The Tuscany of two-wheeled pedals, with its suggestive hills and cities of art, with its legends and the many champions capable of giving emotions and writing real pages of history of this sport. There will also be this at Becycle, the event organized by Pitti Immagine which from today until 28 June celebrates the bicycle at the Stazione Leopolda in Florence. For the occasion, the scientific committee for the cycle tourism and destinations part was entrusted to Toscana Promozione Turistica.
The event is organized to coincide with the Grand Départ of the Tour de France scheduled in Florence on June 29. Becycle is dedicated to the world of bicycles, cycle tourism and the lifestyle linked to cycling. There will also be the Regions involved in the Italian stages of the Tour and the Entities dedicated to cycle tourism, sustainable tourism and active tourism, all sectors in which Tuscany is a leader.
Today, on the occasion of the opening, a panel entitled ‘Destination: Tuscany’ was held, in which the councilor for economy and tourism Leonardo Marras and the councilor for mobility and transport Stefano Baccelli spoke. Together with them the director of Toscana Promozione Turistica Francesco Tapinassi and the tourism promotion communication manager of Fondazione Sistema Toscana Costanza Giovannini.
“We are preparing to experience a unique moment with the start of the Tour de France – commented president Eugenio Giani, who, despite not participating in the meeting, wanted to express his appreciation for Tuscany’s commitment to the development and promotion of cycle tourism -. For the bicycle, and for everything that revolves around it, we have invested and will continue to invest significant resources and energy. With an offer that focuses on sustainability, slow tourism and an almost unique cultural richness”.
“Biking – explained Leonardo Marras – is one of the main attractions of the tourist offer of the region which, in fact, was the first to equip itself with an Atlas of cycle tourism itineraries: a continuously updated digital tool that facilitates the organization of the trip . With over 15,000 km of routes, the guide also offers information on structures and themed holiday proposals, an essential resource for planning a cycling tour through the dedicated web portal www.visittuscany.com/it/interessi/in-bicicletta/, which includes detailed descriptions, interactive maps, elevation profiles and useful directions. A large cycle map of Tuscany that is constantly being enriched, with the addition of new itineraries by the Areas. Together with the atlas of the paths, it was created to strengthen the Tuscan proposal for sustainable tourism, which we have been working on with particular attention for some time”.
“It is a priority of the regional government to encourage cycling mobility,” said Stefano Baccelli, “by investing in cycle/pedestrian itineraries that have European value, both for the incredible beauty and variety of the territories and cities of art crossed, and for their extension. On one side there is the Tyrrhenian cycle route, which follows the entire Tuscan coast from the border with Liguria to the one with Lazio, touching five provinces and three natural parks. On the other there is the Arno cycle route, which from the province of Arezzo reaches Florence and then continues towards Pisa.” And, as evidence of the value and quality of cycle tourism in Tuscany, the councilor recalled that “in 2023 the Tuscany Region, with the Puccini Cycle/Pedestrian Route between Lucca and Versilia, won the eighth edition of the Italian Cycle Tourism Oscar. Which demonstrates, he concluded, the Region’s commitment to promoting soft mobility.”
Becycle’s in-depth panel proposal is very rich and divided into two talk areas. The first is dedicated to cycle tourism and destinations with highly topical topics. Among these, the European Cycling Declaration, Cycling wine tourism, Smart bike destinations, Sustainable mobility as a tourist attractor, Cycle tourism and women’s cycling, all proposed by the regions and other institutional subjects present at Becycle including Toscana Promozione Tourism, Tuscany Region, Gran Canaria, Basilicata Region, Emilia-Romagna Region, Piedmont – Langhe Monferrato Roero Region, Veneto Region, Valtellina, Varese. The second talk area will be dedicated to Made in Italy brands and the champions of today and yesterday: from Vincenzo Nibali to Paolo Bettini and Maurizio Fondriest.
There are two panels curated directly by Toscana Promozione Turistica and moderated by Clara Svanera, responsible for international relations and female tourism for the regional agency. Scheduled for the afternoon of the 26th (3.00 pm) is the one entitled “Smart bike destination” with Marcelo Rebanda (Portugal), Barbara Minczewa (Poland), Alexandre Bezardin (deputy director of Atout France) and Miruna A. Calin (Vias Verdes Spain). On the morning of the 27th (11.00 am) the focus on “Douce France” with Isabelle Scipion (Regional Committee for Tourism Center Val de Loire), Helene Haubois (Regional Committee for Tourism Loire-Atlantique), Francesco Tapinassi (Director of Tuscany Tourism Promotion) , Barbara Lovato and Alexandre Bezardin.
Finally, on the afternoon of the 28th (5.00 pm) the panel “Cycling tourism and women’s cycling” with the presence of Francesco Tapinassi (Director of Tuscany Promotion of Tourism), Clara Svanera (journalist, female tourism coordinator of Tuscany Promotion of Tourism), Dalia Muccioli (ex pro , tour guide and ambassador), Anja Roggo (100% Women Cycling) and Ester Tamasi (Visit Malta). Moderated by Silvia Livoni.
(Gabriele Benucci, Toscana Promozione Turistica press office collaborated)
