In Siena, cycling is an honorary citizen. The Tuscan city has been the heart of the Strade Bianche since 2007, “the southernmost Northern classic in Europe” reserved for professionals, and today the Giro-E has also arrived there with its hyper-technological pedal-assisted racing bikes. Siena is, in fact, the starting city of stage number 6, which ended in Rapolano Terme after 62.8 wonderful kilometres.
There was no shortage, as is now indispensable in the Sienese cycling area, of stretches of dirt road, the same ones that the Giro professionals faced: three dirt sectors for a total of about ten kilometres, the first two in common with the Strade Bianche, the third a new addition. A challenging stage, with the Serre di Rapolano wall four kilometres from the finish line, boasting peaks of 20% gradient. It was necessary to put the e-bike engines to maximum, perhaps after some body and soul refreshment, with a coffee sitting in Piazza del Campo in Siena before heading off: after so much beauty, any effort will seem less arduous.
Siena – Rapolano terme
Over 1,000 metres of altitude difference. But it is not quantity, but rather quality that speaks to the excellence and beauty of today’s stage. It started from the city of the Palio horse race, and after an off-road stretch of just over 15 kilometres, joined the route of the Giro d’Italia. For the first time in the history of the Giro-E the participants faced three sections of “strade bianche”. And to make sure they didn’t miss out on anything, the aforementioned “break”. In short, unforgettable.
Cyclist of the day – Sonny Colbrelli
A tough stage like this, with stretches of dirt road, can only have one cyclist of the day who is up to the task: Sonny Colbrelli.
The Cobra, as is his sporting nickname, is the hero of Paris-Roubaix, the Classic Monument of the North par excellence, in fact also called the Queen of the Classics. Its cobbled sections dismantle bikes and break cyclists’ legs. The first edition dates back to 1896. Italy has won it 14 times, three with Francesco Moser and two with Franco Ballerini. The latest winner is Sonny.
He conquered the Roubaix on a great day, in what was a legendary year for him, when he also became European and Italian champion. It was 2021. In 2022, a heart problem ended his career prematurely.”In fact, everyone asks me about Roubaix and what it was like to beat Mathieu van der Poel”, confesses Sonny.”The secret was to start off without stress. It was my first Roubaix, I had no expectations: I thought I would just gain experience.” But instead he drew out the magic. “I like to remember those moments; it’s always an emotion to recall Roubaix. I tell myself that at least something in history will remain.”
Blessed are the guests of the Valsir team, who will be able to pedal alongside an extraordinary man, and an unforgettable champion, like our Sonny.
City of Sport and Health, an opportunity for young people: the second stage of the ANCI workshops at the Giro d’Italia in Valdengo.
The objective of the workshops is to improve the level of engagement of the young population in the valorisation of cultural, naturalistic, food and wine resources and excellences of the area as drivers of sustainable local development, through the common thread of sport and its values.
Friday 10 May at 11.50, in Bastia Umbria, in the hospitality area of the Green Fun Village, the theme is the opportunities for engagement and growth for young people linked to local development strategies, valorisation of cultural resources, sports and major events.
After the introduction by ANCI Umbria, there will be two panels with expert speeches: the first on the theme of sport and health, the second on tourism and territorial marketing.
From Bastia Umbria to Perugia, the ANCI team, led by skier Giorgio Rocca and made up, like every day, of local administrators and ambassadors of the area, will also be cycling.
This opens a weekend that will see a succession of workshops with important content in the hospitality area of the Giro-E Green Fun Village.
In fact, on Saturday 11 May at 12.30 pm, in L’Aquila, Italian Capital of Culture 2026, the topics of Sport, youth and inclusion will be addressed, with a busy agenda of work which includes the intervention of the municipal administration and personalities of the world of sport.
On Sunday 12 May at 13.30, in Bacoli, the focus of the discussion will be on the valorisation of resources, training and skills, a cooperative model, with a focus on innovation “for and with” young people between shared administration and sustainable development and the presentation of numerous local experiences.
The ANCI workshops at Giro-E take place as part of the broader support and financing program for Italian municipalities under the National Youth Policy Fund.
For info and registration click here: link
