A trip to Trentino-Alto Adige, today, for the electric cyclists of the Giro-E. They depart from Bolzano and, after a literally uphill stage, arrive in Santa Cristina Val Gardena. 44 kilometres with an altitude difference of 1,800 metres, and noteworthy ascents such as Fiè allo Sciliar, Passo Pinei and finally, to top it all off, the road from Ortisei to Santa Cristina. A series of 15% climbs that will require well-charged batteries. But thanks to the motors, there will indeed be time to enjoy the magnificent surroundings, starting with the capital of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, known as Alto Adige and the most northern in Italy. A meeting place of different cultures, with a vast historical and architectural heritage and no fewer than 50 kilometres of cycle paths immersed in nature, Bolzano is the birthplace of two Olympic medallists, Tania Cagnotto and Carolina Kostner, but also of Dorian Gray, a.k.a. the actress Maria Luisa Mangini made famous by the Italian film Totò, Peppino and the…. Hussy. Gastronomic pleasures are many, starting with wine, an ancient tradition that finds its icons in Lagrein and Santa Maddalena, the city’s two red wines par excellence.
Bolzano – Santa Cristina Val Gardena (Monte Plana) stage
Bolzano has already hosted a start of the Giro-E (in 2019, with arrival in Anterselva), while it has been the site of a Giro d’Italia stage 23 times: 13 arrivals (the last in 2003) and ten departures. The finish line of this fraction, however, is new: it is located on Monte Pana in Santa Cristina Val Gardena, at an altitude of 1,625 metres.
After an off-route stretch of almost four kilometres leaving Piazza Walther in Bolzano, the Giro-E enters the Giro d’Italia route near Cardano, to continue for the next 40
kilometres. The altitude profile resembles the previous fraction with a continuous crescendo for a
total range of 1,800 metres. The first King of the Mountains is a long ascent towards Passo Pinei, at an altitude of 1,437 metres: 23.3 kilometres at 4.7% with peaks of 15% just before the top of the hill. The final climb that leads to Monte Pana is decidedly shorter but also more demanding: 7.6 kilometres at an average of 6.1%
Cyclist of the day – Pietro Sighel
After Arianna Valcepina, another great Italian short track athlete has joined the group of electric cyclists of the Giro-E: Pietro Sighel, today in his second stage as captain of the Fiamme Gialle team of the Guardia di Finanza.
Son of long track skater Roberto Sighel (five consecutive editions at the Winter Games) and younger brother of Arianna Sighel, Pietro has won an Olympic silver and bronze in Beijing 2022, as well as nine world championship medals (including one gold) and four European titles.
“I grew up with the bike, I started pedalling when I was a child and it was and is a fundamental tool in my training. It is functional to my sport – short track – and to skating in general, as it stresses the same leg muscle, the quadriceps. We use it to get in shape, because we can’t do too many hours in a row on the ice due to the angles on our legs: we’re too bent over. In cycling, however, we use the same muscles but we can do hours and hours in a row. I go cycling about 5-6 months a year, with a racing bike; it’s a sport that I like. Similarities between cycling and short track? Maybe the final sprint: the last two laps are very similar to a cycling sprint. Pedal-assisted bikes are a nice evolution, very positive for those who physically find it more difficult to move and would not be able to do certain climbs or distances with a manual bike. The manual bike is tough to push when you go for certain rides. The Fiamme Gialle are the most important group for us sportsmen, I consider myself very lucky to be part of it. It is a big family which, with a lot of great work behind us, allows us to do our job best. And then we take part in events like this Giro-E, which is a diversion for us athletes and allows us to promote the sport.”
City of Sport and Health, an opportunity for young people: the ANCI workshops at the Giro d’Italia continue in Valdobbiadene.
The third week also begins for the ANCI workshops in the municipalities hosting the Giro-E stage starts, like for the e-bike experience which takes place on the roads of the Giro d’Italia.
The new event awaiting participants, in collaboration with ANCI Veneto, is scheduled for Wednesday 22 May at 12.30 in Valdobbiadene, where Sport and Health will be at the centre of the round table, with a focus on opportunities for engaging young people on these issues.
The day will see the participation of the ANCI Veneto President and Mayor of Treviso, Mario Conte, as well as various actors from the public administration and local cooperation.
The general objective of the workshops is to improve the level of engagement of young people in the valorisation of resources in the area as drivers of sustainable local development, through the common thread of sport and its values.
This initiative takes place as part of the broader support and financing program for Italian municipalities under the National Youth Policy Fund, created through agreements with the Italian Department for youth policies and universal civil service of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
Like in every stage, ANCI also kicks off the Valdobbiadene Giro-E stage with its own cycling team, led by skier Giorgio Rocca and made up of local administrators and ambassadors of the area.
For info and registration click here: link
TICKETONE
One of the great innovations of the Giro-E Enel 2024 is that from this year it is possible to purchase tickets for participation in one or more stages of the event.5 places are available per stage: you will cycle with the RCS Sports & Events team. The minimum age is 17 years and a medical certificate is required for non-competitive sports. Here is the link: Ticketone Giro-E Enel 2024
