Thursday, October 31, 2013

Felice Gimondi, Merckx's Toughest Opponent


Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York: Entry Fee Goes Up Nov. 1

This Friday, November 1, the entry fee for Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York goes up. Register now to save at granfondony.eventbrite.com.

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

Gran Fondo Giro d'Italia: Win Free 1 Week Hotel Stays in Italy

Get ready with cyclists from around the world and feel the spirit, passion and 100-year history of the Giro d'Italia in Beverly Hills on November 3 and Miami - Coral Gables on November 10.

If you'll ride in Beverly Hills on November 3, or in Miami - Coral Gables on November 10, you'll have a chance to win free 1 week hotel stays in Italy with Italy Cycling Holidays. 

Wednesday, Oct 30, 11:59pm (today) online registrations closes for the west coast event on November 3 in BEVERLY HILLS.

Wednesday, November 6, 11:59pm online registration closes for the east coast event on November 10 in MIAMI CORAL GABLES. Italian pro rider Pippo Pozzato will be the special guest rider.

Registration and other details at www.granfondogiroditalia.com.

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.





Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Brent Copeland is New Team Manager of LAMPRE-MERIDA

Tasks, restructuring and internationality. These are the three main guidelines that Team LAMPRE-MERIDA considers to be crucial in order to find the correct balance between professionalism and organization in today's cycling world; looking ahead, these are the ideas that will be decisive for the blue-fuchsia-green team to work towards the future.

This is the reason for the team's decision to nominate Brent Copeland as team manager into the organization, replacing Giuseppe Saronni in this role. Despite his young age (41 years old) Copeland has vast experience on an international level in the sporting world.

Copeland’s cycling career began in South Africa, coming to Europe for the first time in 1994, racing in the élite category with Velo Club Lugano, racing with team mates such as future world champion Oscar Camenzind and Rubens Bertogliati, who as we know gave Lampre (at the time with the name of Lampre-Daikin) the yellow jersey in Tour de France 2002.

When Brent stopped racing he turned his interests to working in the cycling world with Lampre in 1999 as sport director, directing world champions Camenzind, Igor Astarloa and Alessandro Ballan. Meanwhile, he was also nominated South African National team manager in three editions of the world championships.

Copeland’s relationship with team Lampre carried on until 2009 when Brent then moved to motorbikes. In 2010, he joined the MotoGp world as coordinator of the activities of American Ben Spies, travelling with the rider and MotoGP for three seasons gaining vast experience in this top level sport of the motorbike world with which Copeland is still in touch and in which he has gained various management skills.

In 2013 he made his return to cycling: Copeland was called upon for organizing and the launch of the first African team to obtain Professional team status, MTN-Qhubeka, which saw them go on to win the memorable Milano-Sanremo thanks to Gerald Ciolek.

Copeland’s career, together with his knowledge and skills and the appreciation he received on an international level convinced Team LAMPRE-MERIDA to put this trust in him and offer him the role as team manager: he will be responsible for the management and organization of the team, both staff and riders working in close contact with the sport directors, the medical staff and responsible for the training, logistics and race program.

The undertaking of these tasks by the South African manager, during the season in which Team LAMPRE-MERIDA will have in its roster the world champion once again (the Portuguese Rui Alberto Faria da Costa), will give Giuseppe Saronni the chance to concentrate and focus more on the research and management of financial backers, sponsors and partners for the team.

The nomination of Brent Copeland is consistent with restructuring the team is taking, in the past 12 months Michele Bartoli (responsible for training and race program ) and Angelo Zomegnan (senior advisor) have been added to the team.

New ideas, various skills and knowledge that enrich the team's history and offer a new progression for the future. Copeland explains: “The request of taking on the role of team manager makes me proud: Lampre has always been my Italian family, they welcomed me fifteen years ago, there has always been a special bond with the blue-fuchsia colors. The choice to accept this responsibility has been easy, even if it was not based only on sentimental reasons. In fact, I appreciate been involved in these changes of internationalization and the evolution of the team, an evolution which we working towards finding the perfect balance of professionalism and organization in this modern world of cycling in which we find ourselves. I’m ready and determined to support this challenge of transition and I know I can rely on a group of excellent people that are professional in each one of the indicated areas. This is a team effort which I am looking forward to working in, we starting from a good level of experience, which we want to broaden into a wider international dimension, this is a fundamental resource for our future”.

Tomorrow, Copeland is going to take part in a meeting with Michele Bartoli and the technical staff in order to begin, with the team leaders, to plan the schedule of next year's season.

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Viner "Record" Replica

Earlier this year came news that Viner had closed its doors, a company that began in 1947.

Today, I received the following announcement from a reader:

"We are currently in the production phase of a limited edition, replica of our vintage steel beauty, "Record". Hand made in Italy, with custom drawn Columbus tubing, and beautiful, precision made lugs, and accessories from Richard Sachs."

We'll see if we can find out more...

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

CRP, Tubing for Frame Building

Thanks to a reader we have another tubing identified, CRP. Before continuing, the others we have written about are:
Columbus,
Falck,
Oria,
Castello Mario & Figlio of Torino
Tullio

In the Tullio article I asked readers to contact me if they had more information. The Tullio article said, "After writing about Columbus, Falck, Oria, and Castello Mario & Figlio of Torino, we move onto one Italian tube set manufactuerer I had not previously heard of: "Tullio" from Padova. I don't have any details other than these photos which show a Tullio decal on a Maino and a page from an Atala catalog showing its use in the Corsa GS model. One source said, "Tullio tubing was an Italian straight-gauge, Hi Tensile tubing used on low to mid range Italian bikes made by Atala, Basso, etc.".

A reader did contact me with the following:

One more thing on Atala tubing: "CRP" stands for "Cesare Rizzato Padova". Cesare Rizzato founded CERIZ bicycles in 1921 (the abbreviation CRP can also be found on CERIZ bikes) and bought Atala in 1938 (Source: Moore R, Benson D. Bike! A tribute to the world's greatest cycling designers. London: Aurum; 2012.).

I have a hard time imagining that Atala made its own tubing. Somehow I think they simply rebadged Columbus Aelle, which was marketed as "Tubi speciali in acciaio al carbonio manganese". The CRP SM-08 sticker reads almost the same: "Tubi speciali in acciaio al carbonio microlegati". More than just coincidence, I think.

And finally, why was Atala’s house-label steel tubing named 'Tullio' and why was ‘Tullio’ later replaced by “CRP” (Cesare Rizzato Padova) tubing?

Cesare Rizzato and Tullio Campagnolo were well acquainted; an article in the May 1975 issue of Bicycling magazine offers a few details:

“Atala bicycles are made by C. Rizzato & Co. in Padova, Italy. Cesare Rizzato is now in his seventies but is still a very active man, riding a bicycle … 12 miles to and from work each day, and periodically travelling abroad – for example, recently to Guatemala and New York – to look after his company’s business affairs. He was a boyhood friend of Tullio Campagnolo, an association which no doubt has been an influential one during the half-century Rizzato has been making bicycles. (‘Tullio’ steel tubing is used in the frame of the Grand Prix II we tested, for instance.) Rizzato is the largest bicycle manufacturer in Italy, and the only one offering a complete line of bicycles …"
(Source: Clements W, Wallace M. Two Atalas: Grand Prix II and Corsa. Bicycling Magazine, May 1975, page 58-60. Available from: http://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=27706)

‘Tullio’ steel tubing was replaced by ‘CRP’ in the very late 1980s. Perhaps the folks at Campagnolo had complained that Atala had ‘stolen’ their brand name, or Atala wanted to honor their (by now deceased?) chairman. At any rate, Tullio had died in 1983, and although I could not find any biographical dates for Cesare Rizzato, we know that he was born around 1901 (like Tullio Campagnolo), so by the time 'CRP' was introduced, he would've been almost 90. The most likely scenario is that both men were dead and that relations between Campagnolo and Atala had soured so Atala could not continue to use 'Tullio' as their house label.

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.





Monday, October 21, 2013

Parkpre FUTURE by sak_art design

sak_art design writes in about their design work for the Parkpre FUTURE frameset. The FUTURE is available as a limited series in various national colors, and a World Championship edition.

sak_art design is based near Pisa, with a focus on industrial and motorcycle design; their planning programme includes research product planning, concept design and modelmaking to offer tangible product models.

The Parkpre FUTURE was first displayed at the 2013 EXPOBICI in Padova. A video presentation of the project:


Contact information for sak_art design is:
sak_art design s.n.c.
Via Pacinotti 38, 56021 Cascina (PISA) ITALY
T. + 39 050.711192 F. + 39 050.715198

www.sakartdesign.com

info@sakartdesign.com
SKYPE: sakartdesign
FACEBOOK: sakartdesign


Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Purito Rodriguez Visits Sidi


At the Sidi Sport headquarters yesterday, in Maser (Treviso), Dino Signori and the entire Sidi staff embraced the number one rider in the 2013 World Tour classification, Joaquim Rodriguez. To celebrate their champion Sidi had a cake made with a decoration worthy of the world's top rider...in fact, the cake was embossed with the image of the Spanish ace's remarkable victory at the Giro di Lombardia, the last in a long line of achievements for Purito Rodriguez, who bounced back from second place at the World Championships in Florence with this fantastic success.

“I'd like to thank Dino Signori and all my friends here at Sidi who always give me such a warm welcome. Fortunately the season is over and so we can go ahead and have that extra piece of cake," joked Joaquim Rodriguez, who was accompanied on this visit by his team mates from Team Katusha, Angel Vicioso, Alberto Losada, Maxim Belkov and Xavier Florencio, who have been on a retreat on Lake Garda. “It was a long, hard season; of course, it's too bad about the World Championships, where I came so close to realizing my dream of a rainbow jersey. However 2013 also brought me some fantastic achievements, both in the one-day races as well as the major tours, in which I always tried to do my best and figure as a major player. It was great to repeat last year's success at the Lombardia, even because this victory played a key role in me winning the final classification of the World Tour for the third time after 2010 and 2012.”

“It's too bad we couldn't celebrate a rainbow jersey for Rodriguez, but he is still one of our best athletes and one of the strongest riders in the group. I like him because he has always behaved like a serious professional and he is also a great man even when he's not on his bike," says Dino Signori, founder and owner of Sidi Sport. “Purito has been using Sidi shoes ever since he rode among the under23 and Sidi has been with him for all his most amazing victories as a professional. I'm sure he will still be able to deliver even more fantastic achievements.”

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. 


Thursday, October 17, 2013

2013 Granfondo Campagnolo Roma



5,000 riders in this year's edition, held October 13th.

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Passoni Owners Ride, 3 Days, 464 Km, in 2014


If you are fortunate enough to own a Passoni there is a three day ride being organized for Passoni owners only. The start is currently scheduled for June 28, 2014. The route is Como to Madesimo - Madesimo to Madesimo - Madesimo to Como.

Follow the details on Facebook here.

You can find some photos in ICJ of Passoni bicycles here, and, a reader's story entitled, "Passoni Passion" here.

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. 


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Changes at Italian Cycling Journal


I began the Italian Cycling Journal in January, 2007. For the first couple of years it was the mechanism for sharing my personal Italian ride stories. Through the years ICJ morphed into covering many aspects of Italian cycling.

Now almost seven years old, the blog already contains more than 3,000 entries. In August, 2011, I enabled a visitor statistics app which indicates there have been very close to 1.2 million visitors, representing 205 countries. 

At this point I would like the blog to be more reader driven, where YOU are the guest contributor. Just email me at veronaman@gmail.com with a story, a tip (like the one I have yet to publish about a 2014 ride for Passoni owners), etc. The upshot of this change will be that the amount of content will likely change a great deal since it will be dependent upon your contributions.

Special thank you to all that have already contributed.

Angelo senza la o.

Content for the Italian Cycling Journal is based upon contributions from readers. Please contribute. Stories about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. 


Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN or receive an email when new content is added using the "Follow by Email" button on the right side column. With more than 3,000 stories in this blog the custom search feature (right column) works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button underneath the search button.





Monday, October 14, 2013

"A Great Vintage" Buy/Sell Online Marketplace

A new new online marketplace was launched yesterday in the U.S. focusing on vintage cycling. Here you can find Italian (not only) bicycles, accessories, etc.. The announcement from the creator:

"I’m very pleased to announce the launch of a “A Great Vintage”, a brand new vintage bicycle online marketplace.

A Great Vintage offers an alternative to eBay and CraigsList and caters specifically to us - the vintage bicycle enthusiast and collector.

For those wishing to sell your vintage bicycles, parts, and clothing, you’ll find this site a refreshing change. There’s only a nominal charge of $0.50 per credit, and these credits are used for your 7-day postings (ads) and renewals. That’s all there is to it! We take no back-end transactional fees, and there’s never any hidden fees or charges.

In the near future, we will implement a “bulk credit” purchase option, wherein you can purchase several credits at once with a discount. Stay tuned for news on this and all other important site information by clicking on the “AGV News” link at the top of any page.

Buyers can browse freely - think CraigsList, but with all of your favorite vintage bicycle categories already organized for you, so your searches are more efficient and more fun! For instance, instead of one category for “Bikes” we have over a dozen, including Vintage Lightweights, KOF, Track, Touring, and more.

We leave all the pricing, transactions, and shipping up to you. Interested buyers contact you through an anonymous email, sent by our system (just like CraigsList).

Please use the “Contact Us” link along the top each page to let me know your thoughts on how to improve A Great Vintage. I’m looking to make this something we all use and enjoy.

This site is NEW, so you may find the categories eerily empty in the beginning. Don’t let that scare you. You’re joining at the brink of a site that I hope will see thousands of visitors per day.

Okay - It’s time to start having some fun. Head on over to A Great Vintage, register, and start selling and buying.

Please report all site bugs using the “Contact” page.

One final, important note. After placing an ad, save the ad confirmation email from A Great Vintage because this has the Listing Edit Key (same as the Ad Access Key) that you will need to edit and renew your ad."

Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN or receive an email when new content is added using the "Follow by Email" button on the right side column. With more than 3,000 stories in this blog the custom search feature (right column) works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button underneath the search button.

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. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. 

Friday, October 11, 2013

Statement from Michele Acquarone, Giro d'Italia Director (Suspended)

Michele Acquarone, Managing Director at RCS Sports (owner of the Giro d'Italia, MSR, Il Lombardia, +), was suspended earlier this month as a precautionary, "non-disciplinary", measure while an investigation of a shortfall of 13 million euro is investigated.

He was not present at the 2014 Giro d'Italia presentation on Monday, October 7th.

Today he tweeted "If you love the @giroditalia and you believe in me, please RT. Se ami il @giroditalia e credi in me, per favore RT" followed by this (if you have trouble reading click here):
Click to enlarge

" I have dedicated fourteen years of my life to the RCS Group, the last five of which I spent working tirelessly on strengthening and growing RCS Sport.

As director of Giro d’Italia, I sought to develop the prestige of this event as part of Italy’s heritage and for cycling fans all over the world. Looking at the results, I would say that I have succeeded.

It was much to my frustration however that I could not participate in the presentation of that which I consider one of my most accomplished creations, the 2014 Giro d’Italia, and I apologize to all the friends I could not meet with.

Those who know me, are well aware that my professional style is based on three key concepts: fairness, respect and dialogue.

Those who know me, also know that I hold the trust of fans and of people involved in the industry, at the center of my heart, and if today I can benefit from such trust, it is because I have always worked with greatest transparency and honesty, as well as with total dedication and loyalty to the RCS Group.

For the ties linking me to Giro fans and to the people involved in the industry, I want to strongly reassure everyone of my non-involvement in the matters that have been reported in the mass media over the last few days.

Today the life of a company is permanently marked in time, and I am certain that all the facts will soon be completely clarified.

I only dream about the day I can return to my team, and get back to working towards the 2014 Giro d’Italia, with even greater enthusiasm than that which has driven me over these years.

Thank you for your support, and see you soon.

Michele Acquarone"

Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN or receive an email when new content is added using the "Follow by Email" button on the right side column. With more than 3,000 stories in this blog the custom search feature (right column) works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button underneath the search button.

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. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Gino Bartali: 'Righteous Among the Nations'

This morning, at Yad Vashem, the Shrine of Remembrance in Jerusalem, Gino Bartali’s name was engraved on the Wall of Honor in the Garden of the Righteous.

Andrea Bartali points to his father's name

Gino Bartali’s son, Andrea, with Gianni Bugno, President of the CPA, in Jerusalem as Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia guests, unveiled the commemorative plaque bearing bearing Gino’s name. Andrea Bartali said he was very moved by the honor bestowed upon his father: “I am proud to be here today: my father always thought that cycling was a school of life, and this is proof that he was correct. I believe that the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Jerusalem perfectly represents my father, who was a champion both in the Giro d’Italia and in life, which is why his name was written on the Wall of Honor today.”

Francesco Maria Talò, the Italian Ambassador to Israel was also present at the ceremony: “I think it is right and proper to celebrate Gino Bartali because he has proven that it is possible to be a champion in sport and in life. The bicycle is the perfect tool in this ‘mission’ because it teaches us that to maintain balance we must always look ahead and never stop pedalling. Gino Bartali did just that.”

Also in attendance at today’s ceremony were Dorit Novak, the general director of Yad Vashem, Giulia Donati Baquis and Giorgio Goldenberg, who survived the Holocaust thanks to the false documents provided by Gino Bartali, and Renzo Ventura, representing his family members who also survived thanks to Gino.

After receiving the honor on behalf of his father today, tomorrow Andrea will be at the start of the first edition of the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Jerusalem. The amateur cycling event, which will see hundreds of Giro d’Italia fans on the streets of Jerusalem, is part of the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia series; two rounds remain: Beverly Hills on November 3 and Miami on November 10.

The 2014 Giro d'Italia will also mark the centenary of Gino Bartali's birth.

Photo: Yad Vashem

Related story in ICJ:
Gino Bartali Recognized as 'Righteous Among the Nations'

Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN or receive an email when new content is added using the "Follow by Email" button on the right side column. With more than 3,000 stories in this blog the custom search feature (right column) works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button underneath the search button.

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. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.  


Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Dubai Hopes for Giro d'Italia Start

The Dubai Tour, a four stage race from 5 to 8 February, 2014, was established by an agreement between Dubai Sports Council and RCS Sport back in May of this year. The Dubai Tour will now open the Asia Tour calendar.

That agreement, coupled with the exemption obtained from the UCI rules to allow a rest day during the first week in this next year's Giro d'Italia (the first three days will be in Ireland, followed by a rest day, before the race resumes in Italy), opened the door to consider a start in Dubai. "It's something we're working on and which will be discussed as part of our strategy," said a UAE official. "Next year we're going to see the stages in Ireland and see how they do. Then, we'll open the negotiations with RCS Sport and the Giro to accommodate one or two stages in Dubai."

As a result of the UCI exemption the 2014 Giro will be the first foreign start for any Grand Tour since the implementation of a new UCI regulation prohibiting rest days on three-week Tours until the completion of at least seven days of racing. When that rule was implemented RCS Sport stated that because of it was highly unlikely that the Giro could ever start in the USA.

Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN or receive an email when new content is added using the "Follow by Email" button on the right side column. With more than 3,000 stories in this blog the custom search feature (right column) works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button underneath the search button.

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. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. 








Monday, October 7, 2013

L'Eroica Britannia

L'Eroica is coming to the UK. L'Eroica Britannia, the only approved licensee in the UK to use the L'Eroica name, will be held June 22, 2014, in the Peak District National Park. The official website is www.eroicabritannia.co.uk.

The announcement:

"L'Eroica, the famous historic Tuscan bike tour known as 'the most handsome bike race in the World' is coming to the UK. L'Eroica Britannia has been named to make iconic British history in the Peak District National Park in June 2014.

L'Eroica Britannia happens three weeks before the Grand Départ of The Tour de France 2014 comes to Yorkshire and the Peak District.

Hosted over three days L'Eroica Britannia has been confirmed as a three day festival whose pinnacle is celebrated with a three route bike tour of The Peak District National Park on the 22 June 2014. The festival and the ride, known as 'The Great British Adventure' mirror the original Italian ethos which celebrates and values sustainability, territory, environment, heritage, wellbeing and the joys of local food and drink.

L'Eroica Britannia has the full support and backing of The Peak District National Authority who are championing L'Eroica Britannia, making the ride and festival the star of their 2014 'Festival of Cycling'.

Jim Dixon, CEO for The Peak District National Authority comments - 'The Peak District has aspirations to build on its already enviable reputation as one of the best places to cycle for leisure in the UK and put us on the World map. We can be one of the best cycling destinations and the most accessible national park by bike in the World.'

The 3 day event, starting June 20, has brought the World's focus to the area and is welcomed by official tourist board Visit Peak District & Derbyshire. Benefits are expected to be wide reaching to the regional economy, ticking many aspects of the tourism agenda as well as supporting local businesses.

David James, Chief Executive. Visit Peak District & Derbyshire comments "L'Eroica Britannia is 'a unique platform to highlight the jewels of the communities en route - whether they be food and drink, historic places or cultural activities."

Known as The Great British Adventure, the ride aspect of L'Eroica Britannia embraces the romantic idea of heroic cycling as it once was, adventuring along trails and tracks similar to the historic Tuscan 'Strade Bianchi'.

Adventurers may choose either a 30 mile, 50 mile or 100 mile route to be ridden on the 22 June on bikes which comply to L'Eroica rules. Pre 1987 bikes and certain stipulations for apparel must be observed creating a fascinating and vibrant spectacle touring through the Peak District.

The ride will be supported by a festival designed to reflect the vibrancy and excitement of The Great British Adventure and will feature innovative and dynamic brands presenting a dynamic and interactive family friendly 3 day event.

Tim Hubbard from L'Eroica Britannia comments 'we are delighted to present L'Eroica Britannia in the UK. The location of the event was incredibly important to us, one which values and celebrates the joy of the bike and the symbiotic relationship riders enjoy with the British countryside. We feel the Peak District National Park shares our values of championing sustainability and preserving environment as well as celebrating our heritage. We are immensely proud to be bringing this historic event to the UK to create The Great British Adventure and history in the making'."

Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN or receive an email when new content is added using the "Follow by Email" button on the right side column. With more than 3,000 stories in this blog the custom search feature (right column) works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button underneath the search button.

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. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.     

Second IL Lombardia Win for Purito Rodriguez


José Joaquín Rodríguez won his second Il Lombardia in as many years this afternoon, thanks to a brilliant solo attack on the Villa Vergano climb. It was a carbon copy of his 2012 win, also in the rain, and brought the Spaniard both revenge for last week’s second place in the World Championships, and provisional World Number One status, with just one more World Tour race left in the 2013 calendar.

Alejandro Valverde was second, and Rafal Majka third.


After the race, Rodríguez spoke to the press:

On victory: “It was a good win for me, in a beautiful race. I’m just enjoying the moment. I always try to look forward. This week hasn’t been easy because the World Championships are World Championships. But I have family and friends who helped me focus on this race, and I’ve come out of it the winner. It was important to prove to myself that I could recover well after World Championships and focus on the next race. This win helps me move towards 2014 knowing that this is my level.”

On Thomas Voeckler’s early solo attack: “I thought he’d make it. It was a good attack.. Trying to make up 3 minutes on Voeckler is difficult. He’s a very dangerous rider when he attacks alone, and he’s done this many times. But my team was exceptional, We set the pace at the front of the bunch and reeled him in.”

On the attack on the Villa Vergano climb: “I knew that if I wanted to win, I had to attack there. It’s October, the race is 240 km long, it was raining and cold, and it was even faster than last year, and you could feel the group was tired. I knew I had to make one decisive attack. I attacked at the right moment although, on the descent, I never trusted the curves in the rain, so the final descent was stressful. It is great to win, and it’s never easy.’

On his 10 second lead, reminiscent of the World Championships a week ago: “That did occur to me. I thought they might catch me. And my radio didn’t work until the final 2km. With those hairpins, you can’t see anything, and you don’t know what is coming, but thankfully nothing went wrong.”

On riding the 2014 Giro: “For me, the Giro is the most beautiful of the three Grand Tours. I always have good form after the classics. Last year I rode well at the Giro, and I think I can do well there again. This week I have felt a great deal of support from Italian cycling fans, and I think they deserve to see me start the Giro in 2014.”

SPECIAL AWARDS
Muro di Sormano climb: (fastest time for Muro di Sormano): Dario Cataldo (Sky) in 9’32” average 11,328 km/h.

Premio Vincenzo Torriani (first rider to complete the Muro di Sormano): Nairo Quintana (Movistar).

Premio Pierluigi Todisco (the first rider to cross the Ghisallo): Thomas Voeckler (Europcar).

Highlights (in Italian):


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2014 Giro d'Italia Presentation

The unveiling of the 97th Giro d’Italia took place this afternoon at the Ice Palace in central Milan.

With no less than nine uphill finishes spread over a 3,449.9 kilometre itinerary which starts in Belfast on Friday 9 May 2014 and finishes in Trieste on Sunday 1 June 2014, the 2014 Giro d’Italia promises to be a race for climbers.

After two opening stages starting and finishing in the capital of Northern Ireland, the peloton departs Armagh for a symbolic border crossing into the Irish Republic en route to the stage finish in Dublin. After three historic stages in Ireland, a vast air bridge will transfer the riders, race staff and event infrastructure to Italy’s South East, where the race recommences with stage four, from Giovinazzo to Bari.

The route then arcs clockwise across Italy, through the Apennines, to the North West of the peninsula, before heading eastwards to take on the monumental climbs of the Italian Alps and Dolomites. The itinerary of mountains reads like a roll call of classic Italian climbs, including Oropa, Montecampione, Val Martello/Martelltal (via the Passo dello Stelvio – this year’s Cima Coppi, the highest point of the race itinerary; on 16th stage), Monte Grappa and Monte Zoncolan. Lesser-known climbs like Sestola, Montecopiolo and the Rifugio Panarotta in Valsugana, and the short, steep ramps that lead up to Viggiano and Montecassino, hold the potential for more, spectacular racing.

Six flat finishes will entice the sprinters, and a further four transitional stages – including stage 11, with a technical, 21km-descent from the intriguingly-named Naso di Gatto or Cat’s Nose, down into the town of Savona – complete the race itinerary.

94.9km of the 2014 Giro are dedicated to time trials. Hostilities open on Friday 9 May with a 21.7km team time trial around Belfast. At the midpoint of the race, the long individual time trial from Barbaresco to Barolo (stage 12, 46.4km) includes a categorised climb in the final 10 kilometres. Then, on the last stage but three, a grueling, 26.8km mountain time trial takes in the 19.3km climb up to Cima Grappa (Bassano del Grappa – Cima Grappa/Crespano del Grappa).

After the final, grueling mountain finish atop the forbidding Monte Zoncolan, the peloton will race into the stunning city of Trieste, where the 97th Giro d’Italia will draw to its dramatic close.

The stages:
enerdì 9 maggio - 1° tappa: Belfast (cronosquadre) 21,7 km
Sabato 10 maggio - 2° tappa: Belfast – Belfast 218 km
Domenica 11 maggio - 3° tappa: Armagh – Dublino 187 km
Lunedì 12 maggio - Riposo
Martedì 13 maggio - 4° tappa: Giovinazzo - Bari 121 km
Mercoledì 14 maggio - 5° tappa: Taranto - Viggiano 200 km
Giovedì 15 maggio - 6° tappa: Sassano – Montecassino 247 km
Venerdì 16 maggio - 7° tappa: Frosinone – Foligno 214 km
Sabato 17 maggio - 8° tappa: Foligno – Montecopiolo 174 km
Domenica 18 maggio - 9° tappa: Lugo di Romagna – Sestola/Passo del Lupo 174 km
Lunedì 19 maggio - Riposo
Martedì 20 maggio - 10° tappa: Modena – Salsomaggiore Terme 184 km
Mercoledì 21 maggio - 11° tappa: Collecchio – Savona 249 km
Giovedì 22 maggio - 12° tappa: Barbaresco – Barolo (cronometro individuale) 46,4 km
Venerdì 23 maggio - 13° tappa: Fossano – Rivarolo Canavese 158 km
Sabato 24 maggio - 14° tappa: Agliè – Oropa 162 km
Domenica 25 maggio - 15° tappa: Valdengo – Plan di Montecampione 217 km
Lunedì 26 maggio - Riposo
Martedì 27 maggio - 16° tappa: Ponte di Legno – Val Martello 139 km
Mercoledì 28 maggio - 17° tappa: Sarnonico – Vittorio Veneto 204 km
Giovedì 29 maggio - 18° tappa: Belluno – Rifugio Panarotta 171 km
Venerdì 30 maggio - 19° tappa: Bassano – Cima Grappa (cronoscalata) 26,8 km
Sabato 31 maggio - 20° tappa: Maniago – Monte Zoncolan 167 km
Domenica 1 giugno - 21° tappa: Gemona del Friuli – Trieste 169 km



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Saturday, October 5, 2013

107th Edition of IL Lombardia Tomorrow

Tomorrow morning at 10.50, the 107th edition of Il Lombardia departs Largo Porta Nuova, Bergamo, Italy. The ‘Race of the Falling Leaves,’ organized by RCS Sport/La Gazzetta dello Sport, will see the world’s finest on the startline. Among them, the new World Champion, Rui Costa, determined to start his year-long reign with a victory.

The race route, 242km from Bergamo to Lecco, comprises five major climbs: Valico di Valcava, Colle Brianza, Colma di Sormano (with the Muro di Sormano), Madonna del Ghisallo, and Villa Vergano.

Minute of Silence
In common with other Italian sports events this weekend, one minute of silence will be observed prior to the race start, in memory of those lost at sea two days ago off Isola dei Conigli, near Lampedusa.

Contenders
25 teams start the race, 18 World Tour and 7 wild cards. Teams are of 8 riders.

Il Lombardia 2013 will be the first race in the Rainbow Jersey for the new World champion, Rui Costa. The last to win the Race of the Falling Leaves wearing the Rainbow Jersey was Paolo Bettini in 2006.

The winners of no less than seven past editions of Il Lombardia start tomorrow. They are: Damiano Cunego (2004, 2007 and 2008), Philippe Gilbert (2009, 2010), Oliver Zaugg (2011), and reigning champion José Joaquín Rodríguez.

The winner of the Giro d’Italia, Vincenzo Nibali, also takes the start, as does runner-up Rigoberto Urán, third here last year. Multiple grand tour winner Alberto Contador also rides.

Movistar appears to be the team to beat: as well as the new World Champion, Costa, they field Tour de France runner-up Nairo Quintana, Vuelta a España and World Championships podium finisher Alejandro Valverde, and Beñat Intxausti, stage winner and over-night Maglia Rosa during the 2013 Giro d’Italia.

History
First held in 1905, Il Lombardia (formerly the Giro di Lombardia) is the classic which has suffered fewest interruptions: only the 1943 and 1944 editions were suspended, because of the second World War.

Fausto Coppi won a record five editions of Il Lombardia, four of them consecutive: 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1954. The record for podium finishes is held by Coppi’s great rival, Gino Bartali, with 9: 3 wins, 4 seconds places and 2 thirds. The only non-Italian riders to have won the race three times were Frenchman Henri Pélissier and Irishman Sean Kelly.

Timing for Muro di Sormano
The climb up the Muro di Sormano will be timed. Results will be published after the race finish.


Special Awards
La Gazzetta dello Sport will award two special prizes. The first rider who reaches the Muro di Sormano will be presented with a plaque dedicated to Vincenzo Torriani, the former and long-time director of the Gazzetta races. Torriani first planned the climb up to Colma di Sormano in 1960: Il Lombardia used the road in 1960, 1961 and 1962. The severe gradient (touching 27%), the slope was dubbed ‘il muro’ (the wall).

The Premio Pierluigi Todisco goes to the first rider to cross the Ghisallo. The prize commemorates the Gazzetta journalist Pierluigi Todisco, who was killed in a road traffic accident while cycling to the newspaper’s offices two years ago. It is the second time the award will be presented.


Live Televison and Internet
In Italy the race will be shown live on Rai Sport 2 and Rai Tre. The race will be streamed live on the website www.raisport.it. Real-time news and analysis are provided on www.gazzetta.it.


Worldwide Broadcasting
Il Lombardia will be televised in 156 nations. As well as two hours of live coverage on Eurosport (80 nations in Europe, Asia and the Pacific area), Il Lombardia will be shown in Belgium by the Flemish channel VRT, in the Netherlands by NOS, Switzerland by SRG SSR, and Spain by the FORTE circuit (comprising EITB Euskal Irrati Telebista in Euskadi, TV3 Televisió de Catalunya in Catalonia, TVG Televisión in Galicia, and Televisión del Principado de Asturias (TPA) in Asturias). In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports will show prime-time evening highlights.

The channel beIN Sport holds exclusive broadcast rights for France and the United States of America. In the Middle East, Il Lombardia is shown by Al Jazeera. In Canada, English-language coverage is by Sportsnet, and French-language coverage by Réseau des Sports (RDS). In Mexico, Panama, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and El Salvador, Il Lombardia will be covered by Televisa Deportes Network (TDN).

Il Lombardia will be broadcast in Asia by Eurosport Asia Pacific. The other national broadcasters in the Asian area are: J Sports (Japan), Sony TV Six (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan) and True Visions (Thailand). In Kazakhstan, Khabar TV broadcasts the Giro d’Italia. In Australia SBS confirms the great national enthusiasm for cycling by showing the race live.

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Friday, October 4, 2013

2014 Giro d'Italia Presentation, Monday!

Giro d'Italia 2014 presentation: 7th October! Live streaming on and from 2.50 pm CET (Central European Time)!



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Thursday, October 3, 2013

Cinelli Laser, Now in Carbon

The Cinelli Laser, the full carbon version, is now available as the "Laser Mia". 

From the website:
The Laser, Cinelli icon, thanks to the work of the Laser Team is now a carbon jewel. All Made in Italy through a sophisticated wrapping technique of the carbon elements that are further processed, it is possible to build a custom frame of only 890g. All the elements identifying the Laser are maintained: the fin under the bottom bracket, the fittings of the joints and the passage of the rear wheel housed in the seat tube.

  • The cable routing is fully internal for both mechanical and electronic groups.
  • The rear aluminum CNC dropouts sandwich wrap the central carbon part fully integrated to the rear stays.
  • A proper anodized aluminum cap positioned under the fin of the bottom bracket allows easy access for routing the shift cables.
  • Head tube 1 "1/8 and BSA bottom bracket
For comparison here is a built-up Laser Mia compared to a 1980s steel Laser:



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    Michele Acquarone, Director at RCS Sports, Suspended


    Michele Acquarone, Managing  Director at RCS Sports (owner of the Giro d'Italia, MSR, Il Lombardia, +), has been been suspended as a precautionary,  "non-disciplinary", measure while an investigation of a shortfall of 13 million euro is investigated.

    Always present at their races, Aquarone is said to be not appearing this Sunday at Il Lombardia. It will be more telling to see if he's present at the 2014 Giro d'Italia official presentation on Monday, October 7th.

    Aquarone took over the reins from Angelo Zomegnan soon afterward the 2011 Giro d'Italia.

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    2014 IL Lombardia, Sunday October 6th

    Exactly a week after the Road World Championships in Florence, won by the Portuguese rider Rui Costa over Spain's Joaquin Rodriguez, a riveting revenge is expected on the road of the 107th edition of Il Lombardia; Rodriquez won last year's Il Lombardia.



    The “falling leaves classic”, organised by RCS Sport/La Gazzetta dello Sport, on Sunday 6th October will have the champions of racing pitted against each other. The 242km route from Bergamo to Lecco, will climb the slopes of Valico di Valcava, Colle Brianza, Colma di Sormano (with the mighty Muro di Sormano), Madonna del Ghisallo and Villa Vergano. It’s going to be highly dramatic and hardly fought.

    Muro di Sormano from Jered Gruber on Vimeo.

    Amongst the provisional starting list, and alongside the last edition’s winner, Joaquin Rodriguez, there are the following big names: the newly crowned World Champion, Portugal’s Rui Costa, Italians Vincenzo Nibali, Ivan Basso, Franco Pellizotti, Damiano Cunego, Michele Scarponi, and Diego Ulissi; British rider Chris Froome; American Tejay Van Garderen; Australian Cadel Evans; the Colombians Carlos Betancur, Rigoberto Uran Uran, and Nairo Quintana; Spanish Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde; France’s Thibaut Pinot and Thomas Voeckler; Holland’s Bauke Mollema and Robert Gesink; Belgium’s Philippe Gilbert and Greg Van Avermaet; Ireland’s Daniel Martin; Slovakia’s Peter Sagan, and Poland’s rider Michal Kwiatkowski.

    Begun in 1905, Il Lombardia (previously known as Giro di Lombardia) has taken part every year except for 1943 and 1944 due to the Second World War.

    Fausto Coppi has won the largest number of Il Lombardia titles with five in total: 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1954.

    This year's route and profile:


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    "IL Lombardia" Documentary Released Today


    The critically acclaimed Dutch documentary "Il Lombardia" (the race was previously named Giro di Lombardia) is now available on iTUNES with Italian and English subtitles. The film, starring Robert Gesink, Paolo Bettini, Karsten Kroon, Jo de Roo, Johnny Hoogerland and Michael Boogerd is an attempt to capture the heart and soul of this legendary Italian bike race. Il Lombardia premiered at the Dutch Film Festival in 2011 and received stunning reviews.

    IL LOMBARDIA, is digitally released, exclusive on iTunes, beginning today:


    Plot:
    When the heavy scent of autumn starts filling the air, the falling leaves and inevitable showers announce one the toughest cycling classics. With its winding roads and steep slopes of 14% maximum, the Il Lombardia, also known as the 'Classic of the falling leaves', is pro cycling season's grand finale (tobe held Sunday).

    The century-old race in the Italian hills surrounding Lake Como has been won by Italian cycling heroes Coppi, Bartali and Moser. And also legends like Merckx, Hinault and Kelly made it to the podium. The 1962 edition is by far the toughest in the history of the race and was won by Dutchman Jo de Roo.

    Still every year Dutch pro cyclists participate to be a part of this great cycling tradition and in the end to gain victory.

    Just with one simple camera Dutch director Johannes Sigmond and producer Robert Jan van Noort visited the race from 2006 to 2010 in an effort to capture the soul of this legendary Italian bike race. They filmed and talked to Dutch participants, visited the famous climbs and tasted the atmosphere among Italian cycling fans enjoying their monumental meals and espresso while waiting for hours on the side to catch a glimpse of the riders.


    Digital release (world wide): October 2013

    Genre: Documentary

    Length: 48 minutes

    Language: Dutch, Italian

    Subtitles: English, Italian, Dutch

    Cast: Robert Gesink, Paolo Bettini, Karsten Kroon, Jo de Roo, Johnny Hoogerland, Angelo Zomegnan, Michael Boogerd

    Director: Johannes Sigmond

    Executive Producer: Robert Jan van Noort

    Studio: Pankra & Polka Dot Jersey

    Original soundtrack: Blaudzun

    Premiere release: October 2011 (Official selection Dutch Film Festival)



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    Wednesday, October 2, 2013

    Bottecchia Jersey by De Marchi


    De Marchi is adding another jersey to their "Time Capsule" series of jerseys . The lastest jersey is the Bottecchia/Ursus jersey as worn by Louison Bobet in 1951, to be produced in very limited numbers.

    All the time caspule jerseys can be seen here on the De Marchi website.

    Related stories in ICJ:
    Ottavio Bottecchia
    Bottecchia, the brand
    Venice Seeking Tour de France Start

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    2014 Maratona dles Dolomites, Registration Opens October 16th


    On the Maratona dles Dolomites-Enel website, newly designed, you can find all the information and news regarding the Maratona 2014. Theme of this edition will be TIME. The registration process begins October 16th. 


    The conditions of entry for the 28th edition of the Maratona dles Dolomites - Enel, to be held July 6, 2014, are now online.

    Please find other relevant details for the registration under:


    Most recent related story in ICJ (use the custom Search feature in right column to find more):
    My Guide to Cycling the Maratona dles Dolomites

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    Tuesday, October 1, 2013

    Viva La Corsa Rosa Cycling Cap by Red Dots Cycling


    The man behind Cycling Art Blog also makes beautiful cycling caps under his Red Dots Cycling brand. In the current inventory is this black linen/cotton, pink cotton twill under brim cap with a pink stripe and Italian tricolore ribbon detail.

    There are several other non-Italian themed caps, one of my favorites is this winter cap, the L'Enfer du Nord Winter Cap, made from 100% wool, the black ear flap is double layered, made from Bamboo cotton blend. Just in time for winter:



    Visit Red Dots Cycling to see all the different models.

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    Chris Froome Visits Sidi in Maser (Treviso)



    Chris Froome, winner of the 2013 Tour de France, dropped in for a visit at the Sidi Sport headquarters in Maser (Treviso). Following Sunday's difficult and busy day riding with the British national team at the World Championships in Florence, he took advantage of his jaunt in Italy to pay a visit to Dino Signori, the man who has been "shoeing" the British champion since 2010.

    Froome uses the Sidi Wire shoes the top models in the Sidi Sport collection, which were in yellow this year in a special edition for the champion from Team Sky to wear during the conclusive showcase in Paris.

    "This is my first visit to Sidi, it really meant a lot to me to meet Dino Signori in person, he's a man with extraordinary charisma," says Chris Froome. “I like Sidi shoes not only for their appealing design; I also benefit from a technical standpoint because they join lightweight qualities to sturdiness, two fundamental aspects for obtaining maximum performance, even in the most difficult race situations. I really appreciated the yellow Sidi Wires that Sidi made especially for me for the final showcase on the Champs Elysées. Now they hold a special place in my memories because they were one of the elements that contributed to this success. The victory in the Tour was extraordinary, but it hasn't changed my life, I'm the same guy I've always been for my friends, family and team mates. In the morning I get up and go out to train on my bike, this is my priority. Of course now there are many more commitments and when I go to the supermarket to do the grocery shopping it's nice to run in to people who recognize you and stop you for a picture and an autograph, this had never happened to me before. Certainly I have more responsibility on the team and I know I'm an example even for the younger riders who are new to cycling, but I'm not afraid of this; on the contrary, it's a source of pride. The Giro di Lombardia (this Sunday, October 6th) will be my last race of the season, then I'm going to take a holiday in Kenya and after that I'll start thinking about 2014, when my main objective will once again be the Tour de France."

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