Steve Cohen Hedgefund

spring weekend between Florence and Nice

is April Grandfather of the month for training camp. Many people drive for 1 week in the area of a hotel - eg. Mallorca. But there is another way: by train, support can be achieved with only a few days off a great racing weekend of sightseeing. As an example, here are the description of a 4-day road bike tour through parts of Tuscany, Riviera and Cote d'Azur.

Florence-Pisa-Carrara (22.4., About 170km, 1500hm)

really well not to sleep in a couchette. However, it is to spend sitting in any case much more pleasant than the night in the compartment. We are the CNL 485 left on Wednesday evening from Wörgl on Thursday and were shortly after 6:00 in Florence. The train leaves from Munich to Rome and takes bikes (reservation required) with. The fare is each way (with Advantage Card / rail card) about 100 €.

Florence is the capital of Tuscany and the province of Florence . The river Arno out town and the surrounding region is famous for its monuments. Northeast of Florence runs the Apennines, south-west is hilly landscapes such as the growing region of Chianti .

Florence has a long checkered GE History BC since it 59th Founded by Julius Caesar. In the Middle Ages the city bedeutendets culture and art center was ( Michelangelo, da Vinci , etc.). The historic old town just at dawn a very special charm. The streets and squares are dressed up empty and fresh. They are waiting to be done on places to be astonished guests.

The day started with the typical combination of "Cappuccino Crema + Brioche" in the first bar on the road. We took about 1 hour to the atmosphere between the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiori and Ponte Vecchio to inhale before we went in time before the rush hour from the city. We have only seen a small but presumably representative sample of the sights.

The navigation was a little challenging. It has wiedermal confirmed that requests for pedestrians and a paper map are much more useful than a GPS that is not under control. Probably would be a navigation for the first location outside better than the whole track to reproduce long (the waypoints were linked somewhat zigzag ...).

the trip to the hill country southwest of Florence, we have somewhat abbreviated. A pity, it was a very pretty area. So I've been introduced to Tuscany - rolling green hills with olive groves and vineyards. Even in Empoli we were back on Arno in fairly heavy traffic. The route on the north bank of the Arno was to drive a little annoying. The road is sometimes bad and to navigate constantly between potholes and the car back and forth.

The first highlight was the crossing of the Monte Pisano / Monte Serra east of Pisa . From Buti you are on a very low-traffic road that winds through the pine forest in switchbacks to the top. Above one has again to a wide view about 800m 10km away, the beach (unfortunately it was pretty hazy). On the narrow exit to Calci will quickly close the place when it surprisingly turns a car around a curve. refuel energy -

net to Pisa to the first pizza of the weekend. We had focused luck with a very nice pizzeria off the beaten track (as per Wikipedia , tourism in Pisa completely the Leaning Tower and the adjacent Cathedral Santa Maria Assunta . The city is, therefore, some 100m from the Tower pretty "un-touristy"). The most famous son is Pisa Galileo Galilei . With a full stomach we went to a round the old town in search of the famous Leaning Tower . And in fact - he is (impressive) wrong. It is a beautiful place, but of course there are many tourist spot. It is also one 'of the' tourist destinations in Europe. The mood is reminiscent of castle Neuschwanstein. Most people were busy taking pictures on which they seem to support the tower.

Out of Pisa, we were immediately the road to Viareggio . The 'Aurelia is one of the famous old Roman roads - took her from Rome to Gaul to the border with . The modern version of the Via Aurelia - the Strada Statale 1 still leads from Rome to the coast for about 700km to the French border at Ventimiglia. We went to Viareggio on the endless line pretty quickly here - good wind and a little 'landscape'.

from Viareggio on the beach, we drove down the street from the Promenade. Throughout the day we met racing cyclists and here we were overtaken by a cyclist with expensive carbon frames pretty fast. After a silly saying we hung our back on it (after 160km not so easy). He obviously wanted to get rid of us, increasing the speed continuously. Red lights of racing cyclists in Italy are often run over (slow down briefly and if a car is starting up again reasonably full).

have in the area of the marble stronghold Carrara we then decided to end the cycle day. There was no problem finding accommodation. We were in Albergo La Perla in Marina di Massa in any case well taken - a family-run guesthouse with everything you need after a long day - a shower and a quiet bed ;-). For dinner there are restaurants offering the nearby promenade on the sea.






rainy day, small rounds of La Spezia, Ventimiglia (23.4., about 60km, 500HM)

Unfortunately the weather turned on Friday completely. It rained all day. It was not a particularly great fun with the wheel to be on the road and we have also broken off after a few km and two flat tires in La Spezia and decided that the planned Cinque Terre stage to just go next time.

We actually did almost all the way from Florence to Nice, take the wheel. The stage should the Cinque Terre High Road lead to Sestri Levante, ending up either at the ports of Genoa or with a dinner at the picturesque promontory of Portofino . The google street view pictures (eg. right) have a very nice stage promised. The narrow road on a cliff high above the Mediterranean would probably be the highlight of the tour has become.

so he went first stop we went by train to Sestri Levante and after a lunch at the Station Restaurant (which is obviously lost tourists rarely) to Ventimiglia . In retrospect, the rain was not so bad. So we had more energy on Saturday for the 'queen stage' in the mountains north Nice. In addition, you get to know many interesting people on slow travel - this time as 'stranded victims' of the volcanic eruption in Iceland who fought their way through a roundabout way to their destination.

The city was in the days of Emperor Augustus, a major frontier post on the Roman road Via Iulia Augusta . For a spring training camp Ventimiglia is in my opinion the perfect Basisort. You can either flatten the Riviera-up, heat down the Cote d'Azur or improve its mountain-condition in the offer endless lonely mountain roads. You can also train a little further open up lying areas or go back after a long day (Distance Cannes 1:30 Genoa 2:30, Cuneo 2:00).

was now raining and so it aufghört still was a side trip to France (Menton ) possible. The lower Riviera Cote d'Azur and is a very pretty area. It was not to drive without - by the rare rain in the area, the streets were very slippery - all the dust is easily washed away very often. Especially in Menton (some on tile floor) wars in part how to drive on ice.

in Ventimiglia we were staying in the Hotel Calypso - again we were very pleased. The house is pretty near the beach, you can sleep quietly with an open window. There is everything we needed. A cyclist-able incl breakfast cereals (the usual + Brioche Cappucino combination does not last very long). The bikes can be parked safely in the garage. The prize money was for the noble area very well.

mountains around Monaco ( 24.4., About 160km, 3000hm)

A long day began with a good breakfast. After we looked at the road to Menton Sainte Agnes - one of the most beautiful villages in France . It was also possible with small knowledge of French ask their way. The people on the street to help in cities much better than GPS and map. The climb to the Col de la Madone is supposedly one of the favorite training routes by Lance Armstrong and you can understand it. It was one of the greatest passes I've been down. Designate some of its Trek Carbon road bike frame to pass this

The road winds up in the serpentine cliffs of the southernmost mountains of the Maritime Alps . The Maritime Alps are the southern part of the Western Alps. Our route was located in the department of Alpes Maritimes in the region Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur . France's 100 departments in divided, numbered in alphabetical order. Alpes Maritimes, the number 06, on the license plate is this number.

With each Serpentine views of the bay of Menton better. Sainte Agnes clings to a very picturesque rocks above Menton. To the pass you have a good view of the sea. How many celebrities Monaco probably ever had up here in this beautiful place?

Sainte Agnes is one of the most southern fortifications of the Maginot line - the Ouvrage Sainte Agnes . We have the testimonies of the 2nd World War, apart from the street not seen. Noticed the other hand, are bilingual signage. The area is still partly Provencal - a dialect of Occitan language spoken.

There was almost no traffic - we have taken more goats than cars. It's amazing how quickly you get out of the crowd at the coast in the quiet of the hinterland. The places behind the coast 20km exude the charm of Luis de Funes movies of the 1960s. It goes through several tunnels carved into the rock. A backlight and maybe a headlamp not hurt in the area.

Behind the Col de la Madone, a longer run over Peille valley gorges Paillon. By gorge-like valley, we went slightly uphill after L'Escarene and from there via the also very picturesque Berre les Alpes after Contes . There began the long climb to the Col de St. drawn Roche. At km 80 we were already well behind on 2000hm us. The area around the Col de St. Roche exudes a bitter loneliness - though it is only about 25km away from the seething metropolis Nice and Monaco .

The long descent over Luceram and L'Escarene is interrupted by a 1km long intervals increase. The closer you Nice is more the traffic and the more you get the feeling to be traveling on a highway. As expected, then threw the outskirts of town to ride also quite stressful. We wanted to eat on the promenade at what we have in the bustle of town but lost (luckily, there phones ...) In France we have kept the loyalty of Italian cuisine - pasta, basta.

It's really an outrage Nice, Beaulieu sur Mer that runterzubiegen Cap Ferrat and Monaco in just 2 hours. More than a fleeting impression does not get it. Actually, the head is after half a day by this discovery pace already full. But never mind, next time there may be more time for sightseeing and the Maritime Alps have (at least in my eyes) to offer more than the jet-set locations.

In Monaco, we shot a round of the Formula 1 course - a few seconds longer than Michael Schumacher, we have already used. Probably the tire choice was perfect and not quite the aerodynamic setup was not ideal for a street circuit. Since Monaco seems to be a single jam (all want their freshly polished show car), we have some Maseratis, Ferraris, etc. obsolete. a Bugatti Veyron with 1001 hp had no chance against us. It's amazing labyrinthine - such as the F1 guys can go there with more than 200 by the close guard rails is a mystery to me. Also puzzling to me is what draws all these people just to Monaco. The country songwriter at least not - all the places in the area are as beautiful in my opinion, Monaco.











Riviera Ponente (25.4., about 130km, 1000hm)

A highlight of our drove up on Sunday in glorious sunshine towards the Riviera of Genoa. There were many local cyclists on the road and we were in sections, go in groups. After the resort Bordighera get to Sanremo - The aim of the spring classic Milan-Sanremo . Until Impera (Imperia province ) a number of picturesque places, including San Lorenzo and Santo Stefano . There are also some shorter climbs and descents on the coast.

This time there were also a well-kept cappuccino on the beach - in general we have created the ride more relaxed than the two days before. The guide is simple, the route runs mostly on the coast and is not to miss really. The map can usually stay in the pocket.

larger towns on the way towards Genoa are Alassio , Albenga , Loano , the climbing stronghold Finale Ligure and Savona , the capital of the province Providence nz . In some sections brilliant beaches could be seen.

We have also met some interesting people - including a Weltumradler on his way to China and a Masters champion. There were a surprising number of senior student on the go. The boys are also more than 70 still extremely sporty driving. And it is also striking is that the bicycle racing in Italy is of great value.

have with so much beach along the way we decided to tour with a refreshing dip in the Mediterranean and a gelato stop to take us to flounder in the industrial suburbs of Genoa. The last major station before Genoa (with Eilzughalt) is Varazze - a city with a beautiful beach in front of the promenade.

return by R1843 and R3972 to Bologna and CNL 484 to Wörgl. Luckily, the train 2 hours late, so we could sleep until almost 7:00 and then go directly to the office. When one is tired enough to sleep in the sleeping car quite well.




Conclusion

Some decisions have been seen in retrospect prove to be very good:

• The Riviera in the reverse direction to drive has the same several major advantages: it saves half a day (because you are much closer on Sunday night - from Ventimiglia you would have a few hours earlier on the train). We could leave the luggage for a day in the hotel because we stayed overnight in 2x Ventimiglia.
  
• In the mountain stages it was good to go first in the mountains and then join the sightseeing in Monaco. We were able to divide the time much better.
• In Italy you can easily overcome with the Regional-/Expresszügen a bike long distances, it is also amazingly inexpensive. On the schedule page of the ÖBB you have the latest timetables for trains throughout Europe and can very quickly an overview when you can go where.
• 
• google street view and Google Maps has proven itself as a planning tool next to the bike route planner . You can choose in advance in unknown areas with little traffic routes with beautiful scenery.
• The arrival on the night train to win you a lot of time. Although it is a bit tiring to work on Monday focused - we had 4 days 4 full days of cycling available.
• It pays off when one denies, and entrains shareable things only 1x (eg. Tools, Map, wheel lock, sunscreen, toothpaste, etc.)
• It worked very well to ride a mountain bike shoes. A pair of shoes to pack less luggage one makes the noticeable difference. The luggage was significantly smaller than at the Spain tour a year ago .
  
• The weekend was a resounding success - thanks to Herwig and Erwin. The area is perfect for bicycle racing. We have seen many great landscapes and famous cities and are probably still take weeks to digest the many impressions.
  

Arrivederci Italia - a presto!