Bologna, 20 June 2024 – Ten more days and then the roads and streets of Bologna will be tinged with yellow. After months of waiting the Grand Départ of the Tour de France is preparing to land in Italy for the first time with three connecting stages Florence-Rimini, Cesenatico-Bologna, Piacenza-Turin: the runners will cover 625 km on Italian territory. The arrival of the second stage of the third most followed sporting event in the world is expected Bologna Sunday 30 June in the afternoon and is preparing to be followed by over 190 countries, of which 60 live and for 40 minutes in which the city will be seen by over 10 million people on television.
Tour de France in Bologna, the countdown begins. The arrival of the second stage is scheduled for Sunday 30 June. The celebratory shirt will be red and blue (photo Schicchi)
The preparation for the big event is proceeding quickly, however, it is not over. The Municipality, in fact, in collaboration with Maap – Atelier d’Arte Pubblica, Salvaciclisti Bologna, Fiab Bologna, Monte Sole Bike Group, Cantieri Meticci, is preparing to dressing the streets through a very long yellow ribbon of 16 km which will intertwine balconies and windows, trees and monuments of the streets crossed by the Tour.
This is how the promoting associations and the Municipality are inviting citizens to build on Saturday 22 June an installation starting from the bicycle ring road that arises from tearing and weaving, from sharing and contact with places. To participate in the initiative, you can report your presence by filling out an online form published on Iperbole.
“Someone still doesn’t know that the Tour will take place, just as there is someone who still doesn’t know that we are building the Tram construction site, so it is right to inform people constantly. We will deliver all the information via a flyer distribution to 40 thousand people to celebrate this event together”, opens the mayor Matteo Lepore. And then, “we need to put our hearts at peace: a part of the city will be closed and we need to tolerate this small inconvenience – continues Lepore -. Those who are unable to organize themselves will have our support and you can contact us. This is one historical stage which will remain over time and the portico of San Luca is increasingly an image of Italy in the world. For us it is very important and a leap in the perception that Bologna can have in Italy.” The theme of welcoming these major events is also in agreementSports councilor Roberta Li Calzi: “These events must be welcomed despite the fact that they impact people’s lives: they bring visibility, emotions and incredible stories, as well as attracting many people”.
Roads closed to traffic
From 12.30pm to 6.30pm on Sunday 30 June closed to traffic: Viali, Irnerio, Mille, Marconi, Piazza Malpighi, Sant’Isaia, Andrea Costa, Irma Bandiera, San Luca, Montalbano, Casaglia, Zaragoza outside the city. As well as the internal ring of avenues in the stretch that goes from Porta Saragozza to Porta San Donato, passing through Porta San Mamolo, Azeglio, Santo Stefano, Mazzini, San Vitale
Where to see the race? Advice for fans
The most iconic stretch for enthusiasts is certainly the ascent of San Luca where fans are expected from dawn. At the Orfanelle curve, in particular, a will be set up mega screen to give all fans the opportunity to follow the stage from the first km, with commentary from Francesco Pancani and the comment of Davide Cassani.
Megascreen also present in via Irnerio where the runners will pass three times. Most of the people will gather here, in particular in Piazza VIII Agosto where the event will be set up Confesercenti village, with food stands, tables, chairs, umbrellas, toilets and much more. Here too there will be a giant screen to follow the stage while waiting. At the end of the stage there will be an awards ceremony for the stage winner and the various Tour jerseys, after which the riders will reach their team buses in Via Indipendenza for the last crowd.
The favourites
There celebratory shirt of June 30th in Bologna can only be red and blue with the name of the city written in yellow. To tell the story of the stage and the favorites who will tackle the San Luca climb twice, is Davide Cassanipresident of Apt Servizi: “In this stage the men in the ranking will already be moving. I see the world champion as the favourite Mathieu Van der Poel and the names in the ranking who could take advantage of the climbs with a break on the second lap are Primoz Roglic and Tadej Pogacar, fresh winner of the tour. For the final victory, the favorite is Pogacar himself who wants to replicate the Giro-Tour feat achieved by Pantani in 1998. Fighting with the Slovenian rider will be Remco Evenepoel, Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard“. He also spoke via video link Lorenzo Fortunato, professional cyclist from Bologna: “A dream. San Luca is my favorite race and the street where I always train. Who wins the stage? I say a runner you don’t expect.” Finally, the Municipality announced a ideas Contest aimed at groups of citizens, committees or associations who wish enhance the Tour route through installations, large banners, choreographies, flash mobs, or other creative works that liven up the route, bringing color and passion to the city.
