I have overlooked Italy in recent years for France. I remember now how much I loved Italy growing up. More than a crush, I felt we would be together for life. Then France happened. Somehow by accident and involving Le Mans. Calm, slow, warm, simple France. And so it was, the noisy, chaotic, wonderfulness of Italy faded back over the Alps in favour of relaxation in the sun further west.
This week I may have started a personal Italian renaissance. In Verona. At 4pm.
The first minute in Verona the other day told me something. I had made a terrible mistake all those years earlier. Italy, have me back. At least let me share you with your neighbour. Italy is too wonderful to overlook for a minute, let alone a decade. How could I forget? Forget no more. I’m back.
But only for a couple of days this time. 48hrs of sun and warmth and coffee and blue skies and big smiles and a team of pro cyclists training in the hills of the Veneto.
It’s testament to cycling that this bunch of Olympians and world champions are about as down to earth a dozen to hang out with as any of your mates on bikes. And it’s testament to them too. And it’s also testament to Rochelle Gilmore and Simon Cope, without whom this sunny villa in Treviso wouldn’t be playing host to real cycling royalty on this given Thursday. This is a grounded operation, balanced with great aspiration. This is the Wiggle Honda Pro Women’s Cycling Team.
Deda through the oblong window…
Before breakfast…
The breakfast of champions…
Ready as they’ll ever be…
Olympic smile…
Laura Trott wired for sound…
Colnago C59′s…
Rochelle’s Colnago C59…
Heading out and I’m in the following car for the first climb…
Up to race pace…
120km begins. Dani King in the bunch…
Alpine backdrop…
Anna Bianca Schnitzmeier setting the pace…
10 o’clock shadow…
Laura Trott in the bunch…
Joanna Rowsell on point…
Dani King climbs, alps fade the background…
More climbing…
Bit of bottle handover training with Amy Roberts…
110k done, and back at hq there was just time for a Lazer helmet change and some aero talk and off out again for the TT training…
More to follow, but if you fancy looking the part this summer, you can now pre-order the Wiggle Honda team kit, shorts and jerseys, on the site.
Until….(part two to follow soon)
