Valdobbiadene is a place in the form of a vineyard. If you are lucky enough to start a cycling event in such a location, you should naturally expect a stage with a plenty of alcohol and climbs. This is exactly what is happening today to the cyclists of the Giro-E, who for the 17th stage set off from Valdobbiadene to arrive, after 68 kilometres, at the top of the Brocon Pass. Said like this, it sounds simple, but it is a long climb (12 kilometres) at an average of 6.5%, with peaks of 13%. There are the motors, so no problem, and let’s bear in mind that Pogacar and co. will climb it, just for good measure, twice. So there will be a way to focus on the beauties of Valdobbiadene, which for once we refer to the table, or rather, to the glass. Prosecco, naturally and above all, but also Cartizze, just waiting to be discovered from one vineyard to the next, winery by winery. There is also the Strada del Prosecco e Vini dei Colli Conegliano Valdobbiadene (Prosecco and wine route of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene hills), a route of over 90 kilometres in an area dedicated to wine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a cultural landscape since 2019.
Valdobbiadene – Brocon Pass stage
Valdobbiadene, the starting city of the 17th stage of the Giro-E 2024, has already hosted an electric start of the Giro, in 2019 (with arrival in San Martino di Castrozza), while it has been the arrival site of the Giro d’Italia on three occasions: the first time in 2009 (Petacchi’s victory), the other two with an individual time trial, respectively in 2015 (Kiriyenka’s success) and in 2020 (Ganna’s victory). For the third consecutive day, the arrival of this fraction is also new: the finish line is on the Brocon Pass (at an altitude of 1,610 metres), already tackled several times by the Giro a long time ago, between the 1950s and 1960s. This time we will climb from a new side, that of Val Malene.
The Giro-E route runs largely outside the Giro d’Italia route. The entry onto the Corsa Rosa roads will take place after approximately 51 kilometres, just before Castello Tesino, while the final ascent towards Passo Brocon will begin in Pieve Tesino.
Cyclists of the day – Ivan Gotti and Pavel Tonkov
Three Giros in two. What a pleasure to have two winners of the Giro d’Italia as guests at the Giro-E: Ivan Gotti and Pavel Tonkov. The former won the Giro in 1997 and 1999 and still holds the record for climbing the Mortirolo on the Mazzo side of Valtellina: 42’42” (it was 1996).Tonkov, Russian, won the Giro in 1996, then came second in 97 and 98, an edition in which he was Marco Pantani’s great rival.
Ivan Gotti: “Returning to the Giro is always a thrill. I have good memories, I always find great friends, like Pavel Tonkov, who was also a great rival. I have followed the Giro since I was a child, when my greatest desire was to become a professional like Saronni and Visentini. Does two Giro victories make you a legend? No, I don’t consider myself a champion, I did what I managed to do, with determination. I have always loved climbs, especially those with high gradients. And I was really determined to be a professional, to win something important, but I too took a lot of beatings and I lost more times than I won. Your record on Mortirolo? Everyone asks me that. A race situation was created that pushed us to give our best. That day, the 1996 Giro d’Italia was decided, with Olano breaking away, and behind us we did everything to distance him from the squad. That stage was also very long, with several climbs, arriving at Aprica… It was my first victory as a professional, Pavel came second. E-bikes? I really love them; I have a mountain bike, which I bought myself and I use all the time. I go to the mountains, to refuges, in the woods. It’s the feel-good bicycle: you pedal without throwing your soul out.”
Pavel Tonkov: “Pedal-assisted bikes are the bikes of the future. If you want to go up to Livigno you just go… even without taking the motorbike! The Giro and Italy are my second home. I have many beautiful memories of the Giro, they live on in my heart. I still remember the happiness of the victory in ’96, it was the lifetime dream to win the Giro. The rivalry with Pantani? Marco was the best climber in the world. I was lucky to be his rival. I have many memories of us: the war on the bikes, when you barely greeted each other, and then the friendship afterwards.”
City of Sport and Health, an opportunity for young people: the series of ANCI workshops at the Giro d’Italia arrives in San Biagio di Callalta.
In the third week of the Giro-E the ANCI workshops continue in the municipalities hosting the stage starts for the e-bike experience which takes place on the roads of the Giro d’Italia.
This initiative is enjoying particular success in terms of format and content, and 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.
A new meeting is scheduled for Thursday 23 May at 1 pm in San Biagio di Callalta, where in collaboration with Legacoop Veneto a day of work has been structured on the theme of “Work, enterprise, territory: generational change and cooperation to safeguard the economic fabric and enhance communities.”
The session will be opened by Sergio De Marco, Deputy Mayor of San Biagio di Callalta and Councillor for productive activities.
The general objective of the ANCI 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.
ANCI also kicks off the Giro-E stage in San Biagio di Callalta with its own cycling team, led by skier Giorgio Rocca and made up, like every day, 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
