One of the most significant aspects of the Giro della Lunigiana, an international stage race for juniors, a true hotbed of great two-wheel champions for forty-seven editions, is represented by the green jersey worn by the winner and by the jerseys that distinguish the other classifications.
These garments, imbued with youthful prestige and the future, a sign of determination and sacrifice essential to emerge, have symbolically found a home worthy of their importance: the Cycling Museum of Pegazzano alla Spezia named after the journalist ‘Adriano Cuffini’.
With a simple but emblematic ceremony, right in the presence of the history of cycling told through an exceptional collection of memorabilia, vintage bicycles, photographs and everything else that testifies to the exploits of both the great champions and the local big names, the managers of the Giro della Lunigiana donated five shirts (those of three winners, 2018 the Belgian Evenepoel, 2022 the Portuguese Morgado and 2023 the French Bisiaux), as well as one with polka dots and that of the women’s race record holder.
The delivery to the Museum was a moment full of emotion. The Giro della Lunigiana delegation was composed of the director Lucio Petacchi, the administrator Michele Ricci and the manager Marco Danese. She was welcomed by volunteers from the Lorelì Sports Association, curator of the Museum, Gian Carlo Zoppi and Antonio Vinciguerra.
Junior competition officials highlighted the importance of preserving and celebrating the cycling heritage of the world-famous Giro della Lunigiana in a place of inspiration for future generations of cycling. They were reciprocated by words of thanks and appreciation from the Lorelì ‘guardians’.
“For us, the organizers of the Giro della Lunigiana – observed director Petacchi – collaboration with the La Spezia Cycling Museum is fundamental, becoming increasingly part of the history of two-wheel sports, proud to be supported by friends in favor of of a sporting event this year at the forty-eighth edition from 4 to 7 September on the roads of the provinces of La Spezia and Massa Carrara and those of Tigullio and Levante Ligure”.
“The active collaboration between the Museum and the Giro della Lunigiana continues – underlined the ‘guardian’ Gian Carlo Zoppi – which has been consolidated in the last five years since we have been in the Pegazzano headquarters. Enthusiasts can admire a good collection of pennants, images, articles, videos of the best junior stage race in the world, now implemented with the jerseys of recent years, including the women’s race”.
“The Museum – adds Vinciguerra – is not limited to collecting memorabilia, jerseys, bicycles that have made the history of cycling, but also wants to be a stimulus for in-depth study, the reconstruction of stories also experienced by local runners and cyclists of whom we have several books that tell the story from 1902 until today.”
