Bianchi Becomes L'Eroica Sponsor Beginning 2013

Bianchi signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with L'Eroica, the Italian foundation promoting the non-competitive L'Eroica ride on Tuscany's "strade bianche". Bianchi will link their name to the L'Eroica name beginning with the 2013 edition. The sponsorship agreement was presented in Gaiole in Chianti (Tuscany, Italy) on Saturday, October 6th. L'Eroica took place yesterday, October 7th.

Bianchi considers L'Eroica the perfect meeting point between cycling history and the new generation of bike fans from all over the world, the main target for Italian company's market strategies.

In the last few months Salvatore Grimaldi, Founder and CEO of the Grimaldi Industri AB (“Grimaldi Group”) and Chairman of Bianchi, met the event's founder Giancarlo Brocci in Gaiole in Chianti and understood the potential of the Bianchi and Eroica's marriage.  "Bianchi is the best possible partner for this event. Being here we aim to strengthen our brand and to show the importance of our successful history in the eyes of a global audience. Year by year, Eroica is even more famous and highly thought of all the cycling fans: this is why we decided to take this opportunity", said Salvatore Grimaldi.

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Ride In Style with Vittoria

New Vittoria shoes shown at Interbike.

Photo: courtesy www.pezcyclingnews.com

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: Balance, Respect, Beauty of Italy

Michele Aquarone, Managing Director at RCS Sport, explains the key values used to create the 2013 Giro d'Italia route:

"The route of the 2013 Giro d'Italia has been presented, the secrets of the stages are out and I've realized yet again how affectionate and caring people are about the Corsa Rosa.

I can understand it from messages from the fans, comments from the riders, reports from the media and from everyone who shares the same goals and passion for great cycling as we do.

Unveiling a new Giro d'Italia route is a bit like going out on a first date. It's exciting. You can't wait and you can't stop thinking about how it will turn out. Where are you going to go? What will you do? We can't wait until the 2013 Giro d'Italia starts in Naples on Saturday May 4. During those seven months, the expectations and excitement for the Giro d'Italia will grow every day, just like before a date.

I can’t wait for May too but first I'm curious to hear what everyone thinks of the route. After this year's race we listened to everyone to find out what they liked about it and also what they didn’t like.

Some people were very clear: 75% of the tifosi said that the 2012 Giro had been too tactical and so too controlled. 85% asked us to look after the riders more, especially at the finish of the sprint stages. People were divided about the mountain stages: 45% wanted to see big mountain stages with four or five major climbs, while 55% said we should focus on more spectacular and shorter mountain stages that have just one or two climbs in the finale. There was also a contrast in opinions on racing on the Strade Bianche dirt road roads. 25% of people want them in every edition of the race, 35% never want them and 40% want them but only every so often.

When we designed the 2013 Giro d'Italia route, we considered the fans' opinions very closely. We also listened to the UCI, the teams and of course, the riders. We tried to bring everyone's needs together and create three key values:

BALANCE: We wanted a route that is balanced and fair, and so one that allows the great riders to show their talents and skills. We designed a route that favours attacks by overall contenders right from the start of the race. That's why there's a spicy stage finish in Calabria –the home of the best Italian chilly peppers, a testing Classics style stage in the Abruzzo region and an important time trial, all in the first week.

RESPECT: We worked hard to design a route that is rider friendly as a sign of respect to the riders. That means a safe route, hard but not sadistically hard, which gives the riders a chance to recover between the stages. We've calculated that rider will on average reach their hotels by 7:00pm after every stage.

THE BEAUTY OF ITALY: We wanted to show off the beauty of Italy: Naples, Ischia, Matera, Florence, Vicenza, Brescia and with a route that also climbed the legendary mountains of cycling: the Galibier, the Stelvio and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

As Italian journalist Paolo Tomaselli wrote in Corriere della Sera, the route of the 2013 Giro d'Italia is like a beautiful necklace. In May we'll see who will deserve to wear it at the end of the race.

I've got a good feeling about the 2013 Giro d'Italia. I can feel that the interest and excitement in the race is growing around the world. Now it's up to us, the teams and the riders, to further develop the passion for the Giro d'Italia.

Let me know what you think via twitter (@micacquarone) or email (info@giroditalia.it).

Michele."


Note: The Giro is seven months from today. Also, if you are in the USA don't forget that the Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia will be held in Miami/Coral Gables, Florida, in 37 days on November 11th. Details at www.granfondogiroditalia.com

The official 2013 Giro d'Italia promo video:



More information about the stages, etc., in this previous blog entry.

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.  

New Cinelli Laser is in........Carbon! "Laser Viva"

Yes, the newest version of the iconic Cinelli Laser is in carbon and is named the "Laser Viva" (above, click on image to enlarge). Coming in 2013.

More recently  Mr. Andrea Pesenti, the builder of the original Lasers, was involved in the creation of a small limited edition of steel Lasers ("Laser Nostra", see here). Now, Mr. Pesenti has been involved as well in the carbon creation named the Laser Viva which is said to have the same "look and feel". Photo of the limited edition "Laser Nostra", September 2011:

The Cinelli Viva is entered in the Bike MOTION Benelux Awards competition and Cinelli would like votes for it. If you wish to vote go here and this is the translated information you will need:
- Surname
- First Name
- Choose: woman (Mevrouw)/man (Meneer)
- Street + nr
- Telephone nr
- Email (used to contact for prizes)
- Vote for the Cinelli Laser Viva 2013 !

I'd be remiss in not pointing out that a DeRosa 888 is also in the road category.

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 Maratona dles Dolomites: Registration

Registration for the 2013 Maratona dles Dolomites, to be held June 30, 2013, will be open from October 17 to November 7, 2012.

As the event is always oversubscribed the traditional random drawing for starting numbers will take place in the second half of November. Half of the approximate 9,000 slots will be for Italian participants and the other half for foreign participants. The list of participants drawn will be published online afterwards. Register at www.maratona.it, find the details for the registration under "How to register at the race".

Another way of entering, that offers guaranteed entry,  is to book a holiday package through the official tour operator  Holomites. These offers include the registration fee, accommodation in facilities of various categories beginning from a period of 4 nights, along with different benefits for participants and their accompanying persons.  These packages will be available beginning October 15th at www.holimites.com.

Once again there will be some slots available next year with a surcharge; these surcharges go to a charitable organization.

Summary of key dates:

October 15th 2012: Availability of starting packages on-line on www.holimites.com

October 17th to November 7th 2012: Opening of pre-registrations

Second half of November 2012: draw (the list of participants drawn will be published on-line afterwards)

November 27th 2012: on-line availability of 190 starting numbers which surcharge will be assigned to charitable institutions

December 3rd 2012: first day for confirming the participation by paying the registration

March 27th 2013: on-line availability of 190 starting numbers which surcharge will be assigned to charitable institutions

April 17th 2013: last day for confirming the participation by paying the registration

June 30th, 2013: Maratona dles Dolomites

Related Story: Maratona dles Dolomites Race Advice

Photo: www.patitucciphoto.com

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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For Gimondi & Bianchi Fans: Bianchi Oltre XR "Gimondi 70"

Bianchi has produced a special Oltre XR in a limited edition of 70 bicycles to celebrate Gimondi's 70th birthday. The special bike, made unique by Bianchi in many details, was unveiled at the gala in honor of Gimondi in Bergamo, on Friday, September 28th.

The Oltre XR "Gimondi 70", with Campagnolo's Super Record EPS electronic gruppo , has four customized components with the "Gimondi 70" :

- Campagnolo Bora high-profile carbon wheelset (with Veloflex tubolars)
- Selle San Marco Concor carbon FX saddle
- La Spirale white grip
- Elite Corsa bottle

The graphics on the "Gimondi 70" feature personalized graphics: the mix of “celeste” Bianchi and light blue color, the latter referring to the Bianchi jersey worn by Gimondi and the sapphire, the amulet stone distinguishing the people born in September; the names of Gimondi’s main wins,  multicolor inserts along the tubes to remind all of the prestigious Felice’s wins: Tour, Giro, Vuelta, World and Italian Championships; a Bianchi logo like the one on Gimondi’s bike 40 years ago.

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Rider Reactions to 2013 Giro d'Italia

Ryder Hesjedal, this year's winner: "Someone was saying it would be an easier Giro this year but I don’t see it. It looks amazing, I’m ready to start preparing already. It will be an honor to wear number 1!"

Joaquim Rodriguez, second in this year's Giro and winner of Saturday's Il Lombardia: "My program is to ride it. I understand it will be important to make a difference in the mountains because with such a long time trial (stage 8, 55.5 km) I will certainly lose a lot of time but it's a ride that I like and I'm ready."

Ivan Baso, winner of the 2006 and 2010 Giro d'Italia: "It's a beautiful, grand, Giro. The rider for the overall can’t look at one stage. He has to see all the map, has to stay all day concentrated on the race. That is the only way to try to win the Giro d’Italia.”

Vincenzo Nibali, whose best win todate has been the 2010 Vuelta a Espana: "The final week is very hard"

Alberto Contador, winner of the 2008 and 2011 Giro d'Italia (his victory stripped for the latter): "The course seems balanced and I like the novelty of a long time trial stage of 55 km. Once again the Giro is characterized by very hard last week. The course suits my characteristics but I do not know if it will be part of my program. Now, I'll allow myself a few weeks of vacation then we'll start thinking about it and make the necessary assessments."

Race director Michele Acquarone: "Our guiding principle is that the great champions must be respected, and every champion must be given space to express himself. I think that we’ve put together a very balanced route."

More quotes 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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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.