Monthly Archives: February 2012

Ultimate climbing guide, part 1: gearing

Andy Hampsten’s ride over the Gavia at the 1988 Giro d’Italia is the stuff of legend (read more about it here). Once he’d claimed the maglia rosa, however, there were still eight days of racing to go and Erik Breukink – the winner of the Gavia stage – was just 15 seconds behind. Urs Zimmerman, …

February 23, 2012 – 2:39 pm | By Guy WR | Posted in Classic Stages, Climbing Skills | Tagged | Comments (7)

A new Italian renaissance?

There has been much written in the mainstream press on Italy’s current (and supposed) malaise. You can read some of the articles here, here, and here. Indeed, this very blog commented last year on the state of Italian cycling. There are good reasons to believe that these things are cyclical. In the spirit of the …

February 10, 2012 – 2:20 pm | By Guy WR | Posted in Classic Stages | Tagged | Comments Off

The good life

I hope you will, dear reader, indulge your author somewhat for a slightly introspective and wide-ranging post. Last month, your author turned 40, which is somewhat of a milestone in popular reckoning and traditionally a time for a pause and reflection. Aside from looking forward to racing in a new age category for the local …

February 1, 2012 – 7:57 pm | By Guy WR | Posted in Local Climbs, Meanings | Tagged | Comments (4)