Gran Fondo Pinarello report

[huw williams]

128 Miles - 7hrs 30mins - I've no idea what position because there were 3,869 other riders out there all trying to get back first. Results to follow.

Hundreds of Italian road-teams (with as many as 20 riders in the team) riding tactically, easily the biggest road race I've ever done, loads of closed roads - police stopping traffic on junctions etc.

Serious aggro if you put a wheel out of place and upset the hierarchy in the pelotons but the Italians give you huge respect for attacking and dropping them on the climbs.

Superb mountains including Passo san Boldo and Nevegal ski resort.

Rode a 2007 Pinarello Paris with 2007 Campag. Saw the bike for the first time on the morning of the ride but felt like I was born on it during the ride. I'll take a dozen!

Went drinking in Vencie with Malcolm Eliott last night - he didn't stand a chance!

Truly awesome weekend

[Alan M]

You have set another new standard Huw - surely others will aspire and follow in your tracks - seems as if it was a rally memorable event. can we expect to see a more detailed account of the event?

Alan

[huw williams]

Thanks Alan - the pain is too great to allow me to write a further account at this moment but Cycling Weekly will be running all the sportive reports begining a couple of weeks after the conclusion of the TdeF.

Next stop: Baelach NeBaar in Scotland - 2 weeks time, I'm really looking forward to that one as its a completely new event

[huw williams]

Alright - give me a while for my head to clear and I'll post a full report.

[Toks]

Chapeau Mr Williams! It sounds like you were flying!!!!!!!!!

[huw williams]

Cheers Toks - I think its the best I've ever felt over that distance certainly - and its easily the highest standard of riders too - Loads of pros and ex-pro's do it cos the prize money is huge and there are loads of age and ability catgories - all very serious.

I passed Baldato in the early stages! OK he'd punctured but how often do you get to say that? Rumsas was there too but he was a bit quicker than most of us.

Sean - I would certainly put the Paris up there amongst the best I've ever ridden. After a ride like that, on an unfamiliar bike, to finish with no back-ache or saddle sore it must be pretty damn good.

[Maria David]

Italian sportives are always pretty competitive. They generally treat them like road races - more so than in the UK or France. I went down to southern italy last year, and all I remember was the blistering pace set from the off !

Huw, are you sure you did the full distance ? The list of entrants has you down for the short course !!
If you only did the medio fondo all I can say is : "You've been rumbled mate !"
If you did the full distance, then I'd say "Well done - now how about doubling the amount of climbing you did, last Sunday, putting your money where your mouth is, and going for La Marmotte next year.

[huw williams]

Maria - If I'd taken that long to do the short course it would be time to quit!

Believe me when you're faced with the San Boldo mountain pass and the climb up to Nevegal you better know damn sure EXACTLY what course your on!

No, you can decide on the day which ride you want to do - I initially thought that as I was on an unfamiliar bike I might do the short ride - until I saw the bike! The short ride wouldn't have done it justice, and the amount of climbing on the long course looked ideal for me (and it was) so I changed my mind.

Everywhere you look the ride is referred to as the 'race' - I couldn't understand it. Most sportives you do the empahssis is on trying to deter riders from racing. Here it was actively encouraged with big prizes in loads of categories. Even the police were urging groups of riders to go faster and giving out time checks between the groups to help us close down the gaps.

I've done the Marmotte before and it's more like a survival test - I guess the Pinarello is more of a race in the traditional sense.

As to the short ride - a couple of thousand riders did that because they wanted to go even faster and didn't want any hills getting in the way! It was only 80miles though.

Sean - I didn't think it was prudent to ask him about that on the start line

[Maria David]

Thanks for the clarification.
Sounds like it was pretty fierce competition. Well done for holding your own.

I'm doing an event in the dolomites in a couple of weeks so I've got a flavour of what to look forward to - However, by the time I get to Passo dello Stelvio I won't care what anyone else is doing. It will be about survival for me !!

[adrian]

Enjoy it I did - thanks, Huw, for the report and congratulations on a great effort. Sounds like you were going through them on the climbs like a knife through butter. All on half a banana and a couple of TUC biscuits, as well, I'll wager!

Bike sounded great - I suppose the three burly mechanics were waiting at the finish to make sure you didn't 'forget' to return it?

[huw williams]

Cheers Adrian - After the climbs started I didn't get past by a single rider and passed literally hundreds but there were still thousands in front of me I reckon because half of Europe seemed to be doing the ride.

I made all the right noises at the end to try and get the Pinarello guys to turn the other way as I was packing my bags but the bike was swallowed up by the big Pinarello corporate machine - ah well!

By the way for all Campag lovers I've asked sean to post a review of the 2007 groupset on the digest

[Toks]

[quote]Huw, the Digest and it reader(s) demand a full and unabashed account of what you did on valverde's steed, indeed the bike of the current Yellow jersey.

[Dr Frigo]

What's with the 10-speed MTB-like shifter that's pictured on cyclingnews?

[huw williams]

Didn't get to see any of their MTB stuff but I gather there are some pretty big developments there too.

They had an awesome city bike/hybrid/narrow tyres type thing on display too

[jon avery]

sean, it work for me. Huw a great read and well done on your ride!