Alentejo is a world apart. It covers a third of Portugal’s landmass, but is home to just five percent of its population. Mention its name to most people and it will conjure up images of gently rolling countryside and panoramic horizons, but the border with Spain is characterized by distinctive granite hills and its long, mostly uninhabited coastline boasts some of the most stunning stretches of pristine beaches in Europe, complete with around 275 days of sunshine annually.
Hidden away in a quiet corner of Lisbon, every inch of Francisco Araújo’s home speaks of a life dedicated to cycling. A talented mechanic, the lively octogenarian once worked for several national squads and in the pro peloton with top teams, and enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with the legendary directeur sportif Jean de Gribaldy. This is a house that bike racing built, and it has since become a monument to a lifetime spent in the service of some of the 20th century’s most famous riders.
It was the final day of our first Tenac Training Week in Chianti. Bags were being packed, goodbyes being said. But for one of the riders, there was still some unfinished business, the small matter of securing the fastest time on the ascent up to Lecchi, a short climb, but a storied one among the inGamba crew, because it’s the end of most of our rides and it finishes right outside our service course.
Looking pro ain’t easy. You can have all the awesome gear in the world, but if you’ve spent the off-season scoffing pizza and beer on the couch, nothing is going to hide those bulges. There’s no substitute for regular riding and a sensible diet if you really want to look your best on the bike. Trust us, we’ve tried everything. But, assuming you’re in shape, there are levels of cool when it comes to cycling fashion.
I’m sitting here at the airport in San Francisco, awaiting my flight to Italy, wondering where it all went wrong. What happened to my plan to lose 15 pounds? My strategy to become a climber? This was the year I was going to be raging, crushing KOMs and winning the sprint for the city limits sign. Who can I blame for that debacle of an off-season?
As Creative Director, aka lead boondoggler, here at inGamba I get asked two questions more often than anything else. The most frequent is some variation of “what’s your favorite trip?” After that, it’s always: “Will I be fit enough to survive an inGamba trip?” The “pro experience” can seem a little scary from the outside.
Hi Folks, it’s Ted again, this time with a newcomer to the inGamba family. Alexandra Tugurian left the corporate world behind her to pursue a passion for Italian wines – so unsurprisingly, she fit right in with our gang. And now that she’s been bitten by the bike bug, she has her heart set on expanding her cycling horizons and seeing where her bike can take her.
