On the occasion of the stage held in Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Giro d’Italia will pay tribute to the memory and history of the region with a special Maglia Rosa carrying strong symbolic meaning. Created in collaboration with Castelli, partner of RCS Sport, the special jersey is dedicated to the memory of the victims od the earthquake of 6 May 1976, and features the historic message: “Il Friuli ringrazia e non dimentica” (“Friuli thanks and won’t forget”).
Unveiled on 30 May, the jersey will take center stage during the day’s most visible moments: it will be worn by the leader of the general classification during the Gemona del Friuli – Piancavallo stage and presented to the stage winner on the final podium.
Fifty years after the earthquake that devastaded part of the region, this initiative aims to celebrate the memory, strength, and extraordinary spirit of resilience of an entire community, a population that rose again from rubble and pain, rebuilding its territory thanks also to solidarity from across Italy and abroad. The phrase “Friuli Thanks and Won’t Forget”, which appeared on walls among the ruins in the days following the earthquake, remains a powerful symbol of identity and resilience to this day.
For this special occasion, the “Il Friuli ringrazia e non dimentica” brand — featured on the Maglia Rosa since 8 May — makes way for the commemorative message, transforming the leader’s jersey into a collective tribute to the history and pride of the region.
Through this initiative, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region strengthens its international visibility while, above all, sharing a universal message: preserving the memory of the past in order to continue looking ahead.
Massimiliano Fedriga, President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region stated: “What we will see during Stage 20, Gemona del Friuli–Piancavallo, will be a unique commemorative Maglia Rosa, carrying profound meaning not only for Friuli Venezia Giulia but for the entire country. On this occasion, exceptionally, the slogan ‘Io sono Friuli Venezia Giulia’, featured on the leader’s jersey throughout the Giro, will make way for the message ‘Friuli thanks and won’t forget’, a symbol of the reconstruction following the 1976 earthquake. Through this initiative, we want to remember what happened fifty years ago, celebrate the strength of our communities, and thank all those who contributed to Friuli’s rebirth. The penultimate stage will start from Gemona, a city symbolic of the earthquake and reconstruction, and finish in Piancavallo, an iconic climb in Italian cycling. It will be a moment of great human and symbolic value, capable of connecting the sporting narrative of the Giro with collective memory and the pride of a region that does not forget”.
Sponsorship “Io sono Friuli Venezia Giulia”
The ‘Io sono Friuli Venezia Giulia’ brand is featured throughout the entire Giro route, with widespread visibility on the leader’s jersey, signage, iconic locations such as the signature podium and finish-line arch, as well as on the vehicles of the race caravan. The centerpiece of this visibility remains the awards podium, which guarantees maximum television exposure at an event followed by millions of viewers around the world.
