The greatest show on earth

The Tour de France is a ‘bigger’ race than the Giro. It has more media, more commotion, more people making demands on the cyclist’s waning energy. What it doesn’t have is the tifosi (see notes 1) of the greatest show on earth.

I discovered my passion for cycling at a very late age. I always enjoyed riding my bicycle starting from my boyhood: I rode for commute, I rode for enjoyment, I even raced a couple of times. But I started riding a road bike in my early 30s. Then I started watching cycling races and immediately fell in love with them.

I watched some races including Tour de France 2008 edition, with little understanding of what was going on actually. In the early stages, I was even thinking Mark Cavendish was going to win the Tour.

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Jean Metzinger’s “At the Cycle-Race Track (Au Vélodrome)”, 1912

“Au Vélodrome”, also known as “At the Cycle-Race Track” and “Le cycliste”, is a painting by the French painter Jean Metzinger. According to the art historian Erasmus Weddigen, it illustrates the final meters of the Paris-Roubaix monumental classic and portrays its 1912 winner Charles Crupelandt (1886-1955).

The painting was acquired by Peggy Guggenheim in 1945 and is now permanently on view in her museum in Venice; Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

Jean Metzinger (June 24, 1883- November 3, 1956) was a major 20th-century French painter, writer, critic, poet, and sensitive and intelligent theoretician. Along with Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Albert Gleizes, developed the art style known as Cubism.

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Pinarello celebrates the World Championship 2013 title with a special frame

Last September, Rui Costa of Portugal became the new UCI World Champion. Costa was a member of the Spanish Movistar team, so he was riding a Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think2 (he moved to Lampre-Merida for the 2014 season).

To celebrate Costa’s victory in the UCI Worlds 2013, Pinarello produced a special frame: “The World Champion’s frame” – Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think2 2013 UCI World Champion special edition.

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Cannondale CAAD8 2014

Cannondale CAAD8 2014 shares the same proven race geometry of its more expensive brother, the CAAD10, but with a slightly taller head tube (+1.5 cm) for a more relaxed riding position. It also built of a lesser quality aluminum than the CAAD10. But it is still a great entry-level road bike. As Cannondale claims, “This is the bike for people who’ve been inspired by the peloton and are ready to start being a ‘cyclist'”.

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Giro d’Italia 2014 Official promo (Promo ufficiale)

The Giro d’Italia 2014 Official promo has been published by the RCS Sport, the organizer of the Italian grand tour (produced by Studio eFFe). They did a great job, as usual. Breathtaking images. Enjoy.

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LeMond Limited Edition Series

LeMond Limited Edition Series: Greg Lemond, triple Tour de France winner (the only American to win the Tour), and twice UCI World Champion, teamed up with the French frame manufacturer Time to relaunch his signature brand.

The first three models are limited editions and different only in cosmetics, named after Greg LeMond’s three Tour de France victories: TDF 1986, TDF 1989, and TDF 1990.

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The rebirth of Legnano

The Italian Bozzi family has once again moved ahead to revitalize the historic Legnano brand. In 2010, they resolved a licensing agreement issue with Bianchi, who had acquired the famous brand after the assassination of Emilio Bozzi in 1974. The new Legnano models were introduced in September 2013 at ExpoBici.

The history of Italian bicycles starts with the “L” of Legnano. Few if any marques can boast a legacy of success in the competition thanks to champions like Alfredo Binda, Giovanni Brunero, Learco Guerra, Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, and Ercole Baldini.

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From heaven to hell: Wilfried Reybrouck at the 1974 Giro d’Italia

In the 1974 Giro d’Italia, a completely unknown 21-year-old Belgian, Wilfried Reybrouck, won the first stage from Vatican City to Formia and wore the maglia rosa in his first professional Grand Tour.

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Cannondale Caad10 2014

Cannondale is producing the award-winning CAAD (Cannondale Advanced Aluminum Design) series of road bikes since 1983. CAAD10 is the current generation of the American bike manufacturer’s top aluminum frame.

CAAD frames are legendary because they’re lighter, stiffer, and smoother riding than many elite carbon frames. Cannondale claims that the CAAD10 is the most sophisticated, highest-performing aluminum race bike ever made.

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