In Emilia Romagna, we live for two-wheelers: for the moped or the bicycle," says Guido Neri from Cesena. The cycling dealer is on duty at the region's races every weekend to provide technical support, but the highlight of the year is undoubtedly the Nove Colli. For friends from near and far, the date is set for the end of May and the Gran Fondo becomes a family festival for the town. There is a racing bike in the window of the watchmaker's shop in Cesenatico, a bike hangs from the ceiling in the perfumery and the ice cream parlour has an ice cream especially for cyclists. Between the "Euro" hotel and the "Hawaii" beach bar, Pinarello and Co. present the latest dream bikes.
Cesenatico is in the grip of racing bike fever. If the Nove Colli is one big family, then Arrigo Vanzolini is its grandfather. On 20 May 1971, he and his club mates launched the "Brevetto Appennino", the forerunner of the Nove Colli. Only 19 cyclists responded to the call of the Gruppo Cicloturistico Fausto Coppi at the premiere, but the number grew from year to year. Until the 1980s, butchers, bakers and farmers from the region stood at the roadside and catered for the riders. Today, the Nove Colli is Italy's most important cycling event for amateur athletes alongside the Dolomites Marathon. It is still organised by the GC Fausto Coppi, which is almost surprising given the enormous effort involved.
Honorary President Arrigo Vanzolini stands between large boxes in a parrot-coloured shirt and personally supervises the distribution of the starter packs. Even on the day before the 39th edition, he remains calm, even when tonnes of material have to be moved. More than 300 volunteers work in the organisation. The "Nove Colli family" has grown in the meantime, 11,000 participants have registered, the self-imposed limit does not allow for more. In the end, just under 10,000 people lined up for the start at five o'clock in the morning on 25 May 2009 in the port of Cesena tico. The starting blocks are lined up left and right in the side streets, strictly separated by the colours of the start numbers. In previous years, a few clever people have always managed to sneak their way to the front, but now the starting blocks are separated by iron fences. A short prayer over the loudspeaker, the helicopters circle over the first starting group and off they go - for the leading group. The rest have to be patient: The last group is not sent out onto the course until 6.50 am.
You can find the full report on the Nove Colli 2009 as a PDF download below.
INFO Nove Colli
Type of event: Cycling marathon with timekeeping
Routesa) 205 kilometres and 3,800 vertical metres; b) 130 kilometres and 1,870 vertical metres
Next date: 23 May 2010
Start/FinishCesenatico (Emilia-Romagna)
Info: www.novecolli.it
Costs: 40 Euro
ADFC long-distance tour Munich-Cesenatico
OrganiserADFC Munich
DurationTen days, including five days travelling
Costsapprox. 1,100 Euro
Downloads:
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