Vlaeminck as the race's only four time winner (1972, 1974, 1975, and 1977). Filippo Pozzato and Alessandro Ballan will have to try different tactics from the Tour of Flanders to beat Boonen. Thor Hushovd, Juan Antonio Flecha, Sylvain Chavanel and Peter Sagan bear watching. Fabian Cancellara broke his collarbone in this past Sunday's Tour of Flanders and will not be returning to racing until May.


Photo: Cobbles by Jenisch Designs, www.jenisch.dk, click on all images to enlarge


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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,300 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

Campagnolo EPS, Next: Athena EPS

Next in EPS line after Super Record EPS and Record EPS will be Athena EPS:


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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,300 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

Bianchi to Open Its Own Bike Store in Italy

From Bianchi:

F.I.V. Edoardo Bianchi Spa will open its own Bianchi professional bike store in April (inauguration targeted for April 24th). It will be located in the famous fashion street of Bergamo called “Sentierone”, not far from the historical bicycle factory in Treviglio.

Officina Edoardo Bianchi is the name of the consumer sales, service and educational center where both passionate cycling experts and recreational cyclists can find the full Bianchi range of bicycles, parts & accessories and clothing.

This professional bike store will be recognized as an innovative format to provide expert education on all Bianchi products and technology. Bianchi professional experts in bike measurements will support the consumer to identify the perfect model, riding position and to find the optimal fit on the bicycle.

“We wanted to create a unique experience for the consumer”, Founder and CEO of the Grimaldi Industri AB (“Grimaldi Group”) and Chairman of Bianchi Salvatore Grimaldisaid. “Officina Edoardo Bianchi is located in the fashion center of Bergamo. As an extension of the Bianchi company, it is expected to become a privileged meeting place for consumers to connect directly with Bianchi”.



Photo: shoppers on Sentierone on the April 1st "Festa di primavera"

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,300 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

Verify Your 2012 L'Eroica Registration

If you registered for the 2012 L'Eroica and have made your payment you can verify your registration here (link to pdf document).

If you do not find your name on the list write to iscrizioni@eroica.it giving details of your registration.

Photo: Angelo Ferrillo Photography, more photos 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, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,300 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

Tour Blanc Rando, 3rd Edition

The 3rd edition of the Tour Blanc Rando is slightly more than 80 days away, scheduled for June 22, 23, and 24th. The 600 km brevet, with 10,000 meters of elevation gain, includes riding in Italy, France and Switzerland as the course winds around Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and Monte Rosa (the second highest mountain in Switzerland).

Event details, in English, at www.tourblancrando.it

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,300 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

2012 Tour of Flanders: Tom Boonen Wins

Belgian Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) won the 2012 Tour of Flanders ahead of Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) and Alessandro Ballan (BMC), the trio had escaped from the remains of the peloton with 18 km to go. In the final 2 kms the Italian riders tried unsuccessfully to put a plan in place to defeat Boonen. First Ballan, the weakest sprinter among them, tried several attacks to escape but Boonen covered every attack. Pozzato waited for the sprint hoping to come around a tired Boonen, who was also almost dropped by Pozzato on the final climb of the Paterberg, but Boonen was not be denied his third Tour of Flanders victory.

Fabian Cancellara was involved in a feed zone crash with 68 km to go that resulted in a quadruple break of his collarbone.

The race with 2 km to go:


"I was worried about heading to the finish with those Italians. They know each other well and I feared that they would kill me, but the strong headwind was my ally," said Boonen. "I had to count on my sprint. I started too early and didn't have much left but it was enough."

Pozzato said, "I had the impression that Boonen was tired and that I could beat him but in the last five kilometers he proved just the opposite. In the sprint he can build on his explosive skills. I'm sorry we did not win, because I know that only victories count, the rest are just words. But I'm happy to be going strong and feeling good. Many did not believe in me, they said that I would not succeed. I am happy to have shown them where I am now and where I can get to."

"On the final ascent of the Paterberg we had a gap on Boonen, and I thought we would head to Oudenaarde with the two of us but he held on. Among the three I was definitely the slowest in the sprint," said Ballan. "I tried to anticipate the sprint, but Boonen always got on my wheel. He had a great race but we Italians made a good impression I think. If Cancellara were still in the race and we were the four in front perhaps the results would have been different. I'm enjoying this beautiful podium result and looking forward to the next important rendezvous (Paris-Roubaix next Sunday)."


By winning his third Tour of Flanders, Tom Boonen joins Achiel Buysse, Fiorenzo Magni, Eric Leman and Johan Museeuw as triple winners.

George Hincapie broke the record for most finishes in the Tour of Flanders: now 17, surpassing the record of 16 by Briek Schotte.

Top 10:
1. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep km. 255 in 6h04'33"
2. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle Italia s.t.
3. Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team, at 1"
4. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team, at 38"
5. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale
6. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-Quickstep
7. Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha Team
8. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
9. Matti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling Team
10.Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quickstep

Judith Arndt won, for the second time, the Women's Tour of Flanders.

Photo: Bettini

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,300 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