Just thought this was interesting. BTW, he had a good day today at Setmana Catalana. I think this guy is going to be really, really good in a few years. Levi Leipheimer won the stage.
From Ton Danielson Online:
Not entirely. Was penciled in for the Giro Del Lucca, but my U.S. trip derailed those plans. I raced the GP Degli Etruschi a month ago, and it although it was a flat race that didn’t suit me, it was good training and a good experience. I was able to ride next to riders I’ve only seen and read about in magazines like Bettini, Cipollini, and Simoni. Everyone was real friendly and welcomed me to the peloton. Oh, a little inside note on how hard European racing is: During the so-called “flat” race in Etruschi, we “rolled” over a climb similar to Oak Glen in Redlands California. With Quick-Step at the front for Bettini, the pace was quite high, and in any U.S. race the field would have shattered into a million pieces. I was amazed to see all the sprinters were hammering over it just fine. To dispel that myth, Cipollini, my teammate Petacchi, and other big guys over here are all fantastic climbers.
*Italy is such a great place, but things here are very different. For example, back in Durango, at the first sign of March sun, the leg and arm warmers come off and the tanning begins. Recently here in Lugo, we’ve seen a spell of good weather in the 20’s and 30’s (Celsius that is) and I’ve been taking less clothes with me on rides. Italian cyclists wear face masks and huge winter jackets and I have no idea how they don’t overheat, but they look at me like I’m from mars and the yell at me that I’m going to get sick! *
The meals are amazing, but dinner takes four hours and it doesn’t start until 8pm, so it often cuts into my rest! But its always worth it. Oh, and everyone rides bikes. It could be pouring rain out, it wouldn’t matter, old people would still be riding around town on beat up bikes with no air in the tires, holding umbrellas. The motorists are only happy to oblige.