Part 2.. Liberty Classic Philadelphia

Philly is the home of North America’s biggest bike race also the home of our great friends Fuji Bikes, and of course ‘Rocky’ (as per some very un-tourist like behavior seen below). Pre race day we received some fabulous home town hospitality from the folks at Fuji and gave back with a sponsor ride and Q&A session with the Cadence Cycling Foundation inner city kids cycling program.

Race day it was on… all went as planned and our astute team work played out imperatively well.. with our team of 4 (Amber, Inga, Shelley and Myself) we covered late attacks by Cola Vita and HTC as it came down to a bunch finish where Shelley finished a close 2nd to Giorgia Bronzini (the current world champion)!

On the road again.. Part 1 Muri Fermani

A whirlwind week began last Wednesday as I boarded the trusty TrenItalia lucky it was not ‘sempre in retardo’ and I was on time to meet my team in Bologna. Continuing on the road south for the next 3 hrs in convoy, the team vehicles arrived at Muri Fermani race destination, Fermo on the Adriatic coast. (Thanks to our friends at Fuji Bikes I dont have to travel with a bike, my race bike stays with the team and my training bike stays at home in Lucca!)

Following the race we all piled in and drove up the coast (admiring a gorgeous a Adriatic sunset) back to team HQ in Montebelluna, after a 1am arrival and a short sleep we then departed for Venice airport for a 3 flight journey to Philadelphia landing us at the race Hotel at 1am. Here is where I was inspired to blog on ‘traveling light in more ways than one’!

snapshots & simplicity… la vista dalla bicicletta

May… warm gorgeous spring in Toscana… mostly my minutes, days, weeks have been filled with optimising a solid training program often involving spending half my waking hours in the saddle then when off the saddle trying to get my legs / body ready for the next day on the saddle… or so it seems…

One of the greatest things however in being a road cyclist is the daily ground covered and therefore BEAUTY of constantly being treated to eye candy in numerous forms – views from mountains, home gardens, quaint villages, old men at their local bar having aperitif at dusk…

here is a taste

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GP Comune di Cornaredo

I made my way up to Milan last weekend to race GP Cornaredo (22nd May – UCI 1.2) it was hot, flat and fast but considering the overpass was the greatest rise in the profile I was happy to be able to show some good form by being active and aggressive in the race and have a good role in team lead out for Alona our designated sprinter for the day, we had a great day of teamwork and Alona finished 3rd.

If you can read Italian or want to translate Here is the race report

And footage from the race here!

Liza Emanuele

I am delighted to become an ambassador for Aussie Designer Liza Emanuele

I have never really been one for labels and designer flair… I am just as happy picking out vintage style from a local local market. However this has changed after meeting Liza and her team, finding out designer does not have to mean fuss or overstatement… you can be chic and bold but understated and stylish at the same time.

I was lucky enough to meet LIZA EMANUELE earlier this year during the 2011 TDU. We discussed, fashion, sport, careers, passion direction and ambition and I learned of her incredible story from kitchen table to internationally acclaimed designer in just eight years. I was inspired by her story, her passion and ambition.

Liza kindly equipped my Euro suitcase with a few essentials to keep the Aussie chic in me while traveling and racing in Europe. Thank you Liza and team and congratulations on a gorgeous new collection.

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