The story of “Coppa Bologna” in Montallese, Tuscany.
This is the story of the ” Coppa Bologna”
Giancarlo Di Balio is the author of a book that tell the story of this race, from 1929 the book has a great collection of photos from the many partipants and the great involvement of the people in Montallese in Tuscany.
This is the first winner Luniano Brinori
Giancarlo got in touch with me last year and with great surprise to me he said he wanted to write this book and he contatted all the winners of this race, therefore me.
I had mix feeling when he called me, I felt proud and then melanconic…but then we chatted and with my surprise again ( and this is not the end), he told great riders won this race that started back in 1929 and guess what the greatest GINO BARTALI…
what an onour to share with one of the greatest champions of cycling.
But more surprises and more famous winner….
FRANCESCO MOSER
…and the late FRANCO BALLERINI
So here we are now with my photo after winning the 1980 edition in company of a good friend of mine Davide Cassani….
but after all the greatest surprise was the race I won in 1980 is actually on youtube on a very original video with lots of classic cars, flared trousers and thick side burns.
Hope you are going to enjoy….
Zappi’s Cyling Club 2012 season XMAS PARTY
Hi cari Zappistas,
I’ve previously said the dinner party would be held on Monday the 9th of Jan, but made a mistake is actually the following week…so Monday the 16th of January at 7pm.
Mamma Mia restaurant and pizzeria will be the venue, Walton street in Jericho.
Menu will be very similar of last year with several starters coming to the each table from, baked mozzarella, crispy fried calamari and antipasti misti to share on the table and the same will be for the mains (pizza and pasta), with all different plates of pasta to taste and oven stone baked pizza sliced to taste more than one flavor.
a glass of wine or a bier included in the price with a slice of “torta” (Cake della casa) and espresso.
The price for the evening will be £20 all inclusive.
But the evening will have a surprise purpose and that is I will put a series of item to buy an auction for the ladies team and the boys team.
This are the item:
Size 56 aluminium frame “Brian Rourke” brand new made by Brian himself for Mohammed Ali and…. a Zappi’s new “freccia azzurra” any size.
Several other product and services will be available for a “deal of the night”, from fantastic mature Panaracer tubolars, SiS nutrition, Udo’s choice Oils, a week accommodation in Portugal training camp with Zappi’s Pro Cycling (subject to availability), VO2 max test at Dr R. Baskerville, full bike strip service from Duncan Mellish and Steve Avery our team mechanics, VIP table for 4 at Camera or Bridge night clubs with a bottle of champagne, etc.
Please book in advance to make sure you gat space as Mamma Mia can only hold 70 people.
Ciao
Flavio
Academy Progetto Casa Ciclismo is back!!
Since coming back to cycling in 2008 I’ve gradually change my plan from just racing to coach…and now I’ve this idea to create an academy style team.
Back in 1979 I was part of a team called Lema mobili based near Bergamo north Italy, and the team was very famous to be the only one where rider were living in a house toghether for a season.
“La squadra” was very well-organized and 10 out 12 got professional contract within 1979 and 1981, 4 of us were racing with “azzurri” nat team.
More team followed the “Lema” style over the years, but our direttore sportivo Domenico Garbelli was something special, was living, train, dine and get to the races with us.
Was our surrogate father…very strict father.
Every morning he will check our weight and blood pressure and after breakfast follow us with the team car or the scooter.
Very often we would have a second training in the afternoon (just after a power nap), then dinner a bit of tv and then bed time…always at 9pm!
This is the presentation file to give a better idea on what the plan is for next year, just click on the open publication link:
Open publication – Free publishing – More cycling
Great news for anybody who are planning get some warm weather during January, February and March…Come and train with us!
We have a house in Algarve were the team is going to stay for very long winter training, and we have a spare twin room with bathroom.
The house we are staying is equipped with Sky tv, Internet, Sauna, Gym, Pool Table, Table Tennis and 10x5mt Outdoor Swimming pool.
We are renting to keen riders on a weekly basis and will be £225 per person (required two people) and that includes accommodation, Continental Breakfast, Evening Meal with the Team. Training with the Team and use of the facilities.
All you have to do is to take your bike and book a flight to Faro (Portugal) wich is only 19km away.
Priority will give to Club Members.
For info about availability just call me or email me :
07944877321
And now delivery are coming from Campagnolo and the frame company….
Vison wheels T42, carbon clincher with alloy rim breaking and, great Slick Wredestein tyres only 180gr and lots of TPI for great rolling!!!
Duncan Mellish our team mechanic is working hard to get them in order before Xmas…
This one is Sam’s (Parker)…some more below…
The name is “Freccia Azzurra”… or the blue arrow and is after the…
La Freccia Nera!!, the black arrow!
Freccia nera as been my companion this year, were I’ve managed to compete at great level at sportives like the Ardechiose in France (8 hours for 220km) and the Blenheim sportive with 4 hours and 43 minutes for 100miles, a bit worried at beginning because just coming back from a slipped disck few months before but, no problem for my back…
also great on circuit 1 hour races like at the MK Bowl with sharp response out the corners and of course climbing wich is for the most important feature of my bike.
So the team will use this frame wich has been tested by Dr Sphend Gergury at Brookes Motor Engeneer Department and all season from myself in every possible competitive situation.
Ready to take on 2012 racing season!!
Calendar to follow….
Anyway more stuff arrived and….very very stiff!!!
Bont shoes, solid like a rock and light like feather…more is more!!!
Helmet, sunglasses from BBB and all into the racing bag…
and contract signing day is arrived with bikes and kit….
I’m back!
Sorry….since last post few months ago few thing had happen.
Still not justifiable I know, but let me tell you what went on…
Had a nasty accident chasing down a moped on the road!
I always said to people not to do, and I did it…over 50 years old at 50 km an hour a few centimetres behind a motorbike, with a L plate on, how stupid that was!
Of course the guy on the bike got scared looking at his mirror this crazy man following at full speed…and he decide to slow down, very fast! Had no other option than slam my breaks and flying over my bike and crash on the tarmac.
Result was broken elbow, rotatory cuff tear (shoulder) and 5 cm deep cut on my face.
Got under surgery the very next day and back home few days after and forgot to say the bike had not a scratch!
Anyway back on the bike few weeks later and start training again, still have to save a bit of my racing season as I need to make sure I’m not loosing my Cat 2 licence after loosing my Cat 1 last year.
6 weeks after my surgery I’ve entered one of the most famous french sportive the Ardechoise with over 15000 participants and finish top 30 in the 220km event over 8hours of climbing and descending.
I’ve enjoyed so much that I’ve entered also the Anthony Maynard in Reading and the Blenheim Palace in Woodstock.
Finished the Reading one in 6hours and few minute for 195km and 4 hours 43min for the Blenheim on 166km, very pleased with that, I feel very comfortable with the long distance stuff…my age really likes easy and longer 
But my things is still road racing, so I decide to make a deal with myself and entered for my birthday present a premier calendar race in Salisbury for the 28 of August, great to have a goal to aim for!
The premier calendar are the most prestigious road races in England and the field is the top in this country with Rapha, Motorpoint, Endura, etc racing.
I know a bit mad but I always been very strong on my birthday week and very ofter winner too, so I started training harder and race the proper races.
From the 15 on July to the 15 of August I’ve raced about 3 or 4 road races and same in crits, the plan was going well because I’ve used the crits for speed work and race at the w/end on the road for proper results, managed to get 90 point in 4 weeks (and I need 50 to retain the 2 category).
Unfortunately I’ve got my entry back a week prior to the event because the field is very strong and they had so many entries they have to make a selection base on the category.
Very, very disappointed but, I’ve made my decision and I’ll go for Cat 1 licence points now, I have only 1 month and I need to make another 110 points to make it, so next time they cannot refuse my entry.
Cat 1 points chasing started well and on the 27 of August I won my first race this year…again on my birthday week!! 
ZAPPI’S CYCLING CLUB DINNER SEASON 2011
Thank you everybody for attending the club dinner party…was a pleasure to see so many friends all at the same time.
I hope you have enjoed the Italian atmosfere at MammaMia…looking forward to see the season to come now with lots and lots of results for the racers and lots and lots of miles in happiness for the people who enjoy just ride.
Grazie!
Hi everybody is a bit late this year but finally we are having a bit of celebration…season 2011 as just began and we are going to have our club dinner at Mamma Mia!!!
Italian restaurant in Walton street Jericho, Oxford.
we are going to present the 2011 racing kit, and the new arrival Zappi’s bike.
National and local press will be present with Cycling Weekly, Bikeradar and the Oxford Journal.
Please email me (flaviozappi@gmail.com) to confirm how many places you require and bare in mind will be only 50 places available.
See you on Tuesday night from 7/7.30pm the 15th of March 2011.
Ciao!!
For details on the menu and price just click on the open pubblication below
Finish and ready to ride…fast!
Thank you Duncan, great job and thank you Luis and Beelinebicycles to provide for last minute check and details, and this is the result…
2011 Racing season kit!
Hello!
Finally the 2011 racing kit is finalized and ready to go… now lets go out there and win!!
beeline_bicycles_logo
SiS_white_on_black
Mission_Logo_ForWhite_Black_AW
A big thank you to the sponsors for all your support.
Ciao!
My Christmas presents…so far.
There is a kind of child-like pleasure when you open these boxes…
and next week ….my frame!!!
BUON NATALE!!!!
Go on lets have a lucky slice this Christmas!!!
BUON NATALE A TUTTI VOI E AI VOSTRI CARI!!
(Happy Xmas to all of you and your family..)
Flavio Zappi
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…
About
Hi!
My name is Flavio Zappi, an ex-professional cyclist from Italy, currently living and racing in the U.K with the Zappi’s Cycling club.
Why this blog? Well, different reasons..
I suppose the main purpose is to share with other sports lovers such as myself, my experiences (both past and present), my attempts at improving training approaches, and valuable conversations with professionals or just cycling lovers from the cycling world.
I hope you can find something of value in my blog, and any feedback will be really appreciated!
Thanks!
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