Return to Cool...The Cool pt. 3

The Giro is now becoming a distant memory yet the tribulations of life have succeeded in denying me the chance to sit down and watch it's closing moments. I have it recorded and will watch it, but sacrificing precious recovery sleep when I'm not getting enough as it is, is a difficult choice to make.

I doubt a spring classic would get this treatment, I owe an apology to the Giro.

My pet concept of Sprezzatura warrants a final time trial though.

What does it mean to us? I believe it's probably at the core of Road Cycling. The many blogs that extol the virtues of PRO - from your pre ride customs to bike to riding to post ride refinements - are probably talking about Sprezzatura to varying degrees. Yet blindly striving for inclusion to the club of PRO probably would not be Sprezzatura-like. A Renaissance courtier would have been expected to have a wide range of abilities, all done to their best. In this context we as cyclists should broaden our horizons, embrace our weakspots and work on them, create a sense of balance and do what we do with style.

Sprezzatura did become tarnished with the nonchalance and arrogance of the successful, becoming a highly negative energy focused on the aspirant. Something we should maybe bear in mind as we pass judgement (maybe unintentionally) on our fellow cyclist.

So where does Giovanni Agnelli come into it? The ex head of FIAT was said to be the pinnacle of men's fashion and grooming and with style, flair and knowledge of self he was able to twist the rules of dressing - e.g wearing his wristwatch over his cuff, at will in order to lull his competitors into a false sense of security.

So next time you get dropped by a old guy with unshaven legs, on a nail, with black socks on, stop and think. He may just have more style than you realise.

The Cool. pt. 2

Continuing my Giro inspired delving into the personal qualities that combine to produce Sprezzatura.

My initial nomination was the great Merckx himself yet I questioned whether anyone had it in today's Pro Peleton.

So here's a few names to think about:

Di Luca: Has a high Sprezzatura quota. At ease at the sign in, happy to chat on the road yet blank faced with no sign of emotion when the hammer goes down. A sense of style also (consider last years different colour stead from team mates).

Cancellara: On form he has it in spades. Whilst this year hasn't gone to plan, future Roubaix's will probably be won with an understated flair.

Contador: I'm not a fan at all but his ease on the bike, nice guy personality countered with killer instincts make for a modern day Indurain with personality.

Pozzato: Probably understands too much about Sprezzatura yet his effort to be uber cool causes his failure to attain the state of being.

Cavendish: Probably can't spell it, never mind be it.

Voigt: Crossjunkie's pick this. Hasn't got it in the riding style as he wears his heart on his sleeve in every successful breakaway. Heart of a Lion though.

Armstrong: None what so ever. From the riding to the media scrum it's just not cool. I won't waste anymore time discussing him. Go to Pave and The Service Course for further opinion.

But what about cross?

Nys: Has it. Simple as that

Albert, Boom: Have the beginnings of it, which with develop further as they're still young pups and prone to the odd outburst.

Wellens: Has some of it, yet is too emotional to be a complete iceman.

Vervecken: Has it via the appreciation of the whole that comes with age.

Anyone else?

Brands like Rapha (is there anyone else like Rapha?) have it. The epitome of calm collected style, whilst the designers are staying up to two in the morning panicing at the looming deadline.

Gianni Savio (Diqui....... team boss) has it. Check the hair and the suits. If only he could transfer it to his team kit.

Malcolm Elliott: Taught Castiglione the meaning of Sprezzatura.

So what does does this have to do with us, the average rider, and where does Giovanni Agnelli come into it?

The Cool . pt 1

The Giro's now in full swing, with Di Luca taking hold of the race with today's stage following the Milan cyclotour rest day stage. I'm not going to give any race appraisal (yet), head over to the Service Course for a few well thought out words.

So let's look at the giro from a different angle, let's consider Sprezzatura.

Sprezzatura - defined by Castiglione in his book, 'the book of the courtier' as, “a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it.” 

Whilst this term was generated in Renaissance times and revolves around the life of a courtier, with time devoted to skill in arms, music, dancing, literature and athletic events, it still has huge relevance when considering the life of the roadman - the ability to make difficult things look easy.

Yet while most of the Pro peleton could be deemed by the average rider as making it look easy, the face pulling, teeth gnashing and bike rocking tell a different story especially when the man with the hammer is calling.

So who's got Sprezzatura?

I'll forward the first nomination as Il Cannibale - Eddy Merckx.
Ice cool exterior whilst the engine is whirring at full speed internally. No face pulling, teeth gritting or flapping, Steve McQueen probably learnt all he knew from Merckx. Relevance to the Giro? Winning 5 times needs no more explanation.

Are there others, Indurain? Coppi? Robert Millar? I could debate their inclusion but it's late and I need to retire.

So over to you - who's got it? Does anyone have it in the modern era?

Read some more about Sprezzatura here