I was at the side of the road for the Strade Bianche race and called out encouragement to you on that nasty climb towards the end of the race, the Monte Sante Marie. When the group raced past me on the first dirt section I noticed you were in the first twenty riders, pretty much where you were with 55 km. to go but the bunch was much more strung out by then. With any luck I’ll pop over to see some of the first two Tirreno-Adriatico stages which are close to where I live and cheer you on again. BTW, I met your mother and Father about 6 years ago at the Eroica event in Gaiole, the amateur event that went on to inspire the Monte Paschi Strade Bianche race years later. Your father is a long time friend of a guy named Eddie Albert who is a long time riding friend of mine and he introduced us. We had a good time pouring over the exhibit of antique bikes, your dad is perhaps the most acute expert I’ve ever come across, he’s a virtual living encyclopedia when it comes to bicycles. Best of luck in the coming weeks!

What are those FMBs like to ride, does it feel special and strange to be riding silk tubulars?