Norwegians. Germans. Slovenians and Russians. But also Tuscans, many Emilia-Romagnans and even a family from Agrigento. The Rimini seafront transformed into a yellow snake of fans to welcome the first stage of the Tour de France, which started in Florence at lunchtime. After seven Mountain Grand Prix and 206 kilometers, including the Carnaio and the very crowded Barbotto, without forgetting San Leo, the final esplanade brought the yellow race to the finish line on the Lungomare Di Vittorio. Some arrived in the morning to grab a place with a privileged view of the finish line and the podium, others instead settled for a shelter in the shade, protected from the 32 degrees and the scorching midday sun. In addition to bars and restaurants for refreshments, the numerous shops selling official material of the Grande Boucle were also taken by storm, as it lands in Italy for the first time in 111 years.
Marco Pantani’s supporters are not missing either: some showed off a pink jersey, a bandana and others hung banners in honor of the Pirate who in 1998, with the Mercatone Uno, became a legend by scoring the Giro and Tour double. A double also appeared, Sergio from Brescia, dressed to the nines with a blond goatee and with an original 1998 Bianchi bike and water bottle. Tomorrow, in the second stage of the Gran Depart starting from Cesenatico and arriving in Bologna, there will be a fitting tribute to the great champion from Romagna, who died prematurely in a residence in Rimini.
