They arrive on foot but above all on their bikes and crowd at the barriers to watch the cyclists pass by, ready to applaud them and ready to fulfill their dream of seeing them live. Everyone’s crazy about the Tour de France at Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence. Hundreds of people in fibrillation. There are those who climb on road signs to see better. There are those who climb trees. Cyclists and two-wheel enthusiasts who come from all over Tuscany, from all over Italy and from some European countries. Lots of tourists but above all many Florentines who don’t want to miss the opportunity to see the Tour in Italy for the first time, for its 111th edition.
There is a couple who come from Prato: «We cycled up to here but for us the kilometers that separate the Piana from Florence are very little compared to those we usually do». There is a group of old men dressed as cyclists. «Here, those are our bikes, we placed them on the pavement and now we enjoy the show». There are those who see the Tour for the first time and there are those who, like a lady who comes from Varese, see it for the third time: «The other two times I went to see him in France, but I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see the tour start from Italy».
And so here she is, together with her husband who is not that keen on cycling and waiting for his wife in the shade of a tree. «Cycling is like life – says a boy in the front row – Climbs are part of cycling and life, the important thing is not to get discouraged and be able to ride them, after every climb there is a descent, cycling is suffering and pleasure». And then a couple of friends: «We love cycling because it allows us to live in symbiosis with nature».
Around 6.15pm the first samples begin to arrive from the city centre. They climb the hill that leads to the Piazzale amidst the applause of the public. At 6:30 pm the event officially begins on the stage in the Piazzale. There is the new mayor Sara Funaro in her first outing as first citizen: «It’s a great emotion, it’s my first public outing as mayor. I’m proud to be here. Our city’s connection with cycling is very close.” And then the former mayor Dario Nardella: «This great departure is very important. Yesterday was my last day as mayor. May you experience three extraordinary days for one of the most important sports in the world. We are happy to host this event also in the name of a great in the history of cycling like Gino Bartali.”
Nardella also mentioned on stage the late coach of the national cycling team Alfredo Martini. And then Christian Prudhomme, general director of the Tour de France: «I am happy that the Tour starts from Italy for the first time. The mistake of the Tour never starting from Italy has been repaired, a way to pay homage to the great champions of this sport».
