| Karol
There are many sportifs which take place in Italy which are given the category "Gran Fondo" -
it's a bit like Grand Prix. This may however be something special. Why not pass your request
onto Alan Paxton, who has landed some work in Pisa. He seems to be getting amongst the local bike
scene and I'm sure he will be able to help you.
He can be found as [email protected]
Robin
As a bonus, and just to try to re-jumpstart this conference, here are few notes on what I thought
about the Virenque du Verdon -
This week was "chouchou of French cycling" weekend with us taking part in the Virenque over at
Castellane, us being Michelle, Rob and myself. As in previous years, the prefet of the Var wasn't
paid enough in pots-de-vin to allow the event to take place on his sacred roads around the Gorges
du Verdon and he was decent enough to decide with only three weeks to go.. However, the
organisers had a trick up their sleeves when they made a deal with the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and
ran it there instead.
So it was 150km / 1700m on much easier roads and equally much better organised. The scenery was
less spectacular, but very nice thankyou. There were 2 other simultaneous events at 110 and 50km,
with Rob and Michelle opting for the first of these. At some times, everyone was on the same bit
of road - the swifties, the codgers and those out for the day, so it was fairly chaotic! The
descent from the col was evil, and Michelle and Rob assured me they had seen three riders flying
through the air and off the edge - I don't think it could have been too serious because I have not
read any mention of the accident anywhere.
The Var authorities said they couldn't assure the security, but the flics from AHP were out in
force, guarding most junctions and also closing some roads for the duration of the event. It was
taken to extremes at times with strings of coloured plastic tape stretched across farm gateways in
case competitors thought this was the route. I'm pleased to say there were less following and
official cars or motos which made it far more pleasant than some of the sportifs I have ridden.
Despite forecasts to the contrary, there were no orages, and it was a very good day out, with the
mirrored hills in the Lac de Castillon giving an image to treasure on the dark winter nights. The
150 was "won" by a Tasmanian from Nice who got round in 3hr 49 (yes, that's 39kph!), and I came
home in 1297th place in 5hr 19 (which is about 28's or Cap d'Antibes at lunchtime speed). I must
say I expected to be one and a half hours behind the winner, but I expected it to take almost an
hour longer. A 15km faux-plat descendant definitely suits me for a finish!
The Man Himself was about, starting when all the 150km competitors had passed by through
Castellane, and he gently pedalled through the field at about 45 kph to finish in 14th place,
having dragged the eventual winner up to a small breakaway en route. He passed me on the col of
the day, tucked in behind a police moto and doing at least 3 times my speed.
Michelle and Rob finished as chirpy as ever, although Rob said he felt a bit sad on the last climb
to the many places called Thorame, possibly because his front mech. was acting up and he couldn't
get his 32 ring. There are rumours that Michelle complained at having to wait for him as well as
that there were insufficient ravito's.
Good event, I hope they keep it like this and give two-fingers to the Var in the future. They
don't deserve to have 3800 competitors on their roads, even though RV is Varois.
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