Riccò Dumps Rossi

What a guy! Riccardo Riccò has totally distanced himself from his girlfriend, Vania Rossi, and mother of their 7 month old son, saying, "I'm disappointed with my girlfriend and there can be no reconciliation until Vania is shown to be innocent of the allegations that were raised." Riccò himself is nearing the end of an eighteen month suspension for his own use of CERA, the same substance which his cyclocrossing girlfriend recently tested postive for.

This occurs after Riccò's team, Ceramica Flaminia, was the only Italian Pro Continental team not to be invited to any of the big Italain races on the calendar for March. Rumors were also swirling that the team was not going to be invited to the Giro d'Italia.

Photo: Rossi and Riccò in happier days

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 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. Cinelli fan? Visit CINELLI ONLY.

Vino Fondo, Missouri's Gran Fondo

The European cycling tradition of the Grand Fondo cycling experience is coming to Missouri's hilliest wine country on Saturday, May 1, 2010. The "Vino Fondo" event name reflects a traditional pairing of challenging riding and a tour of some of Missouri's best and oldest vineyards. The Vino Fondo will start in Augusta, Missouri, and will use the same roads and towns visited by the Tour of Missouri Professional Cycling Race.

The Vino Fondo is a fully supported, timed ride. All participants will receive two measures of their achievement: overall ride time and their climbing time over the penultimate beast, the Schleusberg. There are three distance options, each tuned to maximize scenery and include as many of the regions "topographic features".

Three routes will allow riders to challenge themselves in this inaugural Vino Fondo.
The Mondo Fondo-132 miles, snaking from Augusta, Missouri to Hermann, Missouri and back. With 12,000 feet of climbing, "the grapes won't be the only thing whining." The Midi Fondo-75 miles, 5700 feet of climbing. From Augusta, past Daniel Boone's home, and up and over the historic route of the Missouri State Championship Road Race. The Mini Fondo-25 miles, 2,600 feet of climbing for those looking for a less intense day with a few challenging climbs.

Registration for the Vino Fondo is open and all event information can be found here.

The North American granfondo calendar for 2010 can be seen here.

Photos: event logo, profile of the 132 mile Mondo Fondo (click to enlarge), Alberto Contador and teammates on the Schleusberg

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 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.

ExpoBici, 3rd Edition, September 18-20, 2010

The up and coming bike show in Italy, "ExpoBici", is scheduled for September 18 to 20, 2010. The organizers believe it is an ideal time for the Italian market, immediately following the official presentation of new products at the European level and prior to the end of the cycling season. At last year's 2nd edition there were 250 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors.

ExpoBici is held at Padova Exhibition Center in Padova.

Event website: http://www.expobici.it/index-ing.htm

Photo: Ballan signing autographs and jerseys at 2009 ExpoBici, more photos here.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 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.

Andy Hampsten's Favorite Road On The Planet

Andy Hampstgen on his favorite ride:

"My favorite ride is a 12 kilometer section of road between Sassetta (Livorno), my home village, and Suvereto. It drops three hundred meters and there’s not one straight-away, it’s all turns but no hairpins. One day I counted 287 turns, the locals hate it because it’s so twisty and turny. It’s my favorite road on the planet. I’ve lived on that road for 29 years or so and I like it more every time I ride it."

Google map link here.

Quote excerpt is from www.rapha.cc

Photo: Sassetta

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 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.

Campagnolo, France

Apparently there were Campagnolo components manufactured in France during the 1950s.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 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.

2009 Giro d'Italia Venice Poster

2009 Giro d'Italia in Venice gilclee poster by Mike Valenti. Printed on heavy acid free archival paper with archival inks. Size 12x16". Available through amazon.

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 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.

Invitations to Italian Classics

March is a round the corner, finally! RCS Sport, also organizer of the Giro d'Italia, has announced the list of teams invited to its Montepaschi Strade Bianche Toscana (March 6), Tirreno-Adriatico (stage race March 10-16) and Milano-Sanremo (March 20) races.

The only Italian Pro Continental team not to be invited to any of the races was the Ceramica Flaminia squad of Riccardo Riccò (whose suspension ends on March 19th).

De Rosa-Stac Plastic team was not eligible for entry into Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-Sanremo as they were not selected as a "wild card" team.

Invitations:

Montepaschi Strade Bianche Toscana, March 6

Acqua & Sapone-Mokambo
AG2R La Mondiale
Androni-Diquigiovanni
Astana
BMC
Cervélo Test Team
Garmin-Transition
ISD-Neri
Lampre-Farnese Vini
Liquigas-Doimo
Omega Pharma-Lotto
Sky Professional Cycling Team
Team HTC-Columbia
Team Katusha
Team Saxo Bank

Tirreno-Adriatico, March 10-16

Acqua & Sapone-Mokambo
AG2R La Mondiale
Androni-Diquigiovanni
Astana
BMC
Caisse d'Epargne
Cervélo Test Team
Colnago-CSF Inox
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Francaise Des Jeux
Garmin-Transitions
ISD-Neri
Lampre-Farnese Vini
Liquigas-Doimo
Omega Pharma-Lotto
Quick Step
Rabobank
Sky Professional Cycling Team
Team HTC-Columbia
Team Katusha
Team Milram
Team Saxo Bank

Milano-Sanremo, March 20

Acqua & Sapone-Mokambo
AG2R La Mondiale
Androni-Diquigiovanni
Astana
Bbox Bouygues Telecom
BMC
Caisse d'Epargne
Carmiooro-NGC
Cervélo Test Team
Colnago-CSF Inox
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Francaise Des Jeux
Garmin-Transition
ISD-Neri
Lampre-Farnese Vini
Liquigas-Doimo
Omega Pharma-Lotto
Quick Step
Rabobank
Sky Professional Cycling Team
Team HTC-Columbia
Team Katusha
Team Milram
Team RadioShack
Team Saxo Bank

Photo: 2009 Montepaschi Strade Bianche Toscana

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondo, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are very welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,200 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. Cinelli fan? Visit CINELLI ONLY.