Velochimp: Astrochimp on Cycling

Last October a new cycling Classic emerged combining some of the epic conditions of Paris-Roubaix with the golden age of Italian cycling’s history. In the 1950s when cycling was the king of sports in Italy due to the epic battles between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali cycling was much grittier (literally) than today’s sport. Long distances with no support on mostly gravely or loose stone roads. Distances would routinely touch 300km or so and races would start in the early mornings. Cycling in Post-War times was much different than today. With the rich Italian history The Monte Paschi Eroica (not Erotica get that mind out of the gutter or check out the Elisa Basso pics) get today’s pro cyclist out in conditions of old. RCS Sport the Giro organizers are also responsible for this race.

RCS has been on a nostalgia roll in recent Giros with the intro of unpaved climbs such as the Col delle Finestre which was the ground for an epic battle between Paolo Salvodelli, Danilo Diluca, Gilberto Simoni and Jose Rujano in 2005.

Pics from Bikestyle Tours

The success of that stage where the course made the race, not just the racers, may have inspired RCS to look for even more “special” courses to add. Thus the Eroica was born.

The Eroica actually existed as a nostalgia race for the past 10 years where amateur cyclist in vintage bikes and clothing would gear up for an epic day on white gravelly roads. The Pro Race was introduced only last October and proved to be an instant Classic.

Racers such as Fillippop Pozzato called for the race to move its time slot to the spring time to provide a springboard to the Belgian Nothern European Classics notably Paris-Roubaix for its fearsome cobbled roads. So it is March, the weather will be kinder to the racers in the Chianti region during March than in Belgium during April.

L’Eroica it’s a jump to the epic times of cycling. Here you will meet “heros” that complete all the 200 kilometers of the routes riding old bikes of about a century ago.

Check out a video of the Eroica with riders constantly stopping to fix flats.

Blur Freccia | Cycling News Info | Eroica.it | Gazzetta.it Monte Paschi Eroica