Video: Castelli 24H, Racing all night
I’m at the Castelli 24 hour criterium in Feltre, northern Italy, and can’t remember the last time I had this much fun on two wheels. Between 10pm and 1:00am on Friday, I was racing around a 1.8km circuit in front of huge crowds against the likes of Manuel Boaro, Paolo Bettini, Filippo Pozzato, and various amateur riders, Italian industry insiders and local weekend warriors.
The Castelli 24-hour race ticks all the boxes for a great cycling party central, its fun, sociable, enjoyable, sociable, fast and exhilarating as 80 teams of 12 riders tackle the 24 hour race. Each of them had their own tactic for the race, splitting the team in to groups of three who rotated in a two – three hour shifts, typically riding between 15-25 minutes throughout with crowds screaming all the way around the circuit. Amongst those riding for the victory, measured in total number of laps, were some of Italy’s top amateur teams, a few professionals and ex- world champions, you know it’s no walk in the park.
With no really sections to rest on the 1.8km circuit, riders were forced to 24 hours of criterium style racing – something that normally goes on for no longer than 90 minutes. When you’d cooked your legs and wanted not to see double anymore you had to signal to your team mate, who was stationed in the pits. Signalling 1 more lap and I’m heading to the Castelli hospitality for my 5th espresso of the day.
The pits had a rider from all teams waiting like a warrior ready for battle. At times you’d look down the line at the cyclist concentrating on if their team mate was coming in, and you’d spot ex-pros like world and Olympic champion Paolo Bettini, Andrea Peron, Marzio Bruseghin, or current pros such as Manuele Boaro (Saxo Bank), Alessando Ballan (BMC), Filippo Pozzato (Lampre Merida), and Matteo Trentin (OPQS).
The race never eased off from the 10pm Friday night when the Ferrari lead the peloton out until 90 minutes before the closing stage, thunder and rain forced an end to the racing. Even with no racing the party atmosphere continued, all the teams had music, food and plenty of energy to keep themselves entertained till late night.
For more information on the event and entries for 2014, go to 24orefeltre.it