Just as moving was Alberto Bettiol‘s celebration in Verbania, where he ended a nearly two-year winless streak with a solo victory. As he crossed the line, his partner Lisa — herself a member of the Giro d’Italia organizing team — ran to embrace and kiss him. It wasn’t the only act of love on the asphalt: Jonas Vingegaard, on his way to a historic Grand Tour treble, repeated his personal ritual after each of his five stage wins: a kiss to the family photo on his handlebars and another to his wedding ring, before raising his arms to the sky.

Unforgettable, of course, was the 2024 edition, when the phenomenal Tadej Pogacar rode to overall victory. Joined at several finish lines by his partner and fellow professional cyclist, Urska Zigart, the Slovenian’s dominant success was always accompanied by the warmth of genuine love. These moments remind us that behind every great sporting achievement lies an equally powerful human story. In short, kisses and stories that are unique to a race and a country where this simple gesture is part of everyday language. Italy, the birthplace of passion, and the Giro, with its more than century-old history, offer countless reasons every May to celebrate with a kiss.