Italy Twofer: 9/11 Giro della Toscana; 9/12 Coppa Sabatini

Never been to Italy but with each race I see I want to go more than ever. We have two cat 5 one-day races on tap this week, both kinda climby, by which I mean that sprinters need not apply.

First up, near Pisa in Tuscany, a little inland, Pontedera to be exact, the 96th running of the Giro della Toscana

Those two climbs. Monte Serra done twice, makes this a climby affair. Last year Sivakov won narrowly over Carapaz (four seconds) with Grosschartner 48 seconds back and Pogacar and Zana 1:28 in arrears.

This year, what with the Vuelta just ending, the Euro TT taking place as well as the Canadian races, there’s a lot more competition for riders. This year we got Diego Ulissi, who has been doing well in cat five races this summer while you’ve been watching higher profile races. Jefferson Alverio Cepeda, aka the Caja Rural Jeff Cepeda, is also here along with Lutsenko, Storer, Jan Christen, Piganzoli, etc: the usual suspects who like to hang in Italy for the summer.

2. And if that isn’t enough for you the next day we get the 72nd edition of Coppa Sabatini in Peccioli, just down the valley from Pontedera so the riders don’t have to travel for it. It is also a bumpy race with many of the same riders but with the addition of Mr. Summer himself, Mr. Marc Hirschi. Think I’m kidding? In July and August Hirschi’s results are:

1. 1st at the Czech Tour
2. 16th at the Olympics road race
3. 1st @ San Seb
4. 1st @ Bretagne Classic Ouest-France
5. 1st @ GP Industria & Artigianato

Hirschi’s got to be the fave and his team should dominate the race. Oh-and Hirschi won the race last year. (Figuring out why Hirschi is not at next week’s Euro road race is an exercise best left to the reader.)

Enjoy!