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Granfondo Cycling Tours would like to
present our latest issue of Granfondo News.
This newsletter is geared to keep you up to
date on the latest Granfondo happenings,
entertain you with stories provided by
former tour guests (entitled My Trip), and
keep you connected with European touring
through ride summaries, city highlights and
various articles of interest.
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Mt Zoncolon, the slowest climb ever! |
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Alternate title, the New "Hardest
climb ever"
by Mike Elmer
I have done a lot of the biggest
climbs the US, France and Italy. Mt
Ventoux, Alp d'Huez, Tourmalet,
Forclaz, Col d'Izoard, Stelvio,
Gavia, Fedai, San Pelligrino,
Pordoi, Mortirolo, Mt Evans; they
are all good climbs, but ... they
all take a backseat to the new
"Hardest climb ever": Mt Zoncolon
... when I watched the stage on TV,
I was stunned at how slowly the
professionals were riding up this
climb; I knew I had to try it.
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Pizza Pizza (A little history) |
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By Cliff Lowe
Pizza, like so many other foods, did
not originate in the country for
which it is now famous. Unless you
have researched the subject, you,
like so many people, probably always
thought pizza was strictly an
Italian creation. The foundations
for pizza were originally laid by
the early Greeks who first baked
large, round and flat breads which
they, "anointed with oil, herbs,
spices and dates." Tomatoes were not
discovered at that time or, very
likely, they would have used them as
we do today. Eventually, the idea of
flat bread found its way to Italy
where, in the 18th century, the flat
breads called "pizzas" were sold on
the streets and in the markets.
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Picture of the Month |
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Bella Toscana
Having a great time riding
through the many picturesque
villages of Tuscany. This picture
was taking during the 2007
Florence to Rome Tour.
Janet ,Dwight, and Rufino
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New Tour Schedule for 2008 |
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Tours continue to sell out and
new tours are added. Check the tour
listing frequently to see what is
still avalible.
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GranFondo's 1st Annual Training Camp |
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Granfondo Cycling Tours is
hosting our first annual cycling
camp in San Diego California. A
perfect opportunity to get out of
the ice and snow, and get in some
great base miles. The training camp
is open to everyone, and is also a
great opportunity for all of us who
have been on tour, to ride once
again. Join us for some great rides
in one of the best places to ride in
the winter time.
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New Customer Reviews for 2008 |
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New Customer Review have been
added. Check out what everyone is
saying!
"Our fun post-dinner gatherings were
just as much a highlight of the tour
as the spectacular climbs of the
Dolomites themselves! I'm convinced
that the camaraderie of a good tour
is just as important as how many
vertical feet one bags. " ....
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Limoncello - "An absolute natural
product" |
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From Tour Guest Glenn Ackerson
Hi guys,
I had a co-worker share a Limoncello
recipe with me, and I did a little
research to see how consistent
various recipes out there are for
the delicious nectar. Interestingly,
Limoncello can be made with vodka,
vodka & everclear (stay clear), or
even grappa! But, I've read and
heard that homemade Limoncello is
both easy to make and delicious. So,
if you'd like to read more, I've
assembled some information for you
on the history of the stuff as well
as some recipes. Here's to keeping
the spirit of Granfondo Limoncello
evenings alive!
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Epic Stelvio
(My Trip)
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By Glenn Ackerson
(tour guest)
Look up the word "epic" in the
dictionary, and you'll find
definitions like "surpassing the
usual or ordinary, particularly in
scope or size." Look up Passo
Stelvio on the internet, and you'll
find it described as "the highest
paved mountain pass in the Eastern
Alps, second only to Col de l'Iseran
in the Alps in height." Put them
together, and you have the epic
climb that is Passo Stelvio - a
climb with more than twice the
number of switchbacks (48) as the
famous Alpe d' Huez (21.) Add to
that the elevation of the summit,
9,048 feet, and you have one of the
Italian Alps' most impressive and
challenging climbs.
Read full story |
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