Salvatore Porcini, a 66-year-old cyclist, has entered the record book of the Ghisallo: on December 24th, he reached a total of 300 climbs from Verano Brianza to Ghisallo on his bike.
The cyclist’s testimony
Porcini recounts his feats as follows:
“I started cycling a lot before retiring,” says Porcini. “Then, having free time, I started doing climbs and climbs, which was what interested me the most because it satisfied me. I started doing the Ghisallo 100 times, then the Colma di Sormano 100 times, always starting from Verano Brianza, where I live. In 2023, I launched the challenge: 200 times the Ghisallo, starting on January 1st until August 24th. Then I saw that I could continue and I did it: in the end, I managed to do 301 climbs. The climbs are all certified, there is always someone who checks my arrival at Ghisallo with photos, signature, and stamp from the Pro Loco at the museum.”
After reaching the goal, no desire to stop:
“Now, with these first days of 2024, I have reached 405 climbs. The goal is, as long as I have the strength to pedal, to always go to Ghisallo: I want to reach 500. Before cycling, I was a marathon runner, I ran for 30 years. Cycling was a second sport, but due to knee problems in 2008, I had to stop running and switched exclusively to cycling. Now I ride 91 km every day, with an elevation gain of 1050 meters. On the way, I go through Verano, Erba, Pusiano, Civate, Valmadrera, Onno, Bellagio, and the climb to Ghisallo, I get the certification and then I come down through Asso, Canzo, Erba, Merone, Monguzzo, Giussano, Verano.”
La sfida di Salvatore Porcini: 500 salite in bici da Verano Brianza al Ghisallo
