I like to think of myself as an ‘idea guy’, so naturally, when someone else comes up with one I usually dismiss it. It’s trait my wife obviously loves…

So, the other day when John emailed me to say that he really wanted to do the Strade Bianche Gran Fondo next year, I thought, ‘viaggio sicuro’. Then I remembered that I’d been thinking about going over to Italy and riding the Eroica for years now, but never have because I don’t own a bike ‘vintage’ enough. The Strade Bianche might just be a great interim ride on the same ‘white roads’ of Tuscany. It doesn’t hurt that it’s one of my favorite pro races to watch, and that Fabian Cancellara will be riding it with us.

At 124 km the race is not long, and at 1350 m of total climbing, no Marmotte either. However, it’s held in March, when most of us are still sweating it out on the trainer, and there are 22 km of gravel roads, some of them with ‘punchy’ hills of up to 18%. Of course the route ends by riding under the Porta Fontebranda and climbing the steep, cobbled street to the stunning Piazza del Campo, where there better be some good wine waiting for me. And a blanket. A bowl of pasta could hurt either.

If anyone else out there has any other ideas for me next season, I think I’ve turned a new leaf, so I’ll be all ears.