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12.04.2008/ The legendary Passo di Gavia is often part of the Giro d'Italia
and his 2621 metres have marked more than once the Cima Coppi, the highest point of the race. The Gavia became a legend on
June 5th in 1988 when stage 14 of the Giro passed the Passo in a merciless blizzard. The legendary stage was won
by Dutch rider Erik Breukink, with American and later winner of this Giro Andy Hampsten in second place. Cyclingheroes will
publish a series of interviews with (former) riders who climbed the Gavia at June 5, 1988. The fourth interview
is with Ron Kiefel, at that time riding with the legendary 7-Eleven team.
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| Ron Kiefel (© : 7-Eleven Team) |
Cyclingheroes: The 1988 Gavia stage of the Giro d'Italia started at Chiesa Valmenco. In Valmenco it was already
raining, did you know before the start that it was snowing at the Gavia?
Ron Kiefel:
Yes, the team director informed us it could be snowing, to pack
a special bag for the team car with winter gear. However, racing all day in the rain and then climbing into the snow storm
on the Gavia was still a shock.
Cyclingheroes: Was there a tactical plan of the 7-Eleven team on June 5 1988 and what was your role in the team on that day?
Ron Kiefel: Tactically we were to keep
Andy [Hampsten. Andy Hamsten won the 1988 Giro d'Italia, editor] protected and up towards the front. My goal was to get to
the finish after I did my job for Andy.
Cyclingheroes: Before the Gavia you had
to climb the Passo Aprica, how were the weather conditions at the Passo Aptica?
Ron Kiefel: I don't recall the Passo Aprica, the snow of the Gavia wiped out that memory. It rained all day
and then turned to snow on the Gavia.
Cyclingheroes: Do you remember how the stage developed untill the climb of the Gavia?
Ron Kiefel: All I remember is that the
stage started very fast, I think Roberto Pannin shot off. The race was strung out for most of the day until we hit the bottom
of the Passo Gavia.
Cyclingheroes: Can you remember were
Andrew Hampsten attacked and was he followed immediatly by Breukink?
Ron Kiefel: No, at that point I was just thinking about getting
over the pass.
Cyclingheroes: Johan
Van Der velde was the first rider on the top of the Gavia but did not see his soigneur and had to stop at the descent. He
came to Bormio by
bus. How did you climb the Gavia and how did you come down?
Ron Kiefel: I had a good climb up to
the top but I was worried about the descent. Jim Ochowicz [Team manager 7-Eleven, editor] was at the top handing out our extra
clothing. I stopped and put on a hooded wind jacket, wool hat and my Bolle sunglasses (to keep the snow out of my eyes).
Across the top of the Gavia, I went flying past the polish rider Lang. He looked miserable as he only had a thin wind jacket
and cotton hat. On the descent, my hands were so cold, it was almost impossible to brake or shift. The descent was scary as
it was
hard to concentrate, so much was going on. I was actually harder than the climb. I just thought about surviving
to the finish. However, I don't recall thinking about climbing in a team car. However, I did see a few riders climb into team
cars.
Cyclingheroes: . How did you feel after you arrived in your hotel and how do you think
of that stage 19 years later?...
Ron Kiefel: At
the hotel I was very worried about the next days stage into Austria. That next day the peleton rode
easy and at the top of the final big climb, I stopped to put on a bunch of clothing. While I was getting changed, some riders
took off and I missed the main group. The rest of the day I was chasing the peleton with 4-5 guys. We never caught. Our team
prevailed because we were prepared, be believed in ourselves and we were tough guys.
Cyclingheroes: Did you experience something similar as the 1988 Gavia stage during your career?
Ron Kiefel: No, not to that extreme. I've done lots of training in Colorado so I was comfortable with snow and ice. But it's different racing when you're soaked
to the bone and then freezing on the descent.
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| Cuurently Ron Kiefel is the General Manager of Wheat Ridge Cyclery in Denver (© Wheat Ridge Cyclery) |
Cyclingheroes: What are the highlights
of your career, for you personally?
Ron Kiefel: Giro Stage win 1985 (Perugia), 7 time TdF 1986-1992, 3 Giro's, 11 years as a pro, 9 as an amateur,
Trofeo Liqualia 1985, Giro Tuscany 1987, US National Professional Champion 1988, Bronze medal 1984 Olympics, Los Angeles -
Team Time Trial, Bronze medal 1978 Jr Worlds, Washington D.C. - Team Time Trial (Greg LeMond, Jeff Bradely & Greg Demgen).
Cyclingheroes: You
raced in Europe and in the US, was there a big difference?
Ron Kiefel: The early years of racing
in Europe on the US national team were
difficult. The races were harder, longer and usually we raced in the rain. In the US, we raced more critiriums but the depth of rider quality was not as great. However,
US cycling progressed to the point in the mid '80s and early '90 racing
in the US was very competitive. I felt
comfortable racing in both places.
Cyclingheroes: You did a lot of things after you retired from professional cycling, can
you tell us what you did or are still doing at the moment?
Ron Kiefel: Currently,
I'm the GM
of our family bicycle shop, Wheat Ridge Cyclery in Denver
Colorado [More information at: www.ridewrc.com, editor]. My Dad purchased the shop in 1973 and it's grown to 30,000sqft
with 65 employees working during the summer. When I first retired, I became the board president of USPRO and worked at several
cycling camps with Davis and Connie [Davis Phinney and Connie Carpenter, More Information at: www.bikecamp.com, editor].
Join our Forum and discuss the legendary 1988 Gavia stage
Related stories:
Hall of fame: Gavia June 5, 1988 interviews
Hall of fame: You Tube Video 1988 Gavia Stage
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