24
Escarpment Magazine Winter 2014
FEATURE
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alpine rockfest
This is the land of speck (a type of prociutto) and grappa (grape-
based pomace brandy) and the afternoon riposo (where shops,
churches and museums close so that proprietors can go home for
a long lunch and perhaps a nap), and of course La Dolce Vita (the
sweet life). During the lead-up to Alpine Rockfest the energy in the
small village was clearly mounting as each day more and more
cars would wind their way up the Paganella plateau, between the
mountains Piz Galin (2,442 m) and Paganella (2,125 m). The
town came alive with Church bells and the
smell of wood burning fires in the dozens of
quaint hotels and apartment complexes.
Down the valley lies the city of Trento, the Cap-
ital of Trentino. The city owes much of its thriving
economy to its position along the main commu-
nication route between Italy and Northern Eu-
rope. Known for its winemaking and tourism,
Trento produces high-quality agriculture and
has one of Italy’s best Universities. The city has
hosted the Giro del Trentino, an annual road
cycling race since 1963.
Trento is also home to legendary Italian road
cyclist Francesco Moser and his family winery.
Winner of the 1984 Giro d’Italia; the ’78, ’79
and ’80 editions of Paris-Roubaix, the ’77 world champion and
victor in scores of other great races, Francesco is perhaps most fa-
mous for breaking the 12-year-old record set by legendary
Belgian cyclist EddieMerckx by riding 51.151 kilometers
in one hour. A fan of ski racing, Moser Cellars is the official
wine and spumante (sparkling Italian wine) sponsor of
Alpine Rockfest. As luck would have it my VIP access ex-
tended to Azienda Agricola Moser, where Francesco’s
family has farmed a vineyard and produced wine for
over 80 years. To my amazement Francesco himself
greeted us with his spumante, aptly named "
51,151
",
which features a pink label, in honor of the Giro d’Italia
‘Maglia Rosa’ winner’s jersey, before walking us through
his own personal cycling museum.
Francesco, still trim at 62, sports a shock of silver hair
and carries the confident, dapper air of a champion.
He was nicknamed "Lo sceriffo" (The sheriff) because
of his strong presence in the peloton. He speaks as
much English as I do Italian but with all the historic me-
mentos, trophies, jerseys, photos, and of course record-
breaking bicycles in the velo-shaped Museo Moser,
one doesn’t require a translator to explain why
Francesco Moser is a living legend of cycling.
*
Francesco Moser showing us his road cycling memorabilia and museum
