A Day at the Races - Setimmanna di Coppi-Bartali [pics] [Archive]

View Full Version : A Day at the Races - Setimmanna di Coppi-Bartali [pics]

Asiago

04-13-2004, 11:46 AM

The plan today was to go spectate the Coppi-Bartali race which starts in Riccione today. There are two stages today, a circuit race in the morning and a Team Time Trial in the afternoon. 

Thebid deal today though is the fact that all of us in the group are being given all-access passes to the race. In other words, we get to go where ever we want. The first thing I did was to head down to the starting area and see what I could see. I came across these guys, I think they are supposed to be pretty good or something!!! <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-03s.JPG"> 

Walking around in the riders staging/starting area was so cool. There were riders everywhere! What a gas!!! <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-05s.JPG"> 

Can anyone hlep me identify this guy? He any good? :) <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-06s.JPG"> 

Well, enough stumbling around slack-jawed in the rider's area, it was time to go over to the start. <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-09s.JPG"> 

It was pretty typical Italian racing. The pace was quite pedestrian for the first part of the race. <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-14s.JPG"> 

Riders were just kinda chatting and cruising along... <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-15s.JPG"> 

Oh hey! How about a photo??!! <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-19s.JPG"> 

Now tell me, is this one sweet photograph or what?! Say Cheese!!! <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-23s.JPG"> 

Apparently my excitement for the day cause more than an occasional chuckle amongst some of the other trip attendees, but that's okay, I was by far the biggest fan of the sport on the trip. During the morning, "Andy sightings" were another activity!!! Seems Dan found me... <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-99s.JPG"> 

The pack's leisurely pace was disrupted with the first breakaway attempt of the day. <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-27s.JPG"> 

It provoked a reaction in the bunch and this break was shortlived. <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-28s.JPG"> 

But once the break was caught, the peloton was happy to freewheel it once again... <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-34s.JPG"> 

Butt shot! Karen, you wanted this picture? <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-36s.JPG"> 

Our all access passes allowed us to get up on the elevated viewing platform at the finish line. Yeah, that was pretty sweet too... <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-40s.JPG"> 

Here is the podium from the morning's circuit race, DeNardi's Gaspare was winner of the sprint finish. Lampre's Svorada got taken into the barriers apparently... <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-46s.JPG"> 
=====================

Asiago

04-13-2004, 11:48 AM

Watching the morning's circuit race was pretty cool, but it couldn't compare with the afternoon's adventure! It was the team time trial and as it turns out, I was going to get to take a ride in the Navigators Cycling Team's team car during the race! Awesome! Here are the Navigators getting ready to ride down to the TTT course. <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-50s.JPG"> 

So we're off. The Navigators started third. And can those guys ride! The power was just incredible! <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-51s.JPG"> 

Looking good!! <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-58s.JPG"> 

The guys were just haulin' around a pretty technical course. Ed Beamon, the team director at one point remarked: "Hmm, up that hill at over 50k/hr, not bad..." (!) <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-60s.JPG"> 

A quick pic of the race official that followed the team around the course... <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-64s.JPG"> 

The Navigators went through with a pretty respectable time, ending the day about halfway down the results. A big thank you to Ed and the Navigators organization for a great experience and also a big thanks to Kelly who got us the all-access passes! <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/empire/csxnscale/itpics/324/324-68s.JPG"> 
===================

atpjunkie

04-15-2004, 07:52 AM

[thx for the great pix. sweet all access, what a nice perk. I have a buddy going to the Giro, hopefully I'll talk him into doing the same

lanterne rouge

04-15-2004, 01:58 PM

Asiago

04-15-2004, 06:23 PM

He is a good friend of mine, Neil Aldridge. He was one of my riding buddies the last few years. Still is borrowing my 5900 as a matter of fact! :) His father was a team mechanic for PDM back in the 80's.

Last season he wrenched for Schroeder Iron and I have a small connection there, so yeah, I met him and we actually talked for quite a while. Good guy.

What does he need your 5900 with that Litespeed Frank gave him??? :)

lanterne rouge

04-16-2004, 01:43 PM

He was riding my 5900 all the time until Frank gave him that Litespeed. it is still sitting at his parents home. I don't know if he had to return it(the Litespeed) with what happened with Shroeder Iron team disbanding and all. What is your connection with Schroeder? Rode a few times last year with Gordon McCauley too. Great guy and unbelievably strong, towed Neil and I back from the beach last year to Claremont at about 24-45 mph the whole way. If I could have found a hacksaw I would have amputated my legs that evening, they were just dead weight the next few days.

Asiago

04-16-2004, 06:35 PM