Liquigas-Cannondale Becomes Cannondale Pro Cycling Team

Back in August it we wrote that Brixia Sport had acquired Liquigas Sport (read here). The next step in the team's future was announced today in the following press release.


Bethel, Conn. – September 20, 2012 – Cannondale, a premium brand of Dorel Industries, announced today that it is significantly increasing its investment with Brixia Sport to become the title sponsor of their pro cycling team, newly named "Cannondale Pro Cycling Team." The relationship is effective January 1, 2013. For 2013 and beyond, Cannondale and the team will focus on the development of a young stable of incredible talent including Peter Sagan, the winner of the Green Jersey at the 2012 Tour de France, Moreno Moser and Elia Viviani. These riders will, in turn, be guided by committed veterans like Ivan Basso.

"Cannondale is excited to partner with Brixia Sport to be the title sponsor of the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team. Innovation leadership is part of our DNA. For the past six years, it has been a thrill to watch the team push their limits on our bikes as we push the boundaries on what those bikes can do," said Bob Burbank, General Manager, Cannondale. "With the title sponsorship, our dealers and consumers can expect to see us really challenge the status quo and develop programs and opportunities that demonstrate our continued commitment to professional cycling in new and exciting ways that will be undeniably Cannondale."

Cannondale began its relationship with the team in 2007 as the technical sponsor for the Liquigas Pro Cycling Team. In January of 2010, Cannondale became a co-sponsor of the Liquigas-Cannondale Team. Since 2007, the team has won: three Grand Tours including the Giro d'Italia in 2007 and 2010 and the Vuelta a Espana in 2010; two Tour de France jerseys, including the 2009 Polka Dot and the 2012 Green Jersey; and, countless prestigious individual races.

Throughout the relationship, the team has ridden the race-proven line of Cannondale road bikes including the SuperSix, Slice, Slice RS, Synapse and the recently named "Best Bike in the World" SuperSix EVO Ultimate.

"Fans of the sport and Cannondale can expect to see one of the world's best race teams riding on the most exciting bikes available," said Burbank. "It's truly a partnership in innovation and excellence."

"We are incredibly pleased with Cannondale's decision to continue and increase its partnership with the team," said Paolo Zani, President, Brixia Sport. "We share the same goal of furthering a sports project that has produced exciting results in recent years. We are convinced that the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team will be one of the most competitive teams in international cycling. Combining the Italian tradition of cycling with the naturally innovative spirit of a brand like Cannondale will initiate the genesis of an international team that will always be a main contender wherever it competes."

"The qualities with which the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team sports partnership begins will provide great motivation for the entire organisation at Brixia Sport," said Team Manager Roberto Amadio. "The experience and expertise we have gained since 2005 form a solid foundation on which to build the future of the new team. We have ambitious goals and the right structure to ensure we achieve them. We'll have a sound squad with a focus on young riders and a strongly international influence. We will repay Cannondale's trust in us with the utmost commitment and professionalism. The team is thrilled to know that they continue to ride on the best bike in the world.


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2013 Giro d'Italia: Col du Galibier, Stage 15

It will be the first time and it will be special. On Sunday 19th May, 2013 the Giro d’Italia will raise its flag on one of the sacred mountains of cycling, the Col du Galibier.

The stage will end at the top of the climb (2,642 meters) where the mountain divides the French departments of Savoy from the Hautes-Alpes. It will be the first time in the history of cycling that a race, climbing from Valloire, will finish at the top of this monumental mountain.

Stage 15 of the ‘Corsa Rosa’ will start from Cesana Torinese, and take riders towards Susa where the Colle del Moncenisio climb will begin, then downhill towards the Val D’Arc. At Saint Michel de Maurienne the race will climb the Col du Télégraphe and then, from Valloire, the last 18km will head upwards towards the glory of the summit of the Col du Galibier.

Everyone remembers Marco Pantani’s legendary stage in the 1998 Tour de France as the climb that sealed his overall victory of that year’s edition of ‘Le Tour’. Fittingly at 4km before the summit, where Pantani started his attack, there’s a stone monument that remembers his achievement.

All these ingredients will give fans the spectacle of one of the most dramatic stages ever – a stage that promises to remain in the history of the Giro d’Italia forever.

The Galibier recalls, among its rulers, giants like Henri Pélissier and Eugène Christophe, a flea Vicente Trueba ("the Flea of the Pyrenees"), an eagle Federico Bahamontes ("the Eagle of Toledo") , the angel Charly Gaul ("the Angel of the Mountain") and a cannibal (" the Cannibal ") in Eddy Merckx. Among the Italians, the winners have been Bartolomeo Aimo in 1924, Francesco Camusso in '32, Gino Bartali in '37, in '38 Mario Vicini, Fermo Camellini in '47, in '52 Fausto Coppi, Franco Chioccioli in '92, Marco Pantani in '98, and Stefano Garzelli in 2003.

Galibier related story in ICJ here.  Use the search feature in the upper right to find more!

Click on images to enlarge.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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New: L'Eroica Travel

In the near future it will be even easier to ‘live’ the L’Eroica experience. Riding on the roads of L'Eroica in a supported structure will be possible at any time thanks to a new service that is being implemented. With the 2012 edition of the L'Eroica comes L'Eroica Travel, the ideal way to combine the unique features of the L'Eroica throughout the year using the permanently marked route.

A number of services covering all the needs of those who want to enjoy cycling tourism will be just a click away at www.eroica.it website: selected farm holiday accommodations, immersed in nature; accommodation in small towns, or even in the heart of Siena. From the site you will be able to build build your own dream on two wheels, in structures offering all the services you will need: bicycle storage, repair kits/workshop, route information, adequate dining facilities, laundry, bicycle leaning, bike rental, escorts and guides, internet access, and emergency services.


The services of L’Eroica Travel will be presented in more detail during this year's L'Eroica weekend, October 5, 6, and 7.

Note: During the weekend the weekend there will be a photo exhibit by Angelo Ferrillo. We have featured some of his photographs in the past here.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Tan Lines

The Cyclepassion calendar for 2013 is now available. Details at www.cyclepassion.com

Interesting photography this year. Italian rider Julia Innerhofer is in the calendar but I like this photo of Hungarian Barbara Benkó.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,600 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.

2013 Giro d'Italia: Stage in Ischia Still Possible

Meetings between the Giro d'Italia organizer (RCS Sport) and Ischia local government officials who desire to hold a stage have continued since November, the latest being this past week. Ischia, at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, presents many challenging logistical issues in bringing a massive event like the Giro to a small island. With the official 2013 Giro d'Italia presentation scheduled for September 30th a final deadline for making a decision about Ischia has been set for Tuesday, September 18th.

The only time the Giro has visited Ischia was in 1959 for a 31 km time trial stage, Stage 8. It had been anticipated that the winner would be Jacques Anquetil but the surprise winner was Antonino Catalano (Bianchi-Pirelli team) from Palermo, Sicily.

Related story:  Ischia Hopes to Host 2013 Giro d'Italia Stage 

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,500 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. 

Il Lombarda (Giro di Lombardia) News, Part II

As we reported in Part I, the terrible climb of the Muro di Sormano is back in the route of the 106th edition of the Il Lombardia (formerly named the Giro di Lombardia), exactly 50 years after the 15.8% average, 25-27% max, climb proved so difficult that many riders were forced to get off their bikes and walk. This year the Muro di Sormano, the short but very steep climb near Lake Como, comes after 165km of racing and will be followed by the climb to Madonna del Ghisallo and the short climb to Villa Vergano, where Oliver Zaugg attacked to win the 2011 edition of Il Lombardia.

See this video of the Muro (wall):

Muro Di Sormano from brokenp87 on Vimeo.

The last time the Il Lombardia climbed the Muro di Sormano was in 1962 when Johannes de Roo of the Netherlands won the race. Fausto Coppi is the most successful Il Lombardia winner of all time, winning consecutive race in 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950.

The 2012 edition of Il Lombardia will be held on Saturday, September 29, and celebrates Felice Gimondi’s incredible career in the year of his 70th birthday with the start in Bergamo. The race will be bookended with a gala dinner in Bergamo on Friday evening which will be attended by many champions and on Sunday with the GIMONDIBIKE mtb race. Gimondi (far right in photo) said, "I am honored and excited for all that has been organized to celebrate my birthday. Il Lombardia is a great race, one of the five classic "monuments" and who wins here is a champion with a capital "C". I managed to win it twice, in 1966 and 1973. They brought me two great satisfactions and two wonderful memories I carry in my heart."

If you are in Bergamo for the weekend, or in the future, don't forget to visit the only Bianchi concept store in Italy; details previously posted here.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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2013 Giro d'Italia Presentation: September 30th

The 2013 Giro d'Italia presentation will take place in Milano on Sunday, September 30th.

The cycle begins again!

We already know that the Giro will start in Napoli (Naples).

Dates: May 4 to May 26.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,500 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.