FlavioZappi’s Blog

Cycling and coaching

Had any problem with your patner because of your cycling?

Then have a look at this….

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6705475/

Great, don’t you think?

(I’m sorry about the swearing…)

November 27, 2010 Posted by | Funny stories | Leave a Comment

Groupsets for my bike!!!

Which components are you going to use for your bike Flavio?

This is as been the question for the last 3 weeks…well I said not sure yet I’m thinking about…is got to be Italian Flavio, you know is to do with you and your heritage….

You know, when I was racing I took it for granted that the quality of the bike was not such a good deal, and that because most of us was using the same frameset..Columbus SLX and the same components Campagnolo Super Record.

The bike to dream was Colnago and Bianchi, mainly because 2 of the strongest team at the time were riding them, Giuseppe Saronni and team Del Tongo/Colnago and Bianchi/Piaggio with Tommy Primm, Alf Segersall and Sivano Contini…

So when I started thinking about which group set should be on my bike, I thought it does not matter, nowadays there are so many different choices and brand…

but…I started looking more closely at Campagnolo, it came after I posted on facebook a question and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much love was there for the iconic and expensive equipment for bike.

I went back in time and even more when I started my cycling and the Saturday afternoon spent cleaning my bike ready for Sunday race .

Every little bits was dismounted and cleaned and every little bit had a name…

…yes is got to be Campagnolo!

My bike will have a Campagnolo Record (sorry cannot afford Super at the moment…) …

and for those young generation who cannot afford the top but still want to be part will get the Athena…

November 13, 2010 Posted by | Training | 1 Comment

Contador and Doping

Is incredible how interesting are some comments you find at the bottom of an article…

I was reading recently the Contador saga on an Italian sport paper online and I was astonished to see how many people have incredible knowledge in doping matter, here a few samples…

“proprio una molecola che aumenta l’apporto di sangue ai muscoli, che aumenta la frequnza cardiaca e respiratori, che aumenta la produzione di glucosio e aumenta la demolizione di grassi per la produzione di energia doveva finire nel suo piatto il giorno prima della tappa decisiva del tour, davvero una coincidenza incredibile!”

said..” don’t you think is incredible that a small molecule responsible of improving blood supply to the muscle, responsible to raise heart frequency, to improve glucose production and breaking down fats and release energy would finish on Contador’s steak the day before on the most important stage of the Tour the France?”

and few more….(you use google translate, just to have an idea)

” Questa è la seconda volta che Contador viene coinvolto in inchieste riguardanti la medicina sportiva. La presto dimenticata ”Operacion Porto”, un indagine (dalle ombre mai dissolte) in cui erano coinvolti atleti di “troppe” discipline quali: tennisti, calciatori, automobilisti ecc., alla voce ciclismo annotava ben 58 corridori sospetti di illecito tra cui il campione spagnolo”

“Su internet si dice che questo clenbuterolo ha un’emivita di 25-39 ore, ciò significa che occorre quel tempo affinché il corpo metabolizzi ed elimini metà della dose assunta; che effetti dopanti nelle urine si rintracciano dopo 2 – 4 giorni dalla somministrazione; che da uno studio su cavalli che ingerivano il clenbuterolo e si allenavano anche, è stato rilevato che la massa muscolare non aumentava fino alla sesta settimana…. Guarda che sfortuna, Contador, che ti hanno beccato proprio con questo farmaco… Forse è per questo che i test antidoping hanno fatto rizzare i capelli a chi di dovere per una così modica quantità ritrovata? Sempre più scettico sono… “

“E’ risaputo che dopo dosi dopanti ci sono i cosidetti lavaggi, ricordiamoci Di Luca dopo la tappa dello Zoncolan al controllo antidoping risultò più pulito di un neonato. Peccato, ma io ho sempre avuto un dubbio, in 50 anni che seguo il ciclismo, di ogni categoria, non ho mai visto un corridore così leggero andare così forte a cronometro…”

And now on Riis team…what a timing?!?!?

http://www.gazzetta.it/Ciclismo/08-11-2010/bjarne-riis-verita-un-libro-711749090454.shtml

November 8, 2010 Posted by | Doping | 1 Comment

Flavio Zappi vs Eddy Merckx???

Thi is the story of a very imbarrasing period of my cycling carrier.

During the first few stages at the Giro d’Italia 1981 (my first giro), the italian major sport newspaper called “La Gazzetta Dello Sport” dedicated a all page in the cycling section on …Flavio Zappi the new Eddy Merckx.

I was new pro that year and fresh winner of one stage at the Giro del Trentino were I also wear the leader jersey until last stage lost on time trial.

Also won at the same giro the team time trial stage…
Anyway one morning got up from bed in the hotel were we staying and get in the restaurant for breakfast before the stage were somebody showed me with my mix of pleasure and horror a all page of interviews from me and my director sportif at the time Dino Zangegu’ .

Former winner of the Tour of Flandres and great caracter Dino, was very famous on tv and with the italian pubblic for his great sprints and later after his carrier finished for his funny comments on tv.

Anyway, it looks like he was interviewed from a journalist at la gazzetta and during the interview he compared me with the great Eddy by saying phrases like ” when I see him riding he just remind me soo much of Eddy” and stuff like that.
Of course the result was the next few days at the giro a constant taking the xxxx by calling me Eddyyyy, hey Eddyyy, come here Eddy…
In particolar one person was really annoying…he was a prestigious domestique of team Bianchi and his name was Serge Parsani…

But I have forgive him after I saw him recently on a bday party riunion last year, and had a chance to know him better, he is a realy nice guy and at the time maybe just a little bit big headed…bless him!

This is now and is new position as a director sportiv with team Katiusha…

November 3, 2010 Posted by | Old stories | Leave a Comment

   

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