This morning Florence inaugurated the start of the 111th Tour de France, with a ribbon cutting which saw present the new mayor of the city, Sara Funaro, the president of the Region Eugenio Giani as well as the president of the regional council Antonio Mazzeo, the former mayor Dario Nardella, numerous authorities and representatives of the main Tuscan administrations. Also present was Prince Albert of Monaco.
“Today Florence and Tuscany are experiencing a great celebration and great emotion – explained Giani – it is a historic moment, let’s enjoy this occasion to the full”.
“Florence and Tuscany – continued Giani – are at the center of the largest cycling event and cycling has a historical and indissoluble bond with our region, cemented by the memory of the exploits of Tuscans who made this sport great, first of all Gino Bartali, but also Gastone Nencini, Alfredo Martini, Paolo Bettini, Franco Ballerini, without forgetting the current Italian champion Alberto Bettiol”.
Shortly before the ribbon cutting, the 167 runners arrived in the square greeted by a roar and the notes of the French anthem and then the Italian one.
Then, amidst applause, the cyclists headed towards Ponte Vecchio, while fountains of fireworks exploded on the Arengario and ‘Bicycle’ by Queen blared out.
Then the runners passed through Piazzale Michelangelo and then off, towards km 0 in Bagno a Ripoli, near Viola Park, where they arrived shortly before 1 pm for the actual start. Greeting them during the passage were again the presidents Giani and Mazzeo and the new mayor of Bagno a Ripoli Francesco Pignotti.
Great satisfaction was also expressed by the Prime Minister, Antonio Mazzeo.
“This is a beautiful day for Florence, for Bagno a Ripoli and for Tuscany as a whole, which has always been a land of cycling. It is a real popular celebration – underlines Mazzeo – Tuscany is a land of cycling and today it has been tinged with the yellow of the most important stage race in world cycling. I am thinking at this moment of our riders like Gino Bartali, Gastone Nencini, Alfredo Martini, who as a technical commissioner was able to win six world championships on the road. Long live the Tour de France and long live Tuscany”.
