"Elite for Haiti" - Aid for the Earthquake Victims

From ELITE just now:

Fontaniva (PD), January 20th, 2010 – Let’s do something to help the people of Haiti. Elite, the leading Italian company in the cycling sector has decided to hit the field immediately to help the people of Haiti, the Caribbean island that was recently devastated by a terrible earthquake.


The initiative is called “Elite for Haiti”, and it calls for immediate production and distribution of a special water bottle with the colours of the Haitian flag and two hands reaching out to each other in a universal symbol of aid. All proceeds will be donated to charity.

“Through the media we’ve learned that the lack of drinking water is one of the foremost emergencies on the island - explains Elite Marketing Director Alessio Sartore -. These water bottles will not only serve to quench the thirst of athletes, but we hope that they can contribute to bringing water and aid to the Haitian people”.

This Elite proposal aims to be purely charitable, serving no commercial gain whatsoever.

“The production costs of the Elite water bottles for Haiti will be entirely sponsored by the company and proceeds from their sale will be donated entirely to charitable organizations for the people of Haiti through the Doctors of Médecins sans Frontières - continues Alessio Sartore-. With a simple gesture you can do something important to help those in need. In these hours our staff is working hard to get the initiative up and running. Presumably the water bottle will be available in most cycling shops starting in early February”.

Visit our website www.elite-haiti.org online for more information on this charitable initiative."

Note: the build of the website is still in progress at this moment...

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 1,100 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.

Eddy Merckx and the Granfondo Eddy Merckx

I always enjoy listening to Eddy Merckx speaking Italian. In this video, interspersed with images from the Granfondo Eddy Merckx, Merckx mentions, "During my career I was not often called the 'Cannibal". What name that is given to you is not important. What is important is to win races."
"

More details about the Granfondo Eddy Merckx, and another video showing the beauty of this area, near Verona, in which the granfondo takes place appeared previously in this entry here.

In summary, the Granfondo Eddy Merckx, will be held on June 13th, 2010. It is also part of the Challenge Giordana series which includes these five granfondos, all in the Veneto region:
GF Liotto di Valdagno (VI), 11 April
GF Lazise (VR), 18 April
GF Fizik (VI), 1 May
GF Cunego (VR), 6 June
GF Eddy Merckx a Rivalta di Brentino (VR), 13 June.

Event website: http://www.granfondoeddymerckx.com/

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 1,100 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.

New Leader's Jersey for Vuelta a España

A new leader's jersey, now red, for the the Vuelta a España has been designed by Spanish fashion designer Custo Dalmau. The Vuelta a España will be celebrating its 75h Anniversary this year.

The metaphor between the cheetah, the fastest animal in the world, and the cyclist has been the inspiration for Dalmau. Meanwhile, Javier Guillen, director of the Vuelta said, "It's a different leader's jersey of that of the Giro pink and yellow of the Tour, and to the fans that identifies the international success of Spanish sport, whether soccer, basketball, tennis or any other sport. The seventy-fifth anniversary of the Vuelta is a special commemoration and this is a special garment from a designer at the international level."

Spanish fan reaction has been, let's say, less than enthusiastic.

Over these past 75 years, the world and cycling have changed a great deal. That first edition held 75 years ago had 14 stages, almost all of which were over 250 kms long. The 75th “Platinum” edition will have 21 stages averaging 170 kms. A considerable difference aimed at being a spectacular event with shorter stages and fast-paced sprints to the finish line.

I was surprised how few Italians have won the Vuelta since it began in 1935, only four riders:
1956 Angelo Conterno, Bianchi-Pirelli
1968 Felice Gimondi, Salvarani
1981 Giovanni Battaglin, Inoxpran
1990 Marco Giovannetti, Seur

The Vuelta a España 2010 will begin in Sevilla August 28th with an evening time trial which will premiere the new leader's jersey.

Photo: Custo Dalmau/Barcelona unveiling the new red leader's jersey

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 1,100 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.

Nocentini of Ag2r-La Mondiale: Kuota and Selle San Marco

Selle San Marco has signed on as a technical sponsor to Ag2r-La Mondiale by providing saddles to the French team . Pictured is Rinaldo Nocentini, who wore the yellow jersey in the Tour de France last year for eight days, with the Kuota KOM (King of the Mountain) bike with Selle San Marco saddle he will be riding this season.

Great graphics.

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 1,100 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.

The Quagmire of Team Lampre-Farnese Vini, Part III

The status of Team Lampre-Farnese Vini continues to be a mystery. The last milestone in resolving the team's ProTour license status was to be a meeting on January 15th of the Licenses Commission. The Licenses Commission was to meet in order decide upon a proposal from the UCI to grant a temporary registration which would enable Lampre to carry on with its activities until March 31st and to Lampre to be in compliance with the rules by 31 March 2010.


Lampre was initially denied a license because, "Unfortunately, this (licensing) procedure did not go ahead in accordance with the measures and within the deadlines stipulated by the UCI rules, because of serious administrative non-compliances noted by the company Ernst&Young in the file that was submitted to it when the team presented its registration request last November."

January 15th has come and gone and there has yet to been an announcement of the decision by the Licenses Commission. The UCI's ProTour team list continues to exclude Lampre.

Meanwhile, the first 2010 training camp for Lampre began on Saturday in San Vincenzo (Livorno) Nineteen blue-fucsia riders, two D.S.(Copeland and Piovani), doctor Beltemacchi and all the masseurs and mechanics met in Tuscany in order to start the training camp. Joining Cunego until 26 January are also Alfredo Balloni, Grega Bole, Matteo Bono, Vitaliy Buts, Angelo Furlan, Francesco Gavazzi, Andrea Grendene, David Loosli, Mirco Lorenzetto, Enrico Magazzini, Adriano Malori, Marco Marzano, Daniele Pietropolli, Simone Ponzi, Daniele Righi, Marcin Sapa, Simon Spilak and Diego Ulissi.

On Thursday, 21 January, another group of 6 riders (Alessandro Petacchi, Lorenzo Bernucci, Mauro Da Dalto, Danilo Hondo, Manuele Mori and Alessandro Spezialetti) will arrive to join the team at the Residence Riva degli Etruschi. Petacchi and his team mates have been training in the Canary Islands.

Lastly, Team Lampre announced their new shoes for the 2010 season: GAERNE Carbon G. Myst Plus with the new lock 2D Micro Adjustable Aluminium Buckle, the Safety Lock Strap System and the new Heel Grip Plus patented by Gaerne. The shoes incorporate the blue-fucsia colors.

Related stories:
Part I
Part II

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,100 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.

Mario Cipollini and ISD–NERI Cycling Team Presentation

The ISD-NERI Cycling Team presentation took place today on the outskirts of Verona at the beautiful Villa Quaranta. Mario Cipollini was on hand to present the "Cipollini" bicycles that ISD-NERI will be using this season.

At the presentation Cipollino revealed how he became involved in creating a Cipollini frame. "In a chance encounter with Federico Zecchetto, founder of Giordana and DMT, the idea arose of producing high-end bicycles. From that day we are working tirelessly, with an engineer for the design and with an Italian company for production of the bicycle. I have made available my name but above all my 30 years of experience in the saddle. We are sure that the that the finished product is the best the riders could ask for." A line of bicycles devoted to innovation and technology that in its first year will be seen in important races beginning with the Tour of San Luis (Argentina) this week.

The main objectives for the team this year: Milan-San Remo, Tirreno-Adriatico and, supposing an invitation, the Giro d'Italia.

Related story here.

Note: the team frame is model "RB1000". An Italian cycling magazine tested a (11,000 euro) Cipollini "RB800" in November which had a traditional, straight, seat tube:

Photos: Visconti and Cipollini, the entire squad

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 1,100 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.

ICJ Now On Facebook

The ultimate retro techno-grouch has just joined the 21st century on Facebook. I don't know where it's going but we are on the journey. Stop by and visit. Link is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This is me, a bit grumpy, after climbing the Stelvio and descending half way on the wet hairpin turns.