Andrea Tafi - Il Gladiatore (The Gladiator).

Andrea Tafi famously said, "if you don't turn up to Flanders fit, it is then the way of the cross".

My lasting memory of Mr Tafi as at the Paris - Roubaix 1999 when he won, Bob my friend who came with me to see it,  slapped Andreas bum as he cycled to the signing on and shouted "good luck"...He won !!!....mmmm I hope he remembered Bobs slap....

 He has taken his life after cycling and applied the same hard work, dedication into a business application by creating a location for riders around the world to train and experience the ultimate in Italian hospitality “Il Borghetto – Andrea Tafi.”

Located in the small town of Lamporecchio about halfway in between Pisa and Florence in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, Il Borghetto is a quiet farm amongst Andrea’s 700+ olive trees. Of course, Andrea produces his own biologically pure oil every November by harvesting the crop himself and serves the oil when he cooks dinner for his guests, alongside his families own locally produced wine - Chianti.