Nine hills through the Romagna Apennines — Italy's other spring classic.
Character. A 15,000-rider Italian sportive from the Adriatic coast into the Apennines and back. Nine climbs, none as iconic as an Alpine pass, but collectively demanding. Hot, competitive, and very Italian.
Conditions. May Romagna: 15–25 °C, mostly dry, warm on the return coastal leg. Occasionally breezy but rarely wet.
If you wax — ZFC-recommended path. 205 km is at the long end of single-application territory — endurance-blend waxes (Silca + Endurance Chip, Rex Black Diamond Plus) give the most margin. No published figure guarantees coverage for your day, so judge it on the chain rather than the distance. If you want insurance it has to be an oil such as Synergetic: wax-emulsion drips need time to cure (Silca specify at least 12 h for SS Drip, 24 h in cool or humid conditions), so they are not a mid-race rescue. Apply only if the chain actually goes dry, and accept the degrease.
If you're on oil — pragmatic equivalent. 205 km is past single-application territory for most oils. Apply the night before; carry a small bottle for the back half.
when: Road riders who want one wax blend that covers training, racing, hot climates, and cold winter rides.
#1 because: dry road is clean riding, so ZFC's Block 1 wear is the only axis that matters. Cyclowax Race Wax is eligible after scenario filtering and its wear (0.000) carried the most weight in its combined score, which — given your priority weights — edges out every other eligible lube.
#2 inside the ±5 % variance band on Block 1 (clean baseline): effectively tied with Cyclowax Race Wax on wear (0.003 vs 0.000). Cost and maintenance scores broke the tie.
#3 inside the ±5 % variance band on Block 1 (clean baseline): effectively tied with Cyclowax Race Wax on wear (0.000 vs 0.000). Cost and maintenance scores broke the tie.
#4 inside the ±5 % variance band on Block 1 (clean baseline): effectively tied with Cyclowax Race Wax on wear (0.000 vs 0.000). Cost and maintenance scores broke the tie.
#5 inside the ±5 % variance band on Block 1 (clean baseline): effectively tied with Cyclowax Race Wax on wear (0.000 vs 0.000). Cost and maintenance scores broke the tie.
#6 inside the ±5 % variance band on Block 1 (clean baseline): effectively tied with Cyclowax Race Wax on wear (0.000 vs 0.000). Cost and maintenance scores broke the tie.
#7 inside the ±5 % variance band on Block 1 (clean baseline): effectively tied with Cyclowax Race Wax on wear (0.000 vs 0.000). Cost and maintenance scores broke the tie.
#8 inside the ±5 % variance band on Block 1 (clean baseline): effectively tied with Cyclowax Race Wax on wear (0.000 vs 0.000). Cost and maintenance scores broke the tie.
#9 inside the ±5 % variance band on Block 1 (clean baseline): effectively tied with Cyclowax Race Wax on wear (0.006 vs 0.000). Cost and maintenance scores broke the tie.
#10 because: on Block 1 (clean baseline) this lube's wear is 0.020 vs the top pick's 0.000 — Cyclowax Race Wax pulled ahead on the primary axis. Low faff contributed most to this lube's own score.