WORDS: THOMAS OPSTRUP
VIDEO FOTAGE: TREK-SEGAFREDO / PRODUCER: THOMAS OPSTRUP
Trek-Segafredo’s Winter training camp is taking place in December in Sicily. General Manager Luca Guercilena have the responsability for bringing together 28 riders and 30 staff members. It is the time of year where the riders can have some ‘relaxed’ bike rides, doing some ‘winter’ kilometers in the sun. It is also the time for a lot of bike and equipment test that will be launched on the market in the coming season.
The Team choose Sicily because it is a vibrant place with a myriade of great roads for cycling. From Etna to the coast you have everything a professional cyclist can ask for says Luca Guercilena. And with 15 degrees in December you have a great location for winter cycling.
This is the first time that we have come to Sicily. We are looking for a good climate and an equipped hotel that meets the complex needs of a training camp like this. The mild climate is not only more pleasant: it is the necessary condition for Pro cyclist to minimise the risk of getting sick.
Sicily offers everything a Pro cyclist needs in terrain. At this time a year the rides don’t want to ride long climbs in high altitude so they mainly stay on the slopes of Etna where you find medium altitude and climbs. This area is also known for it’s beautiful wines. Especially the Etna Rosso has gain popularity in the latest years and some very high level wines are made on the slopes of Etna on the north side. And because it is the early in the season maybe the rides are allowed to taste it – accompanied by the Sicilian kitchen it will please the riders.
THE CREATION OF A PHOTO AT GIRO D'ITALIA ON ETNA WORDS: THOMAS OPSTRUP PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES STARTT AND THOMAS OPSTRUP An incredible day started around 13 o’clock when I arrived at the first police road block in Milo - a smal town half way up on Etna. I had made an ingenious plan if I may [...]
Riding to the top of Etna with a group of Gentlemen and Ladies. The weather turns from cloudy to snowstorm. At the cafe on the top, I tell the group that there is to option to get down the mountain: 1. I call for 2 mini busses to pick us up. The con of this solution is that you have to wait several hours for your rescue. Option 2: we descent down this will mean that you will freeze for around 25 min. more than you have ever frozen in your life. What are you going to do?
The fact is that Sicily is a wonderful, rather undiscovered, somewhat unsophisticated jewel. A truly unforgettable cycling experience, with Etna, etched into the memory for all time.
We came here as unassuming amateurs and will leave, a team of fitter, faster, well-fed athletes. All in a week.
TREK-SEGAFREDO – CYCLING IN SICILY
WORDS: THOMAS OPSTRUP
VIDEO FOTAGE: TREK-SEGAFREDO / PRODUCER: THOMAS OPSTRUP
Trek-Segafredo’s Winter training camp is taking place in December in Sicily. General Manager Luca Guercilena have the responsability for bringing together 28 riders and 30 staff members. It is the time of year where the riders can have some ‘relaxed’ bike rides, doing some ‘winter’ kilometers in the sun. It is also the time for a lot of bike and equipment test that will be launched on the market in the coming season.
SEE ALSO PICTURES FROM TREK-SEGAFREDO 2019 CAMP
The Team choose Sicily because it is a vibrant place with a myriade of great roads for cycling. From Etna to the coast you have everything a professional cyclist can ask for says Luca Guercilena. And with 15 degrees in December you have a great location for winter cycling.
This is the first time that we have come to Sicily. We are looking for a good climate and an equipped hotel that meets the complex needs of a training camp like this. The mild climate is not only more pleasant: it is the necessary condition for Pro cyclist to minimise the risk of getting sick.
Sicily offers everything a Pro cyclist needs in terrain. At this time a year the rides don’t want to ride long climbs in high altitude so they mainly stay on the slopes of Etna where you find medium altitude and climbs. This area is also known for it’s beautiful wines. Especially the Etna Rosso has gain popularity in the latest years and some very high level wines are made on the slopes of Etna on the north side. And because it is the early in the season maybe the rides are allowed to taste it – accompanied by the Sicilian kitchen it will please the riders.
TREK-SEGAFREDO WEBPAGE
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Riding to the top of Etna with a group of Gentlemen and Ladies. The weather turns from cloudy to snowstorm. At the cafe on the top, I tell the group that there is to option to get down the mountain: 1. I call for 2 mini busses to pick us up. The con of this solution is that you have to wait several hours for your rescue. Option 2: we descent down this will mean that you will freeze for around 25 min. more than you have ever frozen in your life. What are you going to do?
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The fact is that Sicily is a wonderful, rather undiscovered, somewhat unsophisticated jewel. A truly unforgettable cycling experience, with Etna, etched into the memory for all time.
We came here as unassuming amateurs and will leave, a team of fitter, faster, well-fed athletes. All in a week.