The Amgen Tour of California attracts premier cyclists from around the world for eight days of intense racing that brings out the best in the athletes. The tour began in Nevada City on May 15 and concludes on May 22 in Thousand Oaks. But there is a local side story to the race as it approaches.
Tarcisio Mosconi, co-owner of Tra di Noi ristorante in Malibu, has been diligently preparing for the challenge of his life. Mosconi, an avid cyclist for the past 12 years, will attempt to ride and complete the 80-mile Stage 8 of the Tour on Saturday, May 21, along with a throng of supporters who will be riding and cheering him along the way. The professionals take to the course the day after Mosconi rides.
A celebration will take place Sunday, May 22, at Tra di Noi and the public is welcome from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. for a viewing party of the Amgen Tour of California.
Stage 8 is the final leg of the Tour and Tra di Noi is hosting a gathering for all fans to be a part of as they witness the conclusion of the greatest bicycle race in North America. The Stage 8 course is 80 miles long and consists of riding from Santa Clarita through Moorpark and into Thousand Oaks via Highway 126 and other various roads. The entire tour encompasses 800 miles.
Mosconi was born in Rome and came to the United States in 1992. His love for Italian food prompted him to co-own the Sage Room, another Malibu Italian restaurant, early in his career. In 1995, he teamed with Antonio Alessi to own Tra di Noi (an Italian expression meaning “between us”). Alessi opened Tra di Noi in 1991 and this year will be celebrating 20 years of Italian dining in Malibu.
But it is Mosconi’s pride and interest in cycling that has his heart set in accomplishing a goal he set three months ago. Training has been rigorous as Mosconi has ridden approximately 250 miles a week to prepare for the course, including the enormous undertaking of climbing Balcom Canyon, Stage 8’s version of the King of the Mountain.
His training regimen includes riding once a week from his home in Sherman Oaks to his restaurant in Malibu, covering 25 miles. He has been training with good friend, actor Francesco Quinn, also a Malibu resident. Mosconi said he enjoys riding daily to keep fit but he knows the daunting task of Stage 8 that lies ahead and is ready to go.
“I’m doing this for myself,” Mosconi said. “I feel comfortable. Cycling is my passion.”
Mosconi is an avid watcher of the Giro d’Italia, Italy’s version of the Tour de France, which inspired him to take up bike riding.
For the Amgen event, he challenged his friend and former business partner, and current co-owner of the Sage Room, Claudio Borin, to ride with him and beat him at the King of the Mountain.
“My dream is to beat him on the hill,” Mosconi said with a confident yet sly chuckle. “He has 48 hours to decide if he wants to show up. I will be waiting for him.”
Alessi and Tra di Noi’s executive chef Francesco Velasco will have the restaurant’s “Cyclist” soup ready for Mosconi to give him that extra boost and endurance to overcome any fatigue that might come his way. The Cyclist soup will be available to all who come to the viewing party at Tra di Noi on Sunday.
“We want to make this a tradition every year on the final stage of the Tour of California,” Alessi said. “We welcome everyone on Sunday to Tra di Noi. Let’s watch the race and celebrate Tarcisio’s accomplishment.”
Co-hosting the event with Mosconi and Alessi is Malibu Family Wines, which created the wine, King of the Mountain Cuvee, two years ago to honor the cyclist who conquers the mountain stage (Balcom Canyon). The wine will be available Sunday as well.
Kevin Bening of Malibu Family Wines is assisting Mosconi and Alessi with the Sunday gathering. Malibu Family Wines is currently offering the Tour of California Tasting Flight. For $12 you can taste five wines from California appellations that follow the tour from the North Coast to Malibu. One can even enjoy live coverage of the race with a bicycle Concurs d’Elegance presented by Cynergy Cycles of Santa Monica.
In the end, it’s the journey Mosconi said he hopes to appreciate when he crosses the finish line at City Hall in Thousand Oaks. All his hard work and dedication will be rewarded with his own personal satisfaction.
“I think I can do it,” Mosconi said. “I feel good.”
Tra di Noi is located in the Malibu Country Mart at 3835 Cross Creek Road.