May Day (May 1st) is loosely our equivalent of our Labor Day, but historically has been more connected with Europe’s various communist parties. With communism reduced to little more then a memory in most of Europe the day has lost some significance, but is still an important bridge between the Easter holiday and taking most of the summer off. How is celebrated depends on the country, Germany has riots…..Italy puts on a bike race
When I lived in Italy back in the early 90’s Grandfondos were the low end of the cycling food chain, Most old fat guys out for a Sunday cruise...now they are huge. Attracting fields of up to 8,000 there are several to choose from every weekend in Italy, the courses are challenging, and the competition is deep. There is prize money and the fields range from Pros and Elite amateurs to 80 year old guys who have millions of miles in their legs no matter how fast you there will always be someone in front of you.
There were two races available, the Grandfondo at 100 miles, 8200 feet of climbing and the Mediofondo with 62 miles, 4,000 feet of climbing. I was doing the long course and my wife the shorter one. The 10 Colli is one of the more important races on the schedule with 4,000 entrants and a great course that is almost completely closed to traffic. While my training in the states was going well the last 8 days of late nights, heavy eating and drinking, little riding, and walking hours each day on cobbles streets had serious impaired by ability to do little more then lay in bed. I had no desire to ride 6 minutes, let alone 6 hours. As we rode the empty streets to the race start I wanted nothing more then to turn around and go back to bed
The race starts in waves, first off the pros, ex pros, elites, etc. There are about 500 of them and it is crazy fast. It resembles a normal pro race with team cars, neutral race support, race Marshals. My wave was next…as usual it started fast 25-35mph for the first ½ hour with a constant fight for position, it seemed like everyone was trying to get to the front as soon as possible. I soon found myself at the back of the first group….unfortunately this group was at least 500 riders so the only time I saw the front was on long straights. Once we hit the first of the 10 climbs things settled down a bit, the only noise would be the various team cars and course marshals zooming by.
I did not have much of a goal for the race. With my legs dead from the week of travel I just wanted to have some fun and finish, hopefully less than 6 hours. 6 hours for 100 miles is not that fast but add in the 8,200 feet and dead legs and it is a bit of a challenge.
One of the race sponsors was Pinarello, I have never seem so many Princes, Dogmas, etc. They had there entire team there, team cars, buses, RV. A big show. About ½ way thru the race I came upon a bigwig at Pinarello. I am not sure who exactly it was but his name was Lucca, He is in his early 40’s and in good shape. When you are a big dog in the company you do not race like the other guys. This dude had seven, no joke seven, domestiques, carrying his water and pulling him across the flats. His domestiques all wore identical blue Pinarello kit and rode matching, brand new Princes ($10,000 each). Mr. Pinarello wore a similar, but all white kit with his name on it. Better for his workers to keep an eye on him, which they did often…looking back to see if he was OK every 30 seconds. Once I figured out who he was I had a new goal, beat the rich guy.
I would yoyo with Team “Rich Guy” through out the race, dropping them on the climb, only to have his guys pull back everyone on the flat. Finally on the longest climb of the race I put a hard effort and moved up a bunch of spot…and put some good time between me and the Rich Guy. Did not see him the rest of the race.
With 30Km to go I started to pay for the week of heavy living. Legs started cramping, ouch, and of course the organizers had saved the best for last. The last two of the climbs both had 16% stretches with a final 17-18% stretch coming only 6 km from the finish that cracked a bunch of people. Finished in 5:54 and beat the rich guy.
I was only moderately happy with the finish. I was beat by a TON of riders. I could have gone much faster, maybe 30-45 minutes, if I had some rest and pushed it a bit. ...need to take it more seriously next year.
When I lived in Italy back in the early 90’s Grandfondos were the low end of the cycling food chain, Most old fat guys out for a Sunday cruise...now they are huge. Attracting fields of up to 8,000 there are several to choose from every weekend in Italy, the courses are challenging, and the competition is deep. There is prize money and the fields range from Pros and Elite amateurs to 80 year old guys who have millions of miles in their legs no matter how fast you there will always be someone in front of you.
There were two races available, the Grandfondo at 100 miles, 8200 feet of climbing and the Mediofondo with 62 miles, 4,000 feet of climbing. I was doing the long course and my wife the shorter one. The 10 Colli is one of the more important races on the schedule with 4,000 entrants and a great course that is almost completely closed to traffic. While my training in the states was going well the last 8 days of late nights, heavy eating and drinking, little riding, and walking hours each day on cobbles streets had serious impaired by ability to do little more then lay in bed. I had no desire to ride 6 minutes, let alone 6 hours. As we rode the empty streets to the race start I wanted nothing more then to turn around and go back to bed
The race starts in waves, first off the pros, ex pros, elites, etc. There are about 500 of them and it is crazy fast. It resembles a normal pro race with team cars, neutral race support, race Marshals. My wave was next…as usual it started fast 25-35mph for the first ½ hour with a constant fight for position, it seemed like everyone was trying to get to the front as soon as possible. I soon found myself at the back of the first group….unfortunately this group was at least 500 riders so the only time I saw the front was on long straights. Once we hit the first of the 10 climbs things settled down a bit, the only noise would be the various team cars and course marshals zooming by.
I did not have much of a goal for the race. With my legs dead from the week of travel I just wanted to have some fun and finish, hopefully less than 6 hours. 6 hours for 100 miles is not that fast but add in the 8,200 feet and dead legs and it is a bit of a challenge.
One of the race sponsors was Pinarello, I have never seem so many Princes, Dogmas, etc. They had there entire team there, team cars, buses, RV. A big show. About ½ way thru the race I came upon a bigwig at Pinarello. I am not sure who exactly it was but his name was Lucca, He is in his early 40’s and in good shape. When you are a big dog in the company you do not race like the other guys. This dude had seven, no joke seven, domestiques, carrying his water and pulling him across the flats. His domestiques all wore identical blue Pinarello kit and rode matching, brand new Princes ($10,000 each). Mr. Pinarello wore a similar, but all white kit with his name on it. Better for his workers to keep an eye on him, which they did often…looking back to see if he was OK every 30 seconds. Once I figured out who he was I had a new goal, beat the rich guy.
I would yoyo with Team “Rich Guy” through out the race, dropping them on the climb, only to have his guys pull back everyone on the flat. Finally on the longest climb of the race I put a hard effort and moved up a bunch of spot…and put some good time between me and the Rich Guy. Did not see him the rest of the race.
With 30Km to go I started to pay for the week of heavy living. Legs started cramping, ouch, and of course the organizers had saved the best for last. The last two of the climbs both had 16% stretches with a final 17-18% stretch coming only 6 km from the finish that cracked a bunch of people. Finished in 5:54 and beat the rich guy.
I was only moderately happy with the finish. I was beat by a TON of riders. I could have gone much faster, maybe 30-45 minutes, if I had some rest and pushed it a bit. ...need to take it more seriously next year.
