....As spring arrives there is a feeling of excitement within the cycling tifosi in Italy. To them, Milan-San Remo welcomes the spring and is the first major event on the cycling calendar. The race is as prestigious as the month long Giro d’Italia — every Italian cyclist dreams of winning in San Remo and every fan follows each riders’ movements and form in the weeks prior to the event.
As we trained on the quiet country roads in southern Italy, near Pescara, we encountered dozens of old men and boys, on bikes and sitting in cafes. They knew Edvald Boasson-Hagen had just won the final sprint to victory in Tirreno-Adriatico and was a favorite to win in San Remo. Edvald, a calm polite champion, obliged to their questions, let them pick up his bike and admire it; like a lifelong Packers’ fan chatting on the field with Brett Favre their interest and excitement showed a unique, almost juvenile, passion. Milan-San Remo sparks the Italian passion North Americans learn about in romantic dramas.
Like the stages in Tirreno-Adriatico, and most other races we will race through the season, the Milan-San Remo will follow a predictable formula: A breakaway will forge a gap early while the peloton settles into a progressive pursuit behind. It isn’t until the final kilometers of the 298km (312, including the controlled start out of Milan) that the drama will unfold. As the helicopters arrive, their chop loud above the peloton, the speed will increase, the intensity within the peloton will rise and the battle to stay at the front will begin in earnest. Only in the last 50km, when we race over the last ascents, the Cipressa and the Poggio, will the peloton begin to splinter under the weight of the race. In those final kilometers every rider will know whether or not he has the legs to win, or even finish....
His new website is nice; combines the great writing with behind-the-scenes type of photos. His new book coming out shortly looks good; I enjoyed the Postal Bus one except for all the required mentions of Armstrong.
I haven't been following his updates, but I just read this one--he's got talent whether on the pedals or the keyboard.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/03/road/using-every-ounce_108572
....As spring arrives there is a feeling of excitement within the cycling tifosi in Italy. To them, Milan-San Remo welcomes the spring and is the first major event on the cycling calendar. The race is as prestigious as the month long Giro d’Italia — every Italian cyclist dreams of winning in San Remo and every fan follows each riders’ movements and form in the weeks prior to the event.
As we trained on the quiet country roads in southern Italy, near Pescara, we encountered dozens of old men and boys, on bikes and sitting in cafes. They knew Edvald Boasson-Hagen had just won the final sprint to victory in Tirreno-Adriatico and was a favorite to win in San Remo. Edvald, a calm polite champion, obliged to their questions, let them pick up his bike and admire it; like a lifelong Packers’ fan chatting on the field with Brett Favre their interest and excitement showed a unique, almost juvenile, passion. Milan-San Remo sparks the Italian passion North Americans learn about in romantic dramas.
Like the stages in Tirreno-Adriatico, and most other races we will race through the season, the Milan-San Remo will follow a predictable formula: A breakaway will forge a gap early while the peloton settles into a progressive pursuit behind. It isn’t until the final kilometers of the 298km (312, including the controlled start out of Milan) that the drama will unfold. As the helicopters arrive, their chop loud above the peloton, the speed will increase, the intensity within the peloton will rise and the battle to stay at the front will begin in earnest. Only in the last 50km, when we race over the last ascents, the Cipressa and the Poggio, will the peloton begin to splinter under the weight of the race. In those final kilometers every rider will know whether or not he has the legs to win, or even finish....
[img]http://velonews.competitor.com/files/2010/03/P1000214-225x300.jpg[/img]