Testimonials

Benvenuto to Italy and the Alps to the Silver Foxes. I am the Director of the Giro Italia and am responsible for the operation of the Triple Stelvio which is held every August.

Although my passion is obviously cycling, we welcome all visitors especially motorcycle riders! I believe five of you accompanied a cycling practice run up the eastern side of the Stelvio Pass in June. I was surprised to hear that. As you know the pass is one of the most dangerous roads in Europe; some statistics for youit has 48 hairpin turns, it is 2,757 metres high, it is 25kms long with a maximum gradient of 11 degrees and an average of 8 degrees.

In Italy we believe the roads should be shared by all and I note your accent was on a Saturday morning when there is a large combination of cyclists, motorcycles, campervans, Maseratis etc. Very brave call when you are riding 1200 cc bikes, having to turn those beasts on a one euro coin as the cyclists rob you of the corner. Perhaps your tour leader could share some footage of this feat, we may be able to use it in our safety demonstrations.

There was a particular maneuver we all heard about which was called the Barney Rubble that a number of you employed on many of the 180 turns.

However you completed it, congratulations, it is indeed a feat.

Amazingly this is only one pass of forty-two that you completed on the trip (39 for the splinter group) over France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Austria and of course Italy over 11 days. I again commend you for this achievement.

Good luck with your future Fox activity and I hope to see you on cycles next time around.